naimnut
Deep in the Mines of Soul
There have been some great comments on this thread. In particular I appreciate the comments made by @RichardAusten above.
I have a few thoughts on this topic. I own and enjoy a modest 300B amplifier with 93dB efficient speakers. I also use well-maintained Quad 2805s, driven by a Quad 909 SS amp. I tend to listen at lower volume levels, typically much less than 80 dB. I have used my lowly 300B amp to drive my Quads. It can be done! I think the 909 sounds better with the 2805s. A bit fuller. More dynamic headroom. But the 300B on the Quads ain't bad, long as you don't ask it to tear the roof off the sucker, volume-wise.
My modified Audio Electronic Supply SE-1 has point to point wiring. The circuit is very simple. Low parts count. No negative feedback. I'm not using exotic or expensive 300Bs. It sounds great with the 93dB efficient JBL 4430s. With the 300B the JBLs often remind me of my Quads. Their tonal accuracy when reproducing the sound of a Fender Precision or Jazz Bass or stand-up bass is wonderful. They are capable of delicacy, nuance, finesse and gut-wrenching high powered FUNK, soul, blues, dub, reggae and whatever kind of electronica, hip-hop or guitar shredding rock you want to throw at them.
The criticisms often levied at 300Bs would, I think, be applicable if I were listening to small, inefficient box speakers with tiny woofers at high volume levels. That's not what I'm doing. When I listen, I don't hear distortion or weak, flabby bass. I hear rich, dynamic, live-sounding and feeling music with beautiful, accurate, rich tone. Would I like to hear them with super-high-efficiency speakers, like Altec VOTT? Sure. But for their studio monitors JBL always prioritized the ability to reproduce the lower frequencies over high efficiency, so instead of 100+ dB efficiency I have 93...Oh well.
Note - my wife and I had the good fortune to attend a live concert recently. Marty Stuart and the Fabulous Superlatives, at the Admiral Theater in Bremerton. Fabulous show. Fabulous sound. I used my decibel meter to check several times throughout the show and the VERY LOUD volume level was steady at ~95dB. We were sitting in the balcony. It was plenty loud. Check out his album "Way Out West".
My point is that I seldom drive my 300B that loud. At that volume it would be using about 2 watts and would still have some headroom. At my normal listening volume it is coasting. Personally, I love the sound of the 300B tube.
I have a few thoughts on this topic. I own and enjoy a modest 300B amplifier with 93dB efficient speakers. I also use well-maintained Quad 2805s, driven by a Quad 909 SS amp. I tend to listen at lower volume levels, typically much less than 80 dB. I have used my lowly 300B amp to drive my Quads. It can be done! I think the 909 sounds better with the 2805s. A bit fuller. More dynamic headroom. But the 300B on the Quads ain't bad, long as you don't ask it to tear the roof off the sucker, volume-wise.
My modified Audio Electronic Supply SE-1 has point to point wiring. The circuit is very simple. Low parts count. No negative feedback. I'm not using exotic or expensive 300Bs. It sounds great with the 93dB efficient JBL 4430s. With the 300B the JBLs often remind me of my Quads. Their tonal accuracy when reproducing the sound of a Fender Precision or Jazz Bass or stand-up bass is wonderful. They are capable of delicacy, nuance, finesse and gut-wrenching high powered FUNK, soul, blues, dub, reggae and whatever kind of electronica, hip-hop or guitar shredding rock you want to throw at them.
The criticisms often levied at 300Bs would, I think, be applicable if I were listening to small, inefficient box speakers with tiny woofers at high volume levels. That's not what I'm doing. When I listen, I don't hear distortion or weak, flabby bass. I hear rich, dynamic, live-sounding and feeling music with beautiful, accurate, rich tone. Would I like to hear them with super-high-efficiency speakers, like Altec VOTT? Sure. But for their studio monitors JBL always prioritized the ability to reproduce the lower frequencies over high efficiency, so instead of 100+ dB efficiency I have 93...Oh well.
Note - my wife and I had the good fortune to attend a live concert recently. Marty Stuart and the Fabulous Superlatives, at the Admiral Theater in Bremerton. Fabulous show. Fabulous sound. I used my decibel meter to check several times throughout the show and the VERY LOUD volume level was steady at ~95dB. We were sitting in the balcony. It was plenty loud. Check out his album "Way Out West".
My point is that I seldom drive my 300B that loud. At that volume it would be using about 2 watts and would still have some headroom. At my normal listening volume it is coasting. Personally, I love the sound of the 300B tube.