845 vs 300b which do you prefer better?

[Bluefish]

Curious if anyone hear has had first hand experience with the 845 vs 300B. I like 300B and have always been intrigued by the 845 tube. Like to here you thoughts.

 

[Natural Sound]

I'm guessing it depends a lot on the circuit. I have heard both and prefer the 300B. But it's not a fair comparison because the 845 amp was a cheap Chinese integrated amp. The 300B amp was a much more refined high end model (I forget the names).

The 300B like the 2A3 were designed for audio. The 845 was designed as a radio transmitting tube that can also be used for audio. But we've seen television tubes that do an admirable job with audio so that last point may be moot.

 

[Bluefish]

I'm guessing it depends a lot on the circuit. I have heard both and prefer the 300B. But it's not a fair comparison because the 845 amp was a cheap Chinese integrated amp. The 300B amp was a much more refined high end model (I forget the names).

The 300B like the 2A3 were designed for audio. The 845 was designed as a radio transmitting tube that can also be used for audio. But we've seen television tubes that do an admirable job with audio so that last point may be moot.

ok, thanks for the reply.

 

[Paul Birkeland]

The 845 has quite some downsides to deal with, like needing a lot of plate voltage, a high impedance output transformer, and a lot of grid drive voltage to work properly. Given that a lot of 845 amps make about 20W or so, the extra headroom gained vs. a 300B hasn't seemed worth it to me.

I'm a little biased though, as our Paradynes make about 2x the power of an 845 on roughly 300B amp B+ with a low impedance output transformer.

 

[Bluefish]

The 845 has quite some downsides to deal with, like needing a lot of plate voltage, a high impedance output transformer, and a lot of grid drive voltage to work properly. Given that a lot of 845 amps make about 20W or so, the extra headroom gained vs. a 300B hasn't seemed worth it to me.

I'm a little biased though, as our Paradynes make about 2x the power of an 845 on roughly 300B amp B+ with a low impedance output transformer.

Ok, thank you. Yeah, its not the power im after so much. More the tone and searching for something better than 300B if that is possible. Love my 300B with my horn loaded Klipsch like DBB speakers. Was looking at your 2A3 as well, but know nothing about that tube either.

 

[Paul Birkeland]

The 2A3 and 300B are very similar, especially with modern production tubes.

 

[Paul Joppa]

Judging by what you find on the internet, 45 amps are the most un-colored - but at only 2 watts
they really want the efficiency of Klipschorns. (Stereomour can be modified to use 45s . . . :^)

I personally like the 2A3 best.