Cary 300b se signature monos

Thanks for the write up! I'm just getting back into audio, after a long period out of the hobby. I've got a pair of original Cary 300B amps and you really can't beat the 300b for midrange and delivering music to the listener. I had seen that you were using some of the newer 300B tubes, such as Psvane. Have you done any listening companions between this newer 300b variant and some of the older ones... such as We300, original Tj, Svetlana, etch? I'm really not in the market to replace the WE's (also used to have Svetlana and Tj's)...but I am interested in any listening impressions comparing them.


Thanks,
Dan
 
gonefishin said:
Thanks for the write up! I'm just getting back into audio, after a long period out of the hobby. I've got a pair of original Cary 300B amps and you really can't beat the 300b for midrange and delivering music to the listener. I had seen that you were using some of the newer 300B tubes, such as Psvane. Have you done any listening companions between this newer 300b variant and some of the older ones... such as We300, original Tj, Svetlana, etch? I'm really not in the market to replace the WE's (also used to have Svetlana and Tj's)...but I am interested in any listening impressions comparing them.


Thanks,
Dan
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hi Dan welcome to the shark!!!!yes i have been testing, the gold lions are good but i keep wanting to go back to the psvanes, im looking into what pair of 300b's to test next. i think the sophia princess mesh plates or carbon plates are next on the list. ive been looking at the older 300b's as well and havent found anything that really makes me want to buy them yet. the plan is to find a suitable nos tube to try out as well. but im still searching for them. and the only original WE's i found are more than i paid for the amps ,per tube.lol. so i wont be doing that.
i read a few articles on 300b's and they seem to say the newer technology makes better tubes. im not sure if i believe that or not yet. im guessing different but maybe not better.
 
Very nice, Steve! Glad to hear about your journeys. Have you been rolling your driver and input tubes?

Dan
 
gonefishin said:
Very nice, Steve! Glad to hear about your journeys. Have you been rolling your driver and input tubes?

Dan
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in the input and driver spots i have not tried any new production yet. i have the 60's brimars and the 50's melz i got from nikolay at tube maze. the melz seem to be better in the input and the brimars in the drivers. i have some plans of trying different new production and a couple more pairs of nos in there. i ran them the other way around for a few weeks and this way just seems a very slight bit better. ive been speaking with a couple tube guys and they both seem to think these psvanes are not going to sound their best until the 250 hour mark and im definiely not there yet. so i may have jumped the gun on my review of them a bit. by may i should have a few more pairs of both 300b and 6sn7's to try out.
 
I would think you did jump the gun a bit, not having a decent amount of hours on the psvanes yet...all in due time. I was actually talking about rolling vintage driver and input tubes...didn't even think of new production 6sn7's! Have fun!
 
gonefishin said:
I would think you did jump the gun a bit, not having a decent amount of hours on the psvanes yet...all in due time. I was actually talking about rolling vintage driver and input tubes...didn't even think of new production 6sn7's! Have fun!
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in your experience with these amps, did you find a really great combo in input and driver tubes. i would love some suggestions to keep me from buying a million different combos because im looking at a new preamp with a huge choice of tubes. can be run with either 300b's or2a3's, the rectifier has 10 choices of tubes that it can run and the other 4 tubes are 6sL7's . if i get it i will be buying some serious tubes in the near future.lol.
 
Petro85 said:
in your experience with these amps, did you find a really great combo in input and driver tubes. i would love some suggestions to keep me from buying a million different combos because im looking at a new preamp with a huge choice of tubes. can be run with either 300b's or2a3's, the rectifier has 10 choices of tubes that it can run and the other 4 tubes are 6sL7's . if i get it i will be buying some serious tubes in the near future.lol.
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I have the original Cary 300se mono amps, with a CV378 Rectifier, 300b Output tube and one 6sl7 driver tube. I'll include some thoughts I had written down WAY back in 2002 on rolling in specific driver tubes. These amps have been sitting dormant for quite some time, as has my speakers and my main system. I hooked them back up getting ready to thin out some of my equipment, I'll be reluctant to see these go. Because of this I haven't got any experience rolling any of the newer 6sl7 tubes in. The old notes are below

Hi there,
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First off....let me say your results will not only depend on your personal "taste" in music...and on your system...but also on the output tube your using. The best way to find out is to try...try...try. Lucky the 6sl7s are a bit cheaper than the 300B tubes or we'd all be broke.

My first 6sl7 swapping was with the WE300B tube. Some of the tubes I've tried...this is what I found(remember...your mileage most likely WILL vary based on system differences and personal taste)

Philips Jan 6sl7WGT - Here's a tube that's not often sought after. It has a nice laid back presentation to it. Seems to be clear and detailed with a decent soundstage. This tube seemed to just let the 300B tube be heard.

Nationa Union 6sl7 vt-229 - Alot of presence here. It seems to add more to the top end and just a bit to the upper bottom also. It has a bit more forward presentation with the WE300B. More dynamics and a wider soundstage. It did seem to "muddy" up the details a bit. All in all...after living with the tube for a while it was just to forward for me.

Sylvania 6sl7 vt-229 - Very similar to the NU tube. Added top...punchier bottom...wider...wider soundstage. But not as forward as the NU...still a bit forward...but just not as much. The Sylvania also seemed to "muddy" up the details a bit. All in all...not my tube of choice for now. Did I mention it has a very wide dynamic presntation though

RCA 5691(red base) - This tube...the first time I tried it was after the NU tube. It's definitly a different sound...much more laid back. A bit rolled off in the treble(compared) nice presentation but it just seemed to be not all that detailed and clear...just a bit. This is now compared to the Philips WGT.

Sylvania 6sl7GT(don't remember the year) (chrome domes) - I got rid of these I now wish I hadn't. they seemed to have nice detail...very clean. A laid back (easy) presentation. But they lacked a bit of dynamics and didn't have that huge soundstage. I'll try to get another pair.

These were all with the WE300B tube. I think that is important factor...change the output tube...try all the 6sl7s again. After all the tubes tried...I kept the Philips WGTs in. They seemed to have a presentation that I liked with nice detail...seemed to more so let the WE talk for the amp than the others.

TJ300B mesh (perf plates) - don't get me wrong...the WE are nice. I love the easy presentaion they have. But, the TJs seem to have a more extended top end. Notice I didn't say added top end(as before with the 6sl7s) more extended bottom end. More dynamic...cleaner, more detail. Still very musical. Nice tube! The soundstage is not as wide or deep as the WE tube. Also, the TJ is a bit more forward in it's presentation...not much...but a bit more.

Philips WGT - again...nice. Seems to let the TJ thru. Clean detailed...this is what I have in now.

NU vt-229 - again....dynamic...added top wide soundstage...very forward now...and a bit muddied.

Sylvania vt-229 - Dynamic, added top and bottom...wide...wide soundstage. bit muddied compared to the Philips WGT but not to bad. Again...presentaion is to forward.

Sylvania chrome domes - Now...I wish I had them back...I think this may be a good match. <

RCA(reds) - not to bad...nice presentaion...just a bit muddied on the details.

I really have to get me a pair of the old Sylvanias again! They were a bit light with the WE tube...but were very clean and detailed with a laid back presentation. Live and learn...still don't know why I got rid of them!


Once again...you mileage will vary...you have to find what suits you...and your system. When trying them...swap them back and forth if you want....then leave the tube in there for a week or two...to live with it for a while...


anyone have any other thoughts or experiences with various 6sl7 types? Love to hear'em!
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gonefishin said:
I have the original Cary 300se mono amps, with a CV378 Rectifier, 300b Output tube and one 6sl7 driver tube. I'll include some thoughts I had written down WAY back in 2002 on rolling in specific driver tubes. These amps have been sitting dormant for quite some time, as has my speakers and my main system. I hooked them back up getting ready to thin out some of my equipment, I'll be reluctant to see these go. Because of this I haven't got any experience rolling any of the newer 6sl7 tubes in. The old notes are below

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awesome thanks for that. very interesting. seems you get rid of tubes too fast.lol. id keep them all forever. id also liketo try some sylvanias, and some rcas i was just looking at.
these melz i got from tube maze are very nice, you should give them a try for the moderate price i paid. i might get another pair for the output drivers.
 
Hello gentlemen,

Owner of a CAD 301 SE since 2002, after trying several combinations of tube, the team gain is for me the following : KR 842 VHD (300B) ; Chelmer CV181/ECC32 (6SN7) ; Brimar CV4024/6060 3 mica D getter (12AT7/ECC81) ; Sylvania JAN-CHS 5931 3 mica (5U4G/GZ37).

Best regards
Alain (France):wave:
 
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