300b Tube Compendium

I think it's more that tube manufacturers, or more likely, distributors are relabelling tubes to mimic NOS tubes from western manufacturers, long out of production. I owned a pair of 12at7 tubes that came with an amp I bought used that were labeled BRIMAR T that were so obviously counterfeit it was almost laughable.

 

yotacowboy - I think you are correct.
Why would a chinese company fake a linlai or a psvane.

For anyone interested, if you open private browser, and search for the chinese version of the 'linlai' website - you will find far more tubes being manufactured by Linlai than those that make it to their 'global' site.
Basically, you'll see those models listed on sites such as Aliexpress.

Translating is a pain, but it's possible if you're patient with google translate etc.

my personal shortlist at the moment is:
300b-z psvane or linlai
300b-T - seems to be black-glass improved version of the 300B-z, and about 15% more.
300b-n - mesh plate - inexpensive, perforated (mesh type). (like a 300b-z without the black glass?)

best wishes
Chris

 

I have tried 300b-t’s and sold them. They weren’t bad, they didn’t differentiate themselves enough from Linlai “Cossor” we300b’s in that they sounded a bit more solid state, less mid range bloom (makes sense for a ostensible WE clone to have more mid range), but also maybe a bit more congested and less delineated, overall. If you can find them for 100 or less, maybe 200, they’d be a good deal, but I think I paid 400 or so for the pair, which is too much.

 

Cossor 300b from PSvane about the same price as the 300b-z, cheaper than 300b-t.
Were the cossor's better?

I haven't heard any of them, so buying on heresay and you tube video reviews (!)

 

I have the Psvane 300B-z Treasures(bought brand new from their oficial site). My other 300B's are the Genalex Gold Lions.

I have recently aquired a second hand Cary 300B SEI (which comes with Gold Lions), which i use for headphones only.

Since my experience is limited take what i say with a pinch of salt.

I prefer the Z's, more extended and more linear, more detail. I wish they had more midrange bloom. I read that this has to do with amplfier design as well, so it might be good to name the amp were they are used.

Experimenting with the 6sn7's also, and looking into new production ones have only a few NOS.

I am also in the hunt for rich sounding cheap 300B΄s

 

Hi Chris
You might want to try some mesh plates. The ''golden dragon'' mesh plates (cant get them anymore as they came from Russia) had that thick mid-range. I don't know whether that's ''all mesh plates'' - or just my mesh plates (!)

i.e. do mesh plates have a house sound, anyone?

 

I cant find any Golden Dragon tubes, do you think that an alaternative would be the (Asian market/Non Linlai Global) Linlai 300B-N fron AliExrpress?

 

Hi Chris.
My shortlist is changing as I continue to investigate.
There is a lot said about ''Cossor 300b'' on a DIY audio forum, supposed to be very good, mid-rangey.
I am also shortlisting personally LInlai 300b-N - as a) they are mesh (punched screen) b) Linlai supposed to be a bit warmer sounding than PS vane - allegedly.
Both of these are (UK£) 65-85. So add 15% for dollars.

 

For anyone following, i went for horizon 300b psvane. Mostly a mix of reviews, they sit middle-table in the psvane range, but were 240 uk pounds $300? For 4 of them.

when ive given them a good listen i will give you a comparison with psvane hifi series 300b and golden dragon mesh plates.

 

The 300B ''Horizon'' PSvane tubes are here.

They are NOT yet ''worn in" - this is initial impression having used them for about 1-2 hours.
I will post again with worn-in findings - which are likely IME to be similar, but slightly more ''bloomed'' presentation.

PS Vane 'HIFI' series 300B:
Articulate. Detailed. The perfect 300B tube for people moving to valves from solid state, or a push/pull valve amp. More than articulate, they are linear, there is little mid-band bloom. The ''hifi' moniker is appropriate, a studio professional would enjoy their linearity, their clairty, their articulation on detail.
Someone used to ''300B bloom'' would prefer a different tube.
An exceptionally good value tube, but should be purchased in the knowledge of accuracy, linearity rather than what you may traditionally associate wiith 300B.

PS Vane 'Horizon' series 300B:
EARLY impression. Very articulate. The image is now deeper, wider, and bass has more weight and slam. Saxophone has more body too. Still the articulation is there in the treble. Frankly, it sounds ''juiced up'' compared to it's hifi-series equivalent. The buyer of this tube is STILL not looking for traditional bloom in the mid-range, warmth above all else. They want a linear tube, articulate, but want to pay a bit more for greater bandwidth, and simply more 'juice' at all points. The hifi series on steroids almost, but with body added.

The originals, the 'golden dragon' (Russian) mesh plate.
I know these were made in a Russian factory, probably therefore where Sovtek's were made back in the day.
THis old tube set, which was failing at the time and past it's best WAS the embodiement of mid-band warmth and traditional 300B metrics - lushness, limitations at the frequency extremes. If I wanted this, and one side of me DOES, I'd buy mesh-plates again, although it seems Russian made tubes are largely off the table right now.
If you want ''that'' perhaps try Mesh plates by Linlai, PS Vane or other. I can't comment having not owned any mesh plates other than these in 5+ years.

 

Definitely recommend buying direct from Shuguang off Aliexpress. Picked up a matched pair of Shuguang Treasure 300B for about 230 shipped super quick - have to say it is a good tube and has really good synergy with my quad GEC 6j5g and works great with Atrium. Less holographic and seductive in the midrange than WE300B but tight bass, extended, fairly smooth highs - definitely a good option.

 

I have a Fezz Mira Ceti and currently own both the Psvane 300B-Z and a set of Sophia Electric Carbon Plate tubes. The Sophia Electrics are significantly better — they offer a more balanced sound, greater airiness, and noticeably improved detail in the high end.

 

I recently purchased Mystic's Studio B so naturally I've been doing research on tubes.

And I found an interesting discussion about the current production Western Electric 300B:
https://hifihaven.org/index.php?thr...om-rossville-not-the-same-as-originals.12961/
https://hifihaven.org/index.php?thr...b-stock-tubes-the-shenanigans-continue.13318/

Would it be safe to use these b-stock WE 300Bs in the Studio B?
https://www.tubedepot.com/products/western-electric-300b-b-stock

Thanks!