My new amps, on the theme of Paramount

[johnsonad]

A small update.  I purchased a pair of Elrog 300B tubes after reading many favorable reviews.  They haven't much time on them yet (two days) but I thought people would like to hear about them.  If you haven't read anything about them, they are not really a 300B in the technical sense but work in place of a 300B.  On Paul's recommendation, I dropped them in replacing a pair of EML 300B mesh plates (another none true 300B).  They needed a few hours to wake up but after a couple of days of listening my wife and I are most impressed by them.  Sonically, when compared to the mesh, they have a fuller mid range.  When listening to piano works, notes have a more realistic tonal range.  The decay has improved as has the spacial perspective of the sound.  They are not as holographic as the mesh plates yet but this pair is still breaking in.  They are noisier than the mesh plates.  I attempted to measure the difference this morning but I didn't get any appreciable numbers.  It's not a significant difference and this may dissipate as burn in some.

Overall I'm very pleased by the purchase.  They were expensive but if they last, they will pay for themselves in sonic improvement.

I wonder though if my amps can be better optimized for them.  My operating point is 350v P-K, -76v, 50mA, 5k.  Thoughts from PB or PJ?

 

[Paul Joppa]

My rule of thumb target impedance is 4858 ohms - I'd call that pretty close to 5000  :^)

Thanks for the update, will be curious to hear how they progress.

 

[johnsonad]

Thanks Paul! A question, in looking at the curves, do you feel that 50mA is enough? I could work it up to 60mA before needing to swap out PF chokes.

 

[Paul Joppa]

60mA would call for a 3700 ohm transformer. At 70mA, it wants a 3000 ohm transformer. These options will give you a bit more power, but to get REAL power from these tubes you need more voltage. They really are closely related to the 845 from which they were derived!

 

[johnsonad]

Thank you sir! I seem to be in an optimal area and the sound shows as much. Power isn't needed and the sound is sublime. Thank you for the reality check Paul!

 

[johnsonad]

A short update on the ER300B tubes.  That have been in the amps a week now with my wife getting more play time than I have.  She loves them for classical piano, strings and choral voices.  With the EML mesh plates, she wouldn't listen to the system.  Now she is playing music every day.

I've had two short listening sessions with the new tubes.  With my music, I find that they are a little thick in the mid and lower mid range if that makes sense.  The mesh plates have a certain clarity to them that the Elrog's don't.  It could be my operating point or system synergy as all the reviews I've read so far are favorable.  As they continue to break in I'll keep you updated.

 

[johnsonad]

Another update.  These tubes change with time!  We are both happy with them on most recordings.  The meshies sound great but these are better, more life like if you will.  It's nice having the best of both worlds!

 

[Gerry E.]

Another update.  These tubes change with time!  We are both happy with them on most recordings.  The meshies sound great but these are better, more life like if you will.  It's nice having the best of both worlds!

Thanks for the update Aaron!  I'm still waiting for mine.  I pre-ordered them from True Audiophile in early or mid February with delivery expected to be late February or first week of March. 

Now it's mid March and still no word on the next shipment.  That's the way it usually goes with items like this and hopefully our patience will be rewarded soon!                 

 

[johnsonad]

A little something that came in the mail today. They work for the BeePre so why shouldn't they help with the power amps. The Elrog tube disapated heat from the base or so it's written. So far no melted rings.

 

[Paul Birkeland]

The silicone rings are very likely to melt in a power amp (others have melted them); we don't recommend them in that position.

 

[johnsonad]

PB, they work just fine with this tube. They don't get as hot as others and after eight hours on the tube they didn't melt. Now, I'm running them very light at 50mA. Btw they do reduce microphonics which is why I bought them.

 

[Paul Joppa]

Is the coating silicone or vinyl? Very different melting temperatures ...  :^)

 

[johnsonad]

They are the standard BelArt weights so I will assume vinyl though I'm not sure. They look to be of the same material as that used on the larger version. Two full days of use and no issues.