Elrog 300b's for sale. Your thoughts?


I noticed this morning an add for the new Elrogs.   I and many others on the forum ran the experiment when the Elrogs were initially launched.   We found the tubes to be superb sonically, but woefully unreliable.  In fact, the early failure rate on those tubes was apparently 100%.  I and others received replacements that were hand selected for suitability in our particular amps.  In fact one individual had 3 pairs fail.  In my case, I went so far as to purchase a PS audio power plant, having been assured that limiting incoming voltage to 115V would ensure reasonable lifetime for the Elrogs.  Two days ago, one of my replacements failed, after having been nursed along carefully.  Honestly, I doubt the tubes had 600 hours on them.  So the Psvane T1s went back in and I began the period of mourning for my deceased Elrogs.  This morning I awake to the siren song of an ad from a reputable dealer who is announcing availability of the new improved Elrogs with a 1 year warranty.   My initial reaction was, "I don't think so.  Someone else can run the $1200 experiment.  Burned once and lesson learned."  But here is the problem.  If all of Elrogs former customers take that approach, the new Elrog will also fail even if the tubes are good for 10000 hours, simply because no one will buy them.    The tubes are so good that it would be a tragedy if that happened.  So the question to all of you who have already been down this road is this?  What would it take for you to give these tubes a try again?
brownsfan
Mike, thanks for those inputs. But I’m puzzled by the fact that the three tube types you mentioned use different filament voltages, among various other differences in electrical parameters. The 45 has a 2.5 volt filament; the 101D has a 4.5 volt filament, and the 300B has a 5 volt filament. Not sure how the "101D/45" setting you referred to could work with all three tube types. Although I’d imagine that a setting intended for use just with a 101D, that applied 4.5 volts to the filament, could work with a 300B in a reasonable manner, at least in a line-level application such as a DAC. It definitely wouldn’t be healthy for a 45 though.

Regards,
-- Al

I believe that Mike’s experience with the Elrog in his Lampizator DAC unfortunately has minimal relevance to its performance in a power amplifier,. I’d assume that far greater demands are placed on the tube tasked with driving speaker loads. It is as he describes sonically beautiful in character.

Stringreen, the Elrog sound quality has been discussed and compared with many other 300bs  in several different threads (I’ve been fortunate to have heard 11 different types in my amplifier over the years) . As I’ve said before the Elrog is the very best in sound quality "but" it doesn’t by any means embarrass other top tier 300bs. The gaps are subtle.

Stringreen if you have found a SS amplifier that pleases you as much or more than a tube amplifier, sincere congratulations to you. There’s no logical reason for you or others to own a tube amplifier. This hasn’t been my experience by any stretch. As Brownsfan stated, the SET tube power amplifier listening experience is above and beyond what I have heard with transistors. So this is simply a matter of our individual sonic objectives.

No intention of the tired tube vs transistors debate resurrection. My point is, only that these premium 300b tubes in the right amplifiers have taken my music listening to higher ground..
Charles
The cost of the tubes is not what worries me. I am much more concerned about the risks of any potential amplifier damage should they fail.

Gary
Hello Gary,
I'm relieved to report that the Elrog tube failures did not harm my amplifiers at all. I know that the magnificent Takatsuki 300bs  are serving you well 😊
Charles 
It's been exactly one year since I have used my updated 'new production' tubes. No issues, no flaws.

Mind you I don't keep removing them for any A/B testing while they are warm, etc.

But I have changed them from one amp to another, while completely cool.

And needless today they have a wonderful SQ.