Favorite 300B: Sophia vs KR

Charles1dad- Pls send me an email msklein52@comcast.net, if you are interested in comparing the Takasukis and BTs to KR and/or AVVT We clones. I have a pair of each but my VAC takes 4 300bs, so they are "on the shelf" right now. With the need for 4 tubes, cost is an issue, so I'd love to hear how these compare. I understand that its likely to be system dependent, but what isn't. Anyways it would be a starting point.

Swampwalker,
Thanks very much for your kind tube loan offer. I`ll email you. Are you using the VAC Renaissance30/30?
best Regards,

Charles1dad- That be the beast (and I do mean beast...it made me recall the advice of one A'goner who said that the quality of a tube amp is very closely correlated to its weight, which, of course, correlates to the weight of its output xfrmrs.) Will be looking for your email.

Any updates regarding RP's?

How many hours on Takatsuki Charles1dad? Any improvements?

THX

Hi Maxmad,
Hope to finally hear the RP next week.
The Takatsuki has about 60-65 hours and has only gotten better. No night/day change but noticable improvements, the sense of air, living-breathing pressence along with dynamic power and projection is uber quality.This tube is very energetic and emotional ly involving yet it maintains a sense of supreme refinement and control.Resoulution,nunance and articulation is fanstastic! you will hear the most suble differences between all recordings nothing is masked over or veiled. This is done in a most natural and holistic manner(not clinical-analytical by any means).

Bottom line, the Takatsuki is an extraordinary 300b and I can`t imagine how it would fail to impress those who want pure natural music as opposed to hifi artificiality.It is clearly better than the Shuguang BT and just outclassed the Western Electric re-issue 300b in my system
Regards,