Raquel,
You raise an important point concernoing the300bRenaissance/KT88 Phi300.1 comparision. I do believe it was largely a move based on business/economics rather than pure sonic performance alone. Kevin has gotten VERY good sound with the current Phi amps, probably as well as can be expected with pentode tubes, classA/B and using circuit boards. Also multiple KT88s are much cheaper to replace than good quaility 300b tubes for sure(300b do have a much longer life span however). All things considered the choice to use DHT,point to point wire and class A biasing will result in amore pure and natural sound with less electronic/mechanical coloration/signature, but at the cost of less efficiency and power at a given price point. The use of pentode tubes would make it perhaps more flexible in choice of speaker/drive considerations. It just depends(as always) on what your priorities are and what trade offs you`ll except. No design can do it all, and from past threads it`s clear both of these VAC designs have their own group of supporters. I will tell you from personal experience the current VAC pre/amp combo is very very good, but when both the DHT and pentode tubes are both taken to their maximun potential I feel the DHT is just a bit more nuanced and intrinsically musical.
You raise an important point concernoing the300bRenaissance/KT88 Phi300.1 comparision. I do believe it was largely a move based on business/economics rather than pure sonic performance alone. Kevin has gotten VERY good sound with the current Phi amps, probably as well as can be expected with pentode tubes, classA/B and using circuit boards. Also multiple KT88s are much cheaper to replace than good quaility 300b tubes for sure(300b do have a much longer life span however). All things considered the choice to use DHT,point to point wire and class A biasing will result in amore pure and natural sound with less electronic/mechanical coloration/signature, but at the cost of less efficiency and power at a given price point. The use of pentode tubes would make it perhaps more flexible in choice of speaker/drive considerations. It just depends(as always) on what your priorities are and what trade offs you`ll except. No design can do it all, and from past threads it`s clear both of these VAC designs have their own group of supporters. I will tell you from personal experience the current VAC pre/amp combo is very very good, but when both the DHT and pentode tubes are both taken to their maximun potential I feel the DHT is just a bit more nuanced and intrinsically musical.