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#1 Nick's 300B SET (with Andrew L's added magic)

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2016 11:48 pm
by gazjam
Image

The Amp's really found it's sea-legs with some time on it; a bit of a "spendy punt" at the time, but hand on heart this thing makes you know why music is important and worth doing right.
SET done right, feck...who cares how its made, just listen. (But thanks for making it the way it was!)

Just a (slightly) inebriated show of appreciation as I sit here post Boxing Day bloat, glass of malt to hand, with Duke Ellington, BB King and Elmore James literally 6 feet from my nose pouring their hearts out.

Severely not shoddy,
Thanks Chaps.

#2 Re: Nick's 300B SET (with Andrew L's added magic)

Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2016 1:27 am
by Nick
I was happy how that amp turned out.

#3 Re: Nick's 300B SET (with Andrew L's added magic)

Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2016 11:51 am
by IslandPink
Looks like ELROGs there - nice going !

#4 Re: Nick's 300B SET (with Andrew L's added magic)

Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2016 11:57 am
by steve s
Gaz did those valves make a difference, they look the part, and 'different'
Nice looking amp must say...

#5 Re: Nick's 300B SET (with Andrew L's added magic)

Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2016 2:43 pm
by Andrew
Nick wrote:I was happy how that amp turned out.
:)

#6 Re: Nick's 300B SET (with Andrew L's added magic)

Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2016 12:40 pm
by gazjam
steve s wrote:Gaz did those valves make a difference, they look the part, and 'different'
Nice looking amp must say...
Aye Steve,
They go well with the look of the amp, more modern I guess.

Noticable step up sound wise from the EH Gold grids I had in before.
The EH's didn't put a foot wrong, good sounding all rounders but the Elrogs are a lot better.
No roll-off at the top or bottom, tight as a drum.

Reckon the valves are letting me hear what the amps capable of...happy with that!

#7 Re: Nick's 300B SET (with Andrew L's added magic)

Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2016 4:39 pm
by Paul Barker
Certainly looks the part with those in. How much are the Elrogs in the UK? I suppose demand still far ahead of supply?

#8 Re: Nick's 300B SET (with Andrew L's added magic)

Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2016 8:20 pm
by gazjam
Hi Paul,
Dont think theres a UK distributor yet, I ordered mine direct from Thomas Mayer in Germany.
Paid £850 the pair I think.
Think December production is all accounted for?

Good blog post on the valves construction here:
http://vinylsavor.blogspot.co.uk/2016/1 ... mment-form

Some interesting technical stuff here:

http://vinylsavor.de/ER300B_Datasheet.pdf
http://vinylsavor.de/ER300B_application_note.pdf

#9 Re: Nick's 300B SET (with Andrew L's added magic)

Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 6:21 pm
by IslandPink
Oooof !
That's pretty steep !
Think I'll continue with GK-71 triode or GM70 in the future !
I know that GK-71 triode with Andrew's filament supplies beats KR300B XLS .

They are lovely things though, and hopefully they will last a few years . The KR's prove that you can get more than 8 years of good use out of some of the well-built modern 300B's, at 70-80% dissipation.

#10 Re: Nick's 300B SET (with Andrew L's added magic)

Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 8:37 pm
by Paul Barker
Well I suppose £850 is reasonable if whta Thomas says about them is universally accepted. Or rather is a common experience to users.

#11 Re: Nick's 300B SET (with Andrew L's added magic)

Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 10:14 pm
by Greg
Paul, you have such a photographic mind. Please link us to Thomas' post on this or where we can read about it.

#12 Re: Nick's 300B SET (with Andrew L's added magic)

Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 10:29 pm
by Cressy Snr
Greg wrote:Paul, you have such a photographic mind. Please link us to Thomas' post on this or where we can read about it.
He means Thomas Mayer.
http://vinylsavor.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=elrog+300B

#13 Re: Nick's 300B SET (with Andrew L's added magic)

Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 10:59 pm
by Greg
Ah, thanks Steve. A conflict of interest source. I must say, I doubt I would ever pay those prices for 300B's, but having said that, Mark's take on it all is a little discouraging. For sure, if you are an in the knowledge DIYer, you might do well with alternative valves such as GM70, and surely here, DIY is the emphasis. Many do not have the knowledge, but like to find the best sound per pound they can. In this case, Gary has asked Nick to build him his ultimate amp and has now fitted it with his personal believably best valves he can afford. He loves the sound. No doubt Nick's build was an affordable deal compared with a commercial over the counter transaction. If you are a smart DIYer, you might be able to do better for less money, but if you don't have the knowledge, a purchase from a smart bespoke constructor, adding some esoteric valves might just be the very cheapest yet satisfying option, don't you think?

#14 Re: Nick's 300B SET (with Andrew L's added magic)

Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 11:32 pm
by Nick
Maybe you didn’t read the second part of Marks post Greg
They are lovely things though, and hopefully they will last a few years
Not sure he was being negative about them, just that he had another path to take.

#15 Re: Nick's 300B SET (with Andrew L's added magic)

Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 11:50 pm
by Greg
Fair point. I take that completely on board. Sorry Mark if I misunderstood you.