The BEST current-production 300B?

[onemug]

I have a soft spot for mesh plates so I covet the EMLs too. I woke up in the middle of the night last night and fired up my Sophia Princess meshes. The most beautiful tubes. Sounds sublime too. Compared to EHs the Sophia Princess sounds as though they belong to a different species entirely. Now I need the EML mesh rectifier too...

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If you like the "light" show, the EML 300b Mesh does not light up like the Sophia, in fact it's kind of dark. However, the EML 5u4 Mesh Rectifier lights up pretty nice.

For sound, the EML 300b Mesh is at or near the top for me. They are a true mesh and not a "punched plate" like the Chinese ones and you shouldn't use them in a circuit that runs the 300b hard.

 

[davidro]

I know EML meshes shouldn't be run hard but does it apply to the punched meshes like my Sophia?

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[onemug]

I know EML meshes shouldn't be run hard but does it apply to the punched meshes like my Sophia?

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The Sophias can be run a little harder than the EML's.

 

[davidro]

Right. I'm awaiting an RCA 5R4G for that reason...

 

[onemug]

Right. I'm awaiting an RCA 5R4G for that reason...

When you do get your 5r4g, keep an eye on the plates of your meshes during the first 5-10 minutes after turn on. You are probably going to be fine but here's my story...

Back when, got a set of new 300b monoblocks>used the stock 300b tubes that came with it>was not liking the sound of things>swapped in my Sophia Meshes>within 5 minutes a bright "spot" of orange started to appear on the plates>shut it off immediately.

Found out the amp(s) ran the tubes at 400 volts and 80 mA's. Yeah that's within specs of "most" 300b's but the poor meshes just don't have enough metal to dissipate the kind of heat that a solid plate can.

I shudder to think how much life it would have cost my WE's if I had chose them to put in. Don't know if the WE would have red plated so that I would have noticed but a tube just isn't going to last as long when it's ran that hard. And btw, the amps did not have a bias adjustment. It would take a mod. The amp went buh-bye.

The amps I have now run the plates below 400 and the bias around 55 to 60 mA. For my tastes, I think 300b's sound better when ran more in the middle to low end of the spec spread and they have the chance at a much longer life.

 

[davidro]

I thought 5R4G is less burdensome than 5U4G etc, no?

 

[onemug]

I thought 5R4G is less burdensome than 5U4G etc, no?

Should be, but I don't bet on anything. Just wanted you to keep an eye on it when you first put it in "in case" something doesn't spec up right. I've heard great praise for the 5r4g.

Can your amp take a CV378/GZ37 for it's rectifier?

 

[davidro]

I'm not sure. Are they supposed to be easier on the Sophia?

My 5R4G arrived this morning.

 

[onemug]

Well...easier in the sense that the CV378 comes up more slowly, being Indirect Heated, so the 300b isn't hit as hard on start up...tubes like that.

Let us know what you think of new 5r4g.

 

[davidro]

Will do. The Sophias run fine on 5U4G but I can see how they sort of struggle on a very loud volume sometimes.

 

[davidro]

Trying it now. Can't do the loud volume but the hum level is noticeable lower, and it sounds as though this is the right amount of electricity for the Sophia - if that makes any sense.

Will see how it performs on a loud volume probably tomorrow.

 

[StevenZ]

I'm dying to try that EML 5U4G as well. I have a pair of EML 300B's coming today and I cannot wait to hear them. Should be a noticeable step up from my Shuguang 300B-98 stockers.

 

[onemug]

I'm dying to try that EML 5U4G as well. I have a pair of EML 300B's coming today and I cannot wait to hear them. Should be a noticeable step up from my Shuguang 300B-98 stockers.

Nice. Are you getting the mesh or solid plate?

 

[StevenZ]

Just the regular 300B, not the XLS or the mesh.

 

[davidro]

I'm dying to try that EML 5U4G as well. I have a pair of EML 300B's coming today and I cannot wait to hear them. Should be a noticeable step up from my Shuguang 300B-98 stockers.

WOW that's exciting!

 

[onemug]

Just the regular 300B, not the XLS or the mesh.

^^^^^
That's like saying "just a regular Ferrari".

I liked mine out of the box but if you hear anything that concerns you, give them 10-20 hours.

IMO, the best way to do that is to have it on for a few hours, let them cool an hour or more and then but another 4-5 hours on them. I don't like the idea of running them 24/7 to speed any break in, but remember...it's IMO.

 

[StevenZ]

^^^^^
That's like saying "just a regular Ferrari".

I liked mine out of the box but if you hear anything that concerns you, give them 10-20 hours.

IMO, the best way to do that is to have it on for a few hours, let them cool an hour or more and then but another 4-5 hours on them. I don't like the idea of running them 24/7 to speed any break in, but remember...it's IMO.

The tubes are actually slightly used and I think they're already burnt in enough. They're a sort of hand-me-down from a buddy of mine who is moving onto the Elrogs. So I should be able to slap them in and hear them in their prime.

Unfortunately they didn't come yesterday so fingers crossed for today. I'm very excited.

 

[zandru]

What would be the very best current-production 300Bs?

Dear AK'er David.

There aren't any, "tough brake". Specs Vs. independent testing
that I'm aware of peratining to new eastern European and Asian
300B's that can be corroborated; exhibite sub-standard performance
in comparison to their vintage cousins. I hope; and I am sure that
manufacturing techniques "will" and must improve; or these Dim
bulbs won't make It.

Take yor chances and purchase some quality NOS 300B's.

 

[davidro]

I'm enjoying this 300B thread and have always wanted a 300B amp. What amps do you guys have? Commercial? Home built? Something in between like a kit?

Commercial. The valve amp specialist winds his own trannies. I got mine secondhand and had it serviced & modded by him recently.

The tubes are actually slightly used and I think they're already burnt in enough. They're a sort of hand-me-down from a buddy of mine who is moving onto the Elrogs. So I should be able to slap them in and hear them in their prime.

Unfortunately they didn't come yesterday so fingers crossed for today. I'm very excited.

Wow wonder what he thinks of the Elrogs compared to the other tubes he may have used.

Please let us know what you think of the EMLs!

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[StevenZ]

Sorry for no report, it seems my bad luck knows no boundaries. USPS should have delivered the tubes on the 4th and the tracking backs that up. Yet, no box and no pink slip telling me to pick them up. And of course calling USPS is one of the worst experiences ever. After yelling at an automated system and begging to talk with a rep it simply just hangs up. Love it.