I currently have the 6SN7's being warned up for some first impressions.
Here are my thoughts taken from my Facebook page posting from last week when I listened to their new 300B's in the Summit series. As a recap I recently heard their new Horizon 300B and felt it is the best sounding 300B in that very popular price range and a clear step forward from their previous series. I had posted this on Sunday morning while still a bit foggy from a late night listening session:
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Still shaking off the tube fog this morning…
Last night’s listening marathon left me a little slow, a little tired — and maybe a bit too well-acquainted with one too many adult beverages. But oh, was it worth it.
The showdown between the new @PSVANE Summit 300B and the legendary new production Western Electric 300B began in earnest — and what a journey it was.
I started with the Psvane Summit 300B’s loaded into the Finale Lab / Triode Lab 300B integrated. Coming off the intimate glow of the Aric Audio Systems 2A3, I had to let my ears recalibrate to the very different signature of the 300B.
But something didn’t feel right…
Swapped out my vintage Tung-Sol 6CG7’s for Westinghouse 6DT8’s — an improvement.
I traded the 1940's RCA 5T4 rectifier for a 1950's Italian Fivre 5V4 -that was a step backwards as the sound became a bit anemic. So back in went the RCA.
And still, the music felt… veiled. Emotionless.
Brought in the trusty Russian 6H30’s to replace the 6DT8's — NOW we’re talking.
After acclimating to that it was time for the next step - the big boys.
I switched in the Western Electrics — and suddenly it was a chess match of nuance.
The WE’s had that midrange magic, that intimate storytelling they’re known for. The Psvanes, though… offered more openness, reaching confidently into both ends of the frequency range. Not “less” midrange — but perhaps more balance across the board, creating a different kind of sound and emotion.
Next, I moved to the Brunoco 300B integrated — a $3,500 amp that could easily sell for double and still be worth it. No, it’s not at the level of the Finale Labs (which costs more than double), but make no mistake: this amp punches way, way, way above its weight.
I ran 1945 Raytheon 6SN7’s in it — tubes I know well — to stay focused on the 300B’s (I have Summit 6SN7's to try and I will but I wanted to focus on the 300B's last night). The comparisons mirrored what I heard earlier. The WE’s felt focused and intimate, while the Psvanes delivered a visceral, airy soundscape that was beautifully immersive and an engaging listen.
Takeaways?
- The Psvane Summit 300B’s are no joke. With only 6 hours on them, they’re already trading blows with Western Electrics — a Herculean feat.
- Give the Psvane's 24+ hours of burn-in and we may be looking at a new modern benchmark (I will be revisiting them soon after more burn in time on them).
- Tung-Sol 6CG7’s? You’re now for sale. Just not my cup of tonal tea.
And I still can’t get the magic of the Aric Audio 2A3 amp out of my head…and I'll go so far as to say I'm beginning to think I prefer 2A3's over 300B's.
Psvane - if you ever release Summit Series 2A3’s, I want to try them in the Aric Audio!
Amp manufacturers — consider offering the Summit as an upgrade. The bar just got raised.
More testing to come. But for now… my ears are full, my heart is happy, and the glow of last night lingers....and I have a lot of tubes I need to pick up and put back in their boxes.
(Taken from my FB post last week)
Here are my thoughts taken from my Facebook page posting from last week when I listened to their new 300B's in the Summit series. As a recap I recently heard their new Horizon 300B and felt it is the best sounding 300B in that very popular price range and a clear step forward from their previous series. I had posted this on Sunday morning while still a bit foggy from a late night listening session:
--------------
Still shaking off the tube fog this morning…
Last night’s listening marathon left me a little slow, a little tired — and maybe a bit too well-acquainted with one too many adult beverages. But oh, was it worth it.
The showdown between the new @PSVANE Summit 300B and the legendary new production Western Electric 300B began in earnest — and what a journey it was.
I started with the Psvane Summit 300B’s loaded into the Finale Lab / Triode Lab 300B integrated. Coming off the intimate glow of the Aric Audio Systems 2A3, I had to let my ears recalibrate to the very different signature of the 300B.
But something didn’t feel right…
Swapped out my vintage Tung-Sol 6CG7’s for Westinghouse 6DT8’s — an improvement.
I traded the 1940's RCA 5T4 rectifier for a 1950's Italian Fivre 5V4 -that was a step backwards as the sound became a bit anemic. So back in went the RCA.
And still, the music felt… veiled. Emotionless.
Brought in the trusty Russian 6H30’s to replace the 6DT8's — NOW we’re talking.
After acclimating to that it was time for the next step - the big boys.
I switched in the Western Electrics — and suddenly it was a chess match of nuance.
The WE’s had that midrange magic, that intimate storytelling they’re known for. The Psvanes, though… offered more openness, reaching confidently into both ends of the frequency range. Not “less” midrange — but perhaps more balance across the board, creating a different kind of sound and emotion.
Next, I moved to the Brunoco 300B integrated — a $3,500 amp that could easily sell for double and still be worth it. No, it’s not at the level of the Finale Labs (which costs more than double), but make no mistake: this amp punches way, way, way above its weight.
I ran 1945 Raytheon 6SN7’s in it — tubes I know well — to stay focused on the 300B’s (I have Summit 6SN7's to try and I will but I wanted to focus on the 300B's last night). The comparisons mirrored what I heard earlier. The WE’s felt focused and intimate, while the Psvanes delivered a visceral, airy soundscape that was beautifully immersive and an engaging listen.
- The Psvane Summit 300B’s are no joke. With only 6 hours on them, they’re already trading blows with Western Electrics — a Herculean feat.
- Give the Psvane's 24+ hours of burn-in and we may be looking at a new modern benchmark (I will be revisiting them soon after more burn in time on them).
- Tung-Sol 6CG7’s? You’re now for sale. Just not my cup of tonal tea.
And I still can’t get the magic of the Aric Audio 2A3 amp out of my head…and I'll go so far as to say I'm beginning to think I prefer 2A3's over 300B's.
Psvane - if you ever release Summit Series 2A3’s, I want to try them in the Aric Audio!
Amp manufacturers — consider offering the Summit as an upgrade. The bar just got raised.
More testing to come. But for now… my ears are full, my heart is happy, and the glow of last night lingers....and I have a lot of tubes I need to pick up and put back in their boxes.
(Taken from my FB post last week)
