Thanks, Analog Addict!
Just to be sure I am reading that correctly, the max output is 18V, not 1.8V; correct?
Chris

correct

Analog Addict,

Do you find a preamp is necessary for gain or does the volume knob provide enough?

>>> ...a brand new 300b-v. An amazing amp bested only by the PSE version. I would be very happy to own this amp, but it is already spoken for...

:-(

Depends on the voltage of the input device. What were you thinking of using?

My final conclusion comparing the 300B-v to my other tube amp: the 300B is obviously so much better there is no reason to keep the other amp. A friend was over last night, he has a high end system, knows what to listen for. We played the other amp for an hour, he said it sounds really good as always. When he heard the 300B he said it was like a haze was lifted, the details come through so clear, transparent and focused. He said the bass was just as good as the 30 watt KT-66 amp. The sound stage depth and width were equal.

It was nice getting confirmation that what I was hearing was true.

I did a lot of level matched listening tests in the last week. Aside from that, realized when just listening to the 300B for enjoyment, I sometimes had it at levels higher than my usual with the other amp. So one test was to play 4 tracks at 75-80dB. This was Latin jazz with a lot going on, large group of instruments, lots of percussion and rhythm instruments, lots of bass. The 300B was comfortable and sounded fantastic. It felt uncomfortable with the other amp. Maybe it was the haze that amp seems to have. Turn it up and the haze gets louder too.

With the 300B individual instruments are clear and distinct from each other, even when a group are playing together. Leading edge of horn sections have more bite, crisp and clear. A sax solo does not get swallowed up by all the rhythm instruments and bass in the background. Same for cymbals, bells, Timbales, wood block sounds. The decay of a piano is more present.

The purity and presence of the 300B-v is really something. We listening to all types of jazz from small group to big band, including some close to rock like Bill Frisell the East West album, and Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood the Juice album.

Hello timeout59,
Nice sound description.
this largely coincides with the experiences I have also had. the KT88SEP is a great amplifier, but the 300b in my case the DJH variant plays in a different league. Some time ago I had made the attempt with the LP2030 pre and the power amplifier of my Symphonic Line. Similar sound tuning. Maybe a little more power vs aura. both good. but in the long run, the 300b has set itself apart a little in terms of timbres and internal dynamics. I never had the feeling that anything was missing, not even in the bass, neither control, speed nor power. I have a 93dB horn speaker.
Hopefully the 300b will be repaired soon, it is missing for my salvation.

PS
Bill Frisell, East West: great album

Stopped by the shop to drop off the PSE GK6'er chassis project. Dennis received his new special expensive Chinese 2A3 tubes for the 2A3 amp. Sounds really nice. (Still available)

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...c4d9dfef_b.jpgUntitled by analog addict, on Flickr

Dennis in the listening position....

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...c8716325_b.jpgUntitled by analog addict, on Flickr

I went with NOS RCA black plate 2a3’s but if Mr. Had likes these tubes it’s “food for thought “
The Linlai’s sure look snazzy. After all the WE300B’s in the mighty 300PSE seem to have hit it out of the park. Related to that, I would like to hear what was so funny the other day when you substituted the 300PSE in place of the large KT amp? Someone told me I should ask about that. Also, are there any new updates concerning the Inspire 3.1 speakers yet? Can’t wait to hear more about your 9-pin PSE with the Vagas PS. We live in interesting times in more than one way. Thanks

I'm not sure what you mean by 'funny". I went back and looked, but couldn't find the reference.

We seem to be in a bit of a lull regarding the 3.1 speakers. Dennis hasn't given me the final configuration, so still waiting on that. The PSE GK6'er chassis is at the shop waiting on Straitwire's attention, so it's out of my hands for now.
I have a couple of weeks of out of town work starting next week, so I'll be hit or miss for the next couple of weeks...

Someone not on this site told me that I should ask analog addict what happened when switching from the KT-170 to the 300PSE. Then added “Allan & I could not stop laughing”.
So I’m thinking more gleeful “funny” rather than 3 dollar bill funny money or something that smells funny (bad not humorous) Thank you for the initial quick reply.

Hmmm...I'm not sure who it was, since it was only Dennis and I the other day with the PSE300B and the KT-170. However, the KT-170 is a powerful, 12 wpc pentode amp. The PSE300b is also about 12 wpc, but is triode. To me the biggest difference is that I'm not a huge fan of the KT-170 tube.

Otherwise, they behave rather like you would expect, except the PSE300b has the punch of a pentode amp with the sweetness of a triode design. The KT-170 amp doesn't have that triode sweetness, but is still a very nice sounding amp. It's also less than a third the cost of the PSE300b...

Hope that helps...

Yes sir, especially the “about” 12 watt output for the 300PSE. And if I’m reading between the lines right, “to have your cake. & eat it too” costs extra.

How much of the cost of the 300PSE is in the WE 300B tubes? Using European tubes should cut the cost about $2K.

The WE tubes are $3000 for a matched quad, with a 5 year warranty. The amp is specifically designed and tweaked around these tubes and their sound. At least right now, Dennis sin't offering the amp without the WE tubes...

The PSE300b may be good up to almost 14 wpb, but in all honesty, I couldn't remember exactly. The 300b-v is good for 7 wpb, but the PSE may be just a hair under double that output. In any case, you wouldn't notice it...If this is mistaken, I'm sure that Dennis will give me the scoop.

Dennis got back to me and said he told you this. Well, lemme just say that I didn't so much as laugh as note that the difference wasn't subtle. Dennis can laugh at stuff like this. I try and learn something.

What I learned is that I REALLY want a PSE300b. But it's too rich for my blood as someone who's trying to retire so he can spend more time at the Toy Shop...:yes:

Looking for a backup driver and rectifier tubes for my 300B-v. Are 6SL7 and 5U4 / 5AR4 the only options?

No. You can run any 6SN7 and I believe also a 6BX7. As for rectifiers, you could try 5R4 and variants, 5Y3G/5Y3, and 5V4G/5V4GA.

Personally, I haven't ever used the 6BX7 myself. The 5AR4 will get you the most juice out of your power supply, but each rectifier will have its own characteristics as well

Thanks, I've got some Sylvania 6SN7 chrome dome tubes that I had tested, they test very good. An RCA CRC-5U4-G VT-244, a 274B with a tube store label on it.

I also have a blue glass CV-181. Is that good for this amp? I think I used it in the Inspire LP-27a preamp I had.

All those tubes should be fine.

FWIW, I recently bought a linlai WE 274b, not cheap, but is my fave in my Inspire 45/2A3 and KT88SEP. YMMV.

Human Bean… Welcome to AA! :wave:

update...
 

So, meanwhile back at the Toy Shop, Dennis has been busy. While I'm out of town, he's been building amps. Guess when I'm around we listen to music and brainstorm ideas, when he should be building amps. Here are a pair of 300b-v's.

Sorry, they're both already spoken for...However you can still order one and bypass the E-Bay line here.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...ab7df395_b.jpgUntitled by analog addict, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e044fd9c_b.jpgUntitled by analog addict, on Flickr

Here's the undersides of one of these amps...

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...2629faec_b.jpgUntitled by analog addict, on Flickr



Also up for grabs is the new GK6'er, production unit #1, for $2000

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...00a82240_b.jpgUntitled by analog addict, on Flickr



Also up for grabs is the new 2A3, featuring new PSVANE 2A3 tubes...This will be ready next week when the face plate arrives. $2950

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...ed6b75f0_b.jpgUntitled by analog addict, on Flickr



Last but certainly not least, is a new pre amp prototype, based on the WE396A
with a 6GK6 cathode follower. Dennis is very excited about this one.

Not for sale ...yet.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...8b1ed2e9_b.jpgUntitled by analog addict, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...8b1ed2e9_b.jpgUntitled by analog addict, on Flickr

As always, jump line by bypassing E-Bay and PM me here for all your Inspire needs.

Preamp for Sweet 807
 

https://speakerprojects.files.wordpr...6/img_3589.jpg

Connecting my iPad directly into the Sweet 807 doesn’t produce very loud volume levels - small rooms + high efficiency speakers only. My room is about 16’ x 20’. Adding an inexpensive preamp allows me to play at very loud volumes easily. I chose the Topping L30II which cost $150 and it comes in red. Pleasantly surprised the Inspire amp’s sound remained the same - just louder.

Maybe I’ll have to get the new little black preamp in the post above. Will it add the gain I’m getting with the Topping? So beautiful!

PS. I figured out how to make the photo smaller and replaced the one that was too large.

Impossible to say without knowing the specs on the pre amp. However Inspire gear is always designed to be additive/synergistic, meaning the sum is always greater than the number of its parts.

The Topping has the reputation of many solid state preamps, super clean. Doesn’t surprise me that the sound isn’t all that different with it in your system. I have a tube preamp (Supratek Cabernet) and it can have quite a variable effect on my system. Keep in mind that I am a serial tube roller… I finds that the tubes in every step of the amplification chain makes a difference and not every tube works well with every other one. For example, I had been running some GEC 12sn7 in my preamp, very well regarded tubes that I was really happy with. I pout in some new driver tubes in my amp and yuck! Guess the drivers aren’t so good, right? Not so fast! I replaced the GEC with some Sylvania 12sn7 tubes and I’m back to great sound! A little different, but still great.

That’s my long winded way of saying that a tube preamp can be a blessing and a curse. When you have everything dialed in they can give you a richer, bigger sound that is addictive. They can also make previously liked tube combos in your amp not as good.

Weekend toob rolling...
 

Dennis finished up a new "Signature" KT-88 Firebottle amp for one of our AA members and has been having a lot of fun rolling different tubes through it this weekend.

Back at the Ranch....

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...5a8dba90_b.jpgUntitled by analog addict, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...ffcd1147_b.jpgUntitled by analog addict, on Flickr


A pair of metal 6L6s...

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...8e40a455_b.jpgUntitled by analog addict, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...7fed74a7_b.jpgUntitled by analog addict, on Flickr




EL-34s

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...4ca7f351_b.jpgUntitled by analog addict, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...07b7db07_b.jpgUntitled by analog addict, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...81a382f3_b.jpgUntitled by analog addict, on Flickr



and his favorite combo of the night, 6L6GTs, GE 6SN7, and new production 5U4G...

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...6f89035e_b.jpgUntitled by analog addict, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...1f268e1d_b.jpgUntitled by analog addict, on Flickr


He told me that he was planning on making two of these, and although this one is spoken for, there is one more still available.

PM me for details...

Nice, I'd be happy owning all those great tubes to experiment with.

What distinguishes the "Signature" from the usual KT-88 Firebottle?

What is that very cool looking globe shaped tube in the 6SN7 position?

I’m a big fan of 6l6 tubes but haven’t gotten around to trying the metal ones. I know that the metal 6j5, 6c5, and c3m tubes are great and I like my metal 6f6 as well. They may not look great but they are still cheap!

The Signature KT-88 Fire Otto’s has a higher voltage power transformer, and is set up for higher plate and filament current. The globe tube is a Linlai 6SN7.


The metal 6L6s are actually the first version of the 6L6. Some people prefer them over all others…

Beautiful new toys,
The KT88SEP with a larger transformer? Sounds good. It certainly can't hurt, but who needs so much power if they want to reach their goal with a small tube amplifier and loudspeakers with high efficiency?

The globe mesh rectifier with the side o rings looks interesting. Which company?
Fivre has a 5U4GB with large oo side getter in the ´60, I don't know that from other manufacturers.

The new small pre in black with the WE396A and the 6GK6 looks harmless, but with the tube assembly it is more of a wolf in sheep's clothing.

That’s a nice pic of the Fire-Bottle with the TAD 6L6 tubes & coin base GE 6SN7. Lately I’ve been rolling both the RCA & Sylvania wafer base 6SN7 in my 6FLV-v for a change of pace. But what I’d like to see explored is an Inspire 2a3 PSE. After seeing 2 RCA 2a3’s glowing blue, I’m thinking 4 blue hued 2a3’s alongside some bright VR tubes would be quite a sight. Maybe giving the “mighty” 300PSE a run for its money sonically.

This is something I've thought about but really haven't explored with Dennis. However, it would be equivalent to the power output of the 300b-v, or about 7-8 wpc.

I’m really curious about the new black preamp. Any news? What are the dimensions? Cost?

I'm really curious about the rectifier tube with the mesh (so I can see more glowing); what is this tube and would it work in my Fire-Bottle Kleen-Sweep? Dennis sent my Kleen-Sweep with a JJ 5Y3 but I'd really like to use one like in the picture.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...8e40a455_b.jpg

Hello Dambala,
5Y3 and 80 are electrically the same, just a different base.
there is the Cardon mesh plate 80, old, expensive and very rare, the 80 mesh from Marconi, but at horrible prices (a pair from Italy is on eBay for 3750US) or the current EML 80.
for both you needed an adapter. I wouldn't know of a 5Y3 mesh.

I wanted the EML for the PH1 set, but it doesn't fit on my shelf in terms of height

Alan or anyone else—what is the input impedance of the Inspire Firebottle KT-88 SEP?

Sorry, forgot to send part 2

But if you can also use the 274 and 5U4 in your amplifier, then the world looks better and cheaper.

You can find them from Sophia, Fullmusic and EML

Input impedance is 100 kohms, purely resistive in nature

Thanks!