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  1. #1
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    845, 211 and 300B power tubes

    i will never part with the almarro, a beloved family member...

    however, have begun thinking about adding a sibling and thought i would tap the collective experience here on various power tubes.

    in particular, i am interested to know more about 845, 211 and 300B tubes.

    it would be great to hear generic, high-level comments on these tubes ...what characteristics would you attribute to each tube type and what distinctions / differences are there between them ?

    also, are there any other tube types i should be looking at that are 8 wpc or greater in a SET amplifier?

    thanks !!
    viking acoustics berlin r mk2 | air tight atc-5 + atm-300r | clearaudio concept + virtuoso v2 MM | t+a dac8 dsd + kanjiroba diy transport + roon rock
    alp-tone audio analog cables | core audio designs plyKraft 3L | hifi racks ltd podium t5-iii

  2. #2
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    Re: 845, 211 and 300B power tubes

    I have a 300B and an 845 amp. They are both wonderful sounding tubes; I've heard the 845 described as the king of triodes. I installed Sophia Princess Royal Princess tubes in the 300b amp and the sound is ethereal - the voice float out of the speakers. Love this tube. The 845 is generally a bit more powerful sounding then the 300b for harder to drive speakers. These are probably my two favorite tubes. For comparison's sake I also have an EL84 and and EL34 amp. You have to try them all out and see what you like.

  3. #3
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    Re: 845, 211 and 300B power tubes

    thanks for these characterizations -- very helpful !

    from what i have been able to read, some think the 211 tubes are somewhere in the middle, having characteristics of both the 845 and 300B -- power and finesse but not in full proportion. don't know how accurate or not this characterization is.

    >> curious what efficiency speaker you are using with the 300B [mine are 97 dbl efficient in a 14' x 25' x 8.5' room] ?
    viking acoustics berlin r mk2 | air tight atc-5 + atm-300r | clearaudio concept + virtuoso v2 MM | t+a dac8 dsd + kanjiroba diy transport + roon rock
    alp-tone audio analog cables | core audio designs plyKraft 3L | hifi racks ltd podium t5-iii

  4. #4
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    Re: 845, 211 and 300B power tubes

    I had Coincident Frankenstein 300B amps and they drove my 92db Audio Kinesis speakers with ease.
    The impedance load of the speaker plays into the mix also.
    Not sure what yours are.
    My System
    Acoustic Revive RTP-4
    Innuos Pulsar
    Lampizator BALTIC4
    Cary SLP-05
    Pass XA30.5 or
    Line Magnetic 845ia
    Reference 3A Reflector's
    Pr SVS SB3000 Subs
    Cables & Tubes "subject to change without notification".
    Complete system on battery power/solar
    Core Audio Design Rack
    DIY bass traps and custom curved diffusors.

  5. #5
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    Re: 845, 211 and 300B power tubes

    good to hear - thanks for the info.

    my speaker [nominal] impedance is listed at 8 ohms.
    viking acoustics berlin r mk2 | air tight atc-5 + atm-300r | clearaudio concept + virtuoso v2 MM | t+a dac8 dsd + kanjiroba diy transport + roon rock
    alp-tone audio analog cables | core audio designs plyKraft 3L | hifi racks ltd podium t5-iii

  6. #6
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    Re: 845, 211 and 300B power tubes

    That should be no problem to drive with a 300B amp.
    My System
    Acoustic Revive RTP-4
    Innuos Pulsar
    Lampizator BALTIC4
    Cary SLP-05
    Pass XA30.5 or
    Line Magnetic 845ia
    Reference 3A Reflector's
    Pr SVS SB3000 Subs
    Cables & Tubes "subject to change without notification".
    Complete system on battery power/solar
    Core Audio Design Rack
    DIY bass traps and custom curved diffusors.

  7. #7
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    Re: 845, 211 and 300B power tubes

    Quote Originally Posted by aKnyght View Post
    i will never part with the almarro, a beloved family member...

    however, have begun thinking about adding a sibling and thought i would tap the collective experience here on various power tubes.

    in particular, i am interested to know more about 845, 211 and 300B tubes.

    it would be great to hear generic, high-level comments on these tubes ...what characteristics would you attribute to each tube type and what distinctions / differences are there between them ?

    also, are there any other tube types i should be looking at that are 8 wpc or greater in a SET amplifier?

    thanks !!
    My experience with 300B is limited to an Audio Note amp that I didn't find satisfying, but I've owned two 845-based amps - Art Audio Carissa and Consonance Cyber 845 monos. Both are very powerful compared with 300B or PX-25 for that matter. I've also had an Art Audio PX-25 that was far and away better than the AN 300B. Almost as powerful and exquisite for smaller scale music. 845 better for big scale music. I was using 102 dB speakers at the time. Some claim that 211 sounds a little more musical than 845 but it has appreciably lower power so you need to work out the pros and cons.
    Sources - NAD M50.2 (streamer, CD player, CD ripper, hard drive music store)
    Amplification - NAD M33 all-in-one, NAD M12 preamp (in reserve), Atma-Sphere Class D monos
    Speakers - Avantgarde Duo XD, Avantgarde Duo (2006) - both aesthetically modified

  8. #8
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    Re: 845, 211 and 300B power tubes

    I would love a dead quiet 211 amp.

    I ran across this upcoming piece from Triode Labs/Finale.

    211 — TRIODE LAB
    Last edited by joeinid; September 3, 2020 at 08:30 AM.
    Fleetwood Deville by Oswald Mills Audio, Vienna Acoustics Haydn Jubilee, Wharfedale Linton w/ stands, Klipsch RB-75, Klipsch RP-160M.

    Job INTegrated. Luxman L-595aSE

    NAD C 658 streamer.

    First Watt SIT-3, Job 250 Monos, NuForce STA200, AkitikA GT-102 amp, ASL Wave monos, Dennis Had 45 monos. Absolute Audio Labs PCF 25 amp (improved First Watt F7 super clone)

    Topping D90, RME Audio ADI-2 DAC FS, ModWright Ultimate Sony XA-5400ES.

    Burmester 948, McIntosh MCLK12, Kimber Kable, Siltech, Cardas, Avanti Audio cables.

  9. #9
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    Re: 845, 211 and 300B power tubes

    Quote Originally Posted by joeinid View Post
    I would love a dead quiet 211 amp.

    I ran across this upcoming piece from Triode Labs/Finale.

    211 — TRIODE LAB

    Frank Ng builds nice pieces but he will also tell you noise is inescapable with his gear unless your sources (preamp/line stage) have <5-6 db of gain. He will build a low gain version of any of his amps to accommodate owners with line stages outputting >10 db.

    I don't have direct experience with gear by Thomas Mayer of Vinyl Savor but from those that know, his 211s are among the best available.
    Thomas Mayer

  10. #10
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    Re: 845, 211 and 300B power tubes

    Thank you very much. I have not heard of Frank but yes on Thomas. His gear looks awesome.

    Quote Originally Posted by puroagave View Post
    Frank Ng builds nice pieces but he will also tell you noise is inescapable with his gear unless your sources (preamp/line stage) have <5-6 db of gain. He will build a low gain version of any of his amps to accommodate owners with line stages outputting >10 db.

    I don't have direct experience with gear by Thomas Mayer of Vinyl Savor but from those that know, his 211s are among the best available.
    Thomas Mayer
    Fleetwood Deville by Oswald Mills Audio, Vienna Acoustics Haydn Jubilee, Wharfedale Linton w/ stands, Klipsch RB-75, Klipsch RP-160M.

    Job INTegrated. Luxman L-595aSE

    NAD C 658 streamer.

    First Watt SIT-3, Job 250 Monos, NuForce STA200, AkitikA GT-102 amp, ASL Wave monos, Dennis Had 45 monos. Absolute Audio Labs PCF 25 amp (improved First Watt F7 super clone)

    Topping D90, RME Audio ADI-2 DAC FS, ModWright Ultimate Sony XA-5400ES.

    Burmester 948, McIntosh MCLK12, Kimber Kable, Siltech, Cardas, Avanti Audio cables.

  11. #11
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    Re: 845, 211 and 300B power tubes

    Fleetwood Deville by Oswald Mills Audio, Vienna Acoustics Haydn Jubilee, Wharfedale Linton w/ stands, Klipsch RB-75, Klipsch RP-160M.

    Job INTegrated. Luxman L-595aSE

    NAD C 658 streamer.

    First Watt SIT-3, Job 250 Monos, NuForce STA200, AkitikA GT-102 amp, ASL Wave monos, Dennis Had 45 monos. Absolute Audio Labs PCF 25 amp (improved First Watt F7 super clone)

    Topping D90, RME Audio ADI-2 DAC FS, ModWright Ultimate Sony XA-5400ES.

    Burmester 948, McIntosh MCLK12, Kimber Kable, Siltech, Cardas, Avanti Audio cables.

  12. #12
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    Re: 845, 211 and 300B power tubes

    It's hard for me to pick a winner since most tubes are in amplifiers that were designed around them...

    Still, the 845s in the Viva Auroras provide a highly-captivating musical experience, IMO.
    DPT4ME - Dynamics, Presence & Tone for Musical Engagement; MBP (3) - stripped down for music only; Shunyata Omega & Sigma USBs; ISO REGEN w/short Curious USB links; Berkeley Alpha USB; Aqua La Scala II Optologic DAC; Schiit Yggdrasil - fully updated; Ayre Codex dac - updated; Pass Labs INT-60 integrated amp; Wyred 4 Sound STP-SE-2 preamp, Quicksilver Mono 120 amps w/Tung-Sol KT150s; Quicksilver Mid Mono amps w/Gold Lion KT77s; Fyne Audio 703s; Symposium Svelte Plus & Ultra Platforms; REL S-812 subwoofers; Duelund DCA12GA speaker cables; AV Room Service EVPs, Stein Music Harmonizers, Duelund DCA16GA & 20GA ICs; Shunyata Denali 6000S/V2; Tripp Lite PCs; Wyred 4 Sound power cords; AudioDharma cable cooker; dedicated custom room; various GIK & ASC room treatments; etc.

    www.getbettersound.com

  13. #13
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    Re: 845, 211 and 300B power tubes

    How about this beauty?

    Viva Solistino.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Fleetwood Deville by Oswald Mills Audio, Vienna Acoustics Haydn Jubilee, Wharfedale Linton w/ stands, Klipsch RB-75, Klipsch RP-160M.

    Job INTegrated. Luxman L-595aSE

    NAD C 658 streamer.

    First Watt SIT-3, Job 250 Monos, NuForce STA200, AkitikA GT-102 amp, ASL Wave monos, Dennis Had 45 monos. Absolute Audio Labs PCF 25 amp (improved First Watt F7 super clone)

    Topping D90, RME Audio ADI-2 DAC FS, ModWright Ultimate Sony XA-5400ES.

    Burmester 948, McIntosh MCLK12, Kimber Kable, Siltech, Cardas, Avanti Audio cables.

  14. #14

    Re: 845, 211 and 300B power tubes

    It really depends on the amp and speaker combo.

    I have Nagra VPA 845 pp (50w) and Audionote UK Shinri 300b SE (8 w) driving my 107 dB Avantgard Duo Mezzos.

    I was convinced I needed more than 10 w on my Duo Mezzos until I tried the 8 w Shinris. The 50w Nagra sounded better than the Shinri driving my friends 96 dB ANUK speakers,but the 8w Shinri are clearly better sounding with the Duo Mezzos and don’t give up anything in terms of bass, treble or dynamics to the Nagras. It was even more noticeable when I upgraded to AN newest 300 b molybdenum 4300e tube.
    Avantgarde Duo Mezzo,
    Nagra VPA 845 mono blocks, Audio Note UK Shinri 300B mono blocks, AudioPax KT88 monoblocks
    Conrad Johnson GAT, Zesto Tessera
    Esoteric K-01X, Esoteric N-01,

    Clearaudio Innovation TT,
    Graham Phantom 2 Supreme Arm/Ortofon Anna, Bobs Sky 2 SUT
    Clearaudio Universal Arm/Benz LPS
    Minus K isolation platform

    Galibier TT,
    Graham Phantom Elite Arm/Clearaudio Goldfinger Statement,

    Kubala Elation Cabling, Shunyata Trident 3, Typhon QR
    Zoethecus stands,

  15. #15
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    Nov 2015
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    Orlando, FL
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    Re: 845, 211 and 300B power tubes

    Please overlook all the wires lying about, I just wished my baby was up and running again. Don't get me wrong I'm loving the T+A Amp 8 I bought from Randy, but as good as the Amp 8 is, and it's very good! It's still not what my baby was. Perhaps after 20 years I just grew in love with her looks and sound?


    Thetubeguy1954 aka Tom S.
    Attached Images Attached Images

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845, 211 and 300B power tubes

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