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Once you go 300b it’s hard to go back?

It’s been a while since posting here and total change in my system. I’ve been on the lower power trip and been using a first watt sit2 for years and rotating preamps. I’m now using Omega 1.5 Alinco speakers.  I recently picked up a Line Magnetic 210, a 300b set integreted. I have been loving it. Barley pushing 1 watt according to the meter. Then I purchased some new tubes the Elrog 300b and EML rectifiers. Almost spending more on tubes than the amp it self. I have ignored responsibilities because it’s hard to step away from the music. Everything sounds wonderfully intoxicating.  The simplicity of the integrated, and the lovely glow of sound coming from the tubes. I knew tubes could sound great but really impressed with an integrated amp. 
 
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noromance's avatar
noromance
1,780 posts
 
@gsm18439 Move your amps to the speakers and use long IC runs instead.
wolf_garcia
4,650 posts
 
My Inspire Fire Bottle HO (Dennis Had) works with lots of different tubes and that's something I like, and something I don't like is long interconnects that aren't balanced. Also note that long speaker wire through the cellar has advantages…hang aging meat or sausages from them (this also damps the cable resonances), towels from the hot tub, lights so you can see how the neighbor you have tied up down there is doing…many benefits.
gsm18439
738 posts
 
noromance and wolf_garcia. . .  easier said than done.
jond's avatar
jond
3,400 posts
 
@gsm18439 Just curious was your Deja Vu 2A3 amp SET or pushpull? I've heard the pushpull 45 and 2A3's from them but not an SET. Great amps I have a stereo pushpull EL34 amp from Deja Vu that I love.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
6,996 posts
 
Hi guf ,
Well you sure had a very fine reference point in the First Watt S.I.T.2. I had the Nelson Pass D.I.Y. push pull version of the S.I.T. 2 designed by him. 40 watt pure class A and one of the finest sounding solid state amplifiers I've heard. He knows his stuff 😊. I was very impressed with it in my system.

In direct comparison with my 300b mono block SET I did prefer the latter. 
1  More realism overall
2  Even better tonality and harmonic overtone presentation.  The First Watt was just a bit drier but still very good. 
3 More 3 dimensional and reach out and touch tactile.
4  More of an emotional connection with the music.

300b done right is musically hard to beat. I will admit that the exceptional First Watt came admirably  close. 
Charles 
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