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Opinion on Elekit 8300 300b

I am thinking of building this kit. I would like to get into SET's and expand my DIY. Currently have Green Mountain EOS HDx's with Ayre QB9 and Ayre AX7e. The GMA's are only 90dB but a very simple xover and easy to drive.

I tried a MiniWatt Pentode SET with 3.5 watts and it sounded very nice for guitar, voice and violin. The 300b kit has 8 watts and would be sufficient for the kind of listening I intend to do with it. I will def keep my Ayre for R&R, dub step etc.

I have built computers (in the old days) and soldered chips so I know how to solder and know digital well. Just am not so familiar with analog stuff and power.

I am interested in trying lots of mods over time so may be investing money in it.

Questions are:

1. Is it worth the money as a starter kit?
2. Is it an upgradeable platform or does the use of PCB's negate that?
3. Would I be better off using a wired platform from the start?
4. Anyone know about the Elekit kit that has interchangeable 2a3 and 300b? Sounds interesting but maybe the tradesoffs are too great.

I know about Audionote and Bottlehead but these kits really almost double the cost and I would prefer to try different mods and upgrades. Also want to build a set of Single driver speakers soon too.

Thanks for you opinions! Oh, really not trying to stir a debate about tubes vs SS. I like em both really and want both of them in my audio quiver!

Drew.
drewh1
drewh1 OP
92 posts
 
Just pulled the trigger and ordered the 2a3 Stereomour. I have the manual but the kits are awaiting transformers.

Viridian - Thanks for your input. The Bottlehead Forum is really helpful too.
viridian's avatar
viridian
4,184 posts
 
Drew, I want to build that one as well. It seems like the perfect balance of cool looks, functionality, and cost. While you are waiting, you might just want to order some upgraded signal caps, the power supply caps are great as they come from the factory. Shouldn't be too expensive at all, and my experience with their kits is that better caps are a genuine enhancement. There is lots of info on the Bottlehead forums about that.

I e-mailed Eileen over the weekend to get a new transformer for my Foreplay III extended. I told her it was not urgent. I'm sure she'll touch base this week.

drewh1 OP
92 posts
 
Hi Veridian - I'll let you know how it goes. It is supposed to ship this week. I am taking everyone's advice from the forum - build it stock then upgrade!

Might make a goldpoint the first upgrade - love the way they look and right in the signal path. I will be only hooking up one input and will eliminate the cheapo selector switch in the initial build. Should be fun and educational at any rate.
viridian's avatar
viridian
4,184 posts
 
Drew it's "viridian", with three "i"s. Good luck with the build, it should be very, very easy. I would appreciate you getting back with your impressions, either in this thread or e-mail me off board.

The Goldpoint is a beautiful control and a great place to start. I'm a cap guy, so I tend to go there first. It seems like the dimensions and the look make it the best looking Bottlehead piece they have ever made, IMHO. But I'm not much on their new sanded metal finish. I usually get out the spray can of hammertone silver at the first moment.

Happy listening!
drewh1 OP
92 posts
 
Oops - Viridian it is! I will definitely let you know and will likely have questions about caps as I get more deeply into it. Thanks for the tip about the Hammerton paint.
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