Oh Sh#7! Eddie Current Studio B

As you rightly put it, maybe. The HD6xx series is not my endgame, or even all that good to my ears on TOTL rigs. I do agree it is a reference however.

Yea I have a cable I have been meaning to repair, and I was shocked (just shocked I tell you!) how easily these lemo connectors fall apart. I wonder why Focal went with them...

 

Has anyone compared the linlai global e 300b to the WE 300b in the studioB ? or in another amp

 

I did, and I linked to that comparison in another thread. I don't mean to sound like a jerk, but this forum ain't built for hand-holding.

But, I'll do your homework for you: go here. click add to cart. enter the things to pay for things. wait for a few days. plug the things that come in the mail into your tube sockets turn on the power, listen to some tunes and decide whether you want to keep them or not.

 

got it, thanks for all of your help

 

@Josh Schor Believe it or not, he's not trying to be a dick. This forum is for people who've done the research and still have question or opinions. If you haven't yet done the research, there's a very good chance that a Super Search will take care of it.

 

Understood, I will be more vigilant before posting questions. The site has been immensely helpful in putting together my headphone rig. I also ordered the Linlai Global E 300B's

 

Great, looking forward to your impressions! I didn't notice much burn in after 10-20 hours, so they should settle relatively quickly.

 

My 2c. Bought a pair and have been using it for the past few months. Compared it briefly with the JJs and ACMEs before settling on Linlai as my main tube. Compared to the rest, this is a touch cooler in tone and slightly drier sound which suit my preferences for this amp. Seem to stage ever so slightly wider than the JJs and about on par with the ACME in my brief comparison but could be my mind playing tricks. Works great with both my hd800 and verite. Price wise this is about as much as I'd possibly want to spend on a pair of tubes so hopefully it last. Could live with a pair of gold lions or JJs in the event that it doesn't but objectively this is my favorite.

 

Some random notes.

I should have noticed an issue with the temperature differential between left and right Gold Lion PX300B tubes in this flir thermal map:

The right channel tube is nearly 20 °C lower than the left.
14 days later the right channel 300B filament failed open circuit.


Replacement pair of Gold Lion PX300B are both nearly the same temperature.


Interestingly the Linlai E-300B plate temperatures run 20 °C cooler than Gold Lion PX300B.
Both left and right channel tubes are nearly the same temperature.

Currently in 100 hour run-in cycle.


After 10 hours this is the 1KHz distortion measured:


During the first 10 hours the E-300B presented a grumbly background, very noticeable. Probably only 40 dB below listening levels. Mostly low frequency. Also easily influenced by external low frequency vibrations.

After 20 hours the grumbly background appears to have dissipated. Tonality is better balanced and microphonic susceptibility reduced significantly.

 

Recently purchased a used pair of EML 300B solid plates for my Studio Jr (not B), and wanted to share some brief impressions compared to my previous Gold Lions, as well as ask the SBAF community a technical question.

Compared to the GLs, the EML solid plates (not the mesh or the XLS) has more noticeable bass emphasis and a slight increase in the higher treble frequencies. To me this was obvious because I then had to scale my EQ back on the Lokius, both in the mid-bass (2nd knob) and in the two treble knobs (5th and 6th knobs). So overall, I would say it's more V-shaped than the GLs. Interestingly, the EML solid plates seem to give more detail and depth to the sub-bass. Before with the Lokius, the sub-bass knob (1st knob) really didn't have an impact when my GLs were installed. Now with the EMLs, I actually do have that 1st knob dialed up a good amount. For the record, my headphone pairing with the Studio Jr is a HE1000se, so the overall bass boost is very helpful in thickening up the sound.

I do also think the EML solid plates have a deeper (somewhat wider) soundstage compared to the GLs. I think the more detailed and extended bass region helps to create this sense of greater "depth". Layering is a little better too, but the most obvious change to staging for me was the depth. The sound is more "cavernous" than just spread out side-to-side. Prior to buying the EMLs, I was planning to upgrade to maybe the ACME 300Bs or even saved up for the new production WEs. At this point, I'm very satisfied with the EML solid plates and will probably be sitting tight for at least another year before looking to the next upgrade (maybe rectifier? Still running the new production Gold Lion 5AR4). Hope that my rambling is at least somewhat helpful!

For my question, I was wondering if anyone else experienced a metallic sound from the 300B tubes after turning on the amp. I noticed this first with the cheap Psvane 300Bs that came with my Studio Jr. It was almost absent with the GLs. And now with my EMLs, it's actually much louder and lasts longer. I can try to record a video/audio, but essentially it sounds like a metallic "sheen" that lasts for about 4-5 seconds. Nothing visual within the tube to correspond to the sound, and doesn't seem to affect sound at all. The previous owner of the EMLs didn't remember such a sound (and it would've been obvious), so not sure if this is an isolated issue to 300B with the Studio Jr/B? Or are my EMLs on the verge of dying?

 

The metallic sheen is simply the hf heater heating up the tubes and on some tubes it is louder and last longer. Happens to my jjs and linlai.

 

Happens also to WE300B, followed by some glass pings.

 

Thank you all for the quick replies! I felt like I read something similar in the past so wasn't too worried, but for the life of me couldn't find an exact explanation through various searches.

 

pg1 of the manual:

Once the amp is turned on, you may hear a low level shimmering sound from the output tubes for about 10 seconds. This is normal, and varies with tube manufactures. It takes about five minutes for the amplifier to completely warm up, and sound its best.​

 

Just put the LinLai Global E 300b into the Studio B, I have found with tubes that the first 15-25 minutes is fantastic then the tube looses some magic and needs to break in, a strange thing. This tube cleans up vocals, I can clearly here when the voice goes from chest to throat and to head. removes a slight glary haze which I was hearing with the Genelex. Piano has attack and sustain, its clearly a wood and string instrument. My head is bobbing and my foot is tapping. Will give more details as it breaks in. Yotacowboy suggested these as they have a 2A3 mid range, and I concur, its magical.
Adele Easy on Me and 25,

Inside Out
Nilüfer Yanya

 

This post might provide some insight:
Tube Sounds

 

I have some general questions regarding the use of the Studio as apreamp:
What do I have to consider before just plugging it in? What voltages are relevant?
Whats the gain of the Studio? What cables, SE or XLR if the amp is SE? The XLR/SE switch on the front switches the connection on the back too acording to the manual, etc....

 

I have now had the LinLai Global e 300b tubes in for a while. I only have the Genelex to compare them to they are noisy compared to them and I enjoyed them a lot, also they present in a flatter surface or one dimensional compared to the LinLai. The LinLai are cleaner in there presentation on the notes, this is more space more dimension, like a blanket was lifted off of the music. A notes attack and duration is clearer and has the sound of the instrument being played. Was listening to harpsicord and could clearly here the string being plucked. Voices have more breath in the singing (Ida Sand Meet me around midnight) very happy with this purchase. thank you yotacowboy for the recommendation.

 

Just opened an email from Judi... they are taking pre-orders for another run of Studio B's... now with a 2a3 version.

 

I got that email too and re-read through old posts comparing the 2A3 vs 300B versions. From what I gathered, the Studio B technicalities remain largely unchanged with less tube bloom signature in going with the 2A3 tubes.

This is going to be an expensive holiday season.