New Convert to the Bottlehead/Paramount Family

Gerry E.

Gerry E.

Member
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Hi:

About two months ago, I acquired a pair of early Paramounts 300Bs (already built).  Since then, I had them upgraded to the latest version with the installation of the Soft Start kit. I have been listening to them for the last few days and they are sounding excellent.  A have a couple of questions:

1.  What are some of the best readily available 5670/396A/2C51 driver tubes and where can I get them?  Right now I'm using the stock GE, but I assume there's better. I know there are some "exotic" brands (ex. the Ericsson 2C51) but those seem difficult to source. What about the ubiquitous Western Electric 396A? They are easy to find and don't cost too much.

2.  I still haven't figured out how to open the fuse case. Can someone tell me the secret handshake? 

3.  I read that once you turn them off, the Soft Start circuit takes 20 minutes to reset.  Given that and the minor risk to the output tubes, is it OK to turn them back on within a few minutes? 

BTW, I'm aware of the Magnequest transformer upgrade and that many owner's prefer the switch to 2A3s. However, I want to stay with the stock transformers and 300Bs for now.  The amps already have upgraded capacitors
 
First, Welcome!  Amazing sound Bottlehead gets isn't it?

1) I can't help you here I don't have Paramounts but I'm familiar with them.

2)  The "secret handshake" is necessary to find the product page (click on the badge in the upper left of any page, then click on Products) fuse comes out with a small screwdriver wedging the short end, it pulls out straight up.  There is also a place there for a spare fuse, I think. 

I hope you got the manual with the amps.  It will help you in the future if you ever have a problem like a solder joint going bad.  This happens to even the most experienced of us.

3) Yes, the output tubes will last longer if the soft start is working.  There is a way to "suicide" the soft start and get it to work faster.  But it sounds like you are not ready to solder or get your hands inside so I'll just leave it there.

What speakers are you using?  I ask because the drop from a 300B to 2A3 might be a problem if they are not sensitive enough if you decide to do that down the line. 

Poster Paully went from the 300B, to 2A3, to 300B, to 2A3, to 45 and ended back at 300B.  It doesn't take very long for all this.  No, he did not do this in one day.  He took over a year's time but the change out only takes a half hour, 45 minutes if you go very slowly.

BTW, nice caps.  Some day I might spring for V-Caps and hear what it is all about.
 
As to the 5670, I have some Rayathons from eBay, that sound good and were not expensive...John
 
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Thanks for the replies and welcome.  Yes Grainger, amazing sound!  Also, with your advice, I managed to pop off the fuse caps.  I forced it a little more than I like, but they were really stuck in there.  They probably hadn't been opened in 5 years.  With the purchase of the Paramounts, I did get all of the manuals, paperwork and CDs, so I'm all set there.

My speakers are Altec 756Bs/Jensen RP302s on OBs (see the photo above).  They play plently loud with a 1 - 1.5wpc James Burgess 45/46 amp that I havde been using, but it was time to try something different (plus I got a good, local deal on the Paramounts).  I also want to see if the extra power makes any difference.

I have already done 45/46, 2A3 (Fi monos), PP2A3 (Brook 12As), but I never owned a 300B amp before, so this is fun.  Thanks again.

Gerry   

   
 
As for the 5670, look for the GE Five Star line.  I use them in my Paramounts and other gear which requires that tube.  Very reliable, utterly linear and they were sold in the day as broadcast, avionics and medical quality.  Very rugged and built for many, many on/off cycles and long life.  They usually cost more but they will probably outlast you...
 
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Hi:

I thought I would give an update on my Paramounts.  I have put quite a few hours on them since my last post, so if there
 
Hi Gerry,

You may remember me. I was very close to purchase your WE 754 a couple of years ago and unfortunately it didn't happen (an unresponsive Korean buyer finally paid you, right)?

The Paramounts are indeed very nice. I have the same driver tubes BTW.

Do yourself a favor and do get the MQ iron upgrade.

Want to treat you even more? Go to 2A3s or 45s. These are direct coupled and I like them much more. Also you can get NOS tubes vs the 300Bs.

Want it to get aven better? Get a second pair of Paramounts, identical to the first in parts and upgrades and use it for your tweeters. Replacing the parafeed cap in the amps with a smaller one let's you get rid of the cap in the tweeter and you'll extract more life from those tweeters than you thought it could be possible. It'll take your system to new heights.

Some people think BH is great because you can get cheap amps. That may be truth but to me the greatness of BH is that they are the best sounding commercial amps I've heard AND that you can tweak them to your taste. Particularly, using the PF cap as a high pass filter is a very powerful tool.

Enjoy.
 
Gerry;

Here is another source for 300B tubes. http://www.kraudioproducts.com/Kr/ProductMain.aspx?CatID=13  They have some nice products and a fairly good warranty.



Mike
 
Hi Mike:

Thanks for the suggestion.  The price seems to be in line with the EML and the extended warranty is a nice extra.  As if we didn't have enough choices already, Psvane recently announced their new WE300B 1:1 Replica!  Check it out here:

http://psvanetube.com/wordpress/psvane-we300b-11-replica-pre-order-extremely-limited-quantity/

Gerry

   
 
Hi Mike:

There are WE300B clones and then there are WE300B clones.  The former only duplicate the specs, operating parameters, etc.  The later, in addition to the specs, also claim that the construction and materials used are identical.  That
 
Gerry;

I agree with your opinion and those of the quotes. I have upgraded my caps and resistors as well as the BH power cords. Being an old time employer of the engineering group for a major fuse manufacturer I am still not convinced about the fuses. I currently use KR 300Bs, Electro Harmonix 300Bs, and Genelex PX300Bs. I have used EML in the past and liked them as well. Right now I am waiting for the KR clones to try them out. The only resin for the choice was the warranty and local availability. The last EMLs I bought were from NY but I got cleaned out by UPS brokerage fees coming here to Canada and customs duties as the country of origin was not the US. I have done a lot of listening tests with tubes and personally I am not in love with Chinese products. This is not a bias thing, it is purely based on my listening experiences.

I also had thoughts like yours regarding the AC vs DC but those concerns no longer exist for me. Also I support the comments made by Xavier, this weekend I had the opportunity to audition some very expensive mono bloc amps at a local shop and he had the same speakers I had. I found that they were not any better than my Paramounts with the upgraded CAPs and resistors. My next step will be Magnaquest iron which I have been told, takes things up a notch.

By the way I am very interested in your open baffle speakers, what are the drivers and is there any specs available for the cabinets? I would like to try my hand at speakers this year.



Cheers;

Mike
 
Gerry

Thanks for the information about the speakers now I know where to start. As far as fuse go I will never doubt anyone who says they hear the difference. With all of the knowns about electrics there are probably a lot of unknowns yet to be discovered or explained. I am sure I will also try a set myself soon just to see the difference myself. There have been a number of people like yourself who have heard an improvement so who I am I to doubt them. After the improvement I heard with my BH power cords I believe anything is possible. I always thought that living here in a older apartment building so far away from the power source and with hundreds of fridges and dishwashers in the circuits, I would hear no difference but I was wrong.

Anyway I'll give them a try and let you know how it goes.

Grainger;

Thanks for the info now I now I am on the right track in my thinking!!


Cheers for now.

Mike
 
Hey Jerry - Interesting rig you have there! Very cool!


I see you have a v-cap on your tweeter. How do you like the teflon v, and how has it compared to other high end caps in your experience?

thanks much
Eric
 
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