Results 1 to 12 of 12
Thread: Western Electric 300b's
-
July 25, 2014, 11:49 AM #1
Western Electric 300b's
Ah yes, the famous Western Electric 300b tubes. First manufactured as the 300A tube (the precursor to the 300b) in 1933 by Western Electric, the first WE 300B tube was released in 1938 and ran a full 50 years before the last ones were produced in 1988. Early in 1997, Westrex Corporation (the company which owns the Western Electric 300B production equipment) began production of reissued 300b's until around 2009 when production stopped for the purposes of moving the facility.
In addition to the well known sonic characteristics, including low distortion, of the WE 300b, the Western Electric 300b's had tremendous life, averaging over 40,000 hours.
As many know, the price for original and reissue WE 300b's continues to arrive. Originals can go for $6000 to $10,000 a pair depending on condition and reissues can go upwards of $3000 for a matching pair.
So I got to thinking about this entire situation the other day as I watched prices of WE 300b's climb and climb and climb. So, as we understand it, the production facility was shut down in 2009 due to a move (source: www.thetubestore.com - Western Electric 300B Audio Tubes). Well, that was 5 years ago. Surely the facility has been moved. Now what? Has anyone bothered to call Western Electric and find out what the hell is going on? Well I did.
I was told today by the person responsible at WE (and confirmed through followup via email) that Western Electric is due to "begin production again on the WE300b late this winter, early next year."
So, if you were thinking of taking the plunge on some very expensive WE 300b's....you might just want to hold off a little and see what the new year brings....it looks like the boss is coming back to town.
valvewe300b.jpgMy Systems: http://www.audioshark.org/showthread...481#post158481
"We can hear everything we measure, but we can't measure everything we hear. Let your ears be your guide."
Dealer for: Aqua Hi-Fi, Aurender, AudioQuest Cables & Power Products, Berkeley Audio, Block Audio (distributor), Boulder Amplifiers, Bowers & Wilkins (B&W), Bryston, Clarisys Audio Loudspeakers (distributor), Classe’ Audio, Degritter Record Cleaning Machines, Esoteric, Finite Elemente, FirstWatt, Focal Loudspeakers and Headphones, GigaFoil, Harbeth Loudspeakers, Hegel, HiFi Man, Innuos, ISO Acoustics, Keces Power Supplies, Kharma Loudspeakers and Electronics, Kuzma Turntables, Lumin, Luxman, Magico Loudspeakers, MBL Speakers & Electronics, MSB Technologies, MySonicLabs Phono Cartridges, Nordost Cables, Ortofon, Pass Labs, Quadraspire, Rega Turntables and Electronics, Shunyata Research, STAX, Stein Music Products, Stillpoints, Soulution, VAC, Vicoustics, Viva Audio, VPI Industries, WireWorld Cables.
https://suncoastaudio.com/
Phone: 941-932-0282
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Suncoast-Au...1105178279194/
-
July 25, 2014, 11:56 AM #2
Re: Western Electric 300b's
sweet mike you know ill be in line for a pair. cant afford them now. and even if i could i dont think i would spend anywhere near that on a pair of tubes. $1000 is my cap.
Steve
TUBES & VINYL
Is there anything else?
Rega/Ortofon/Viva 300b/KR
Music Reference 2A3
Altec/JBL
-
July 25, 2014, 11:57 AM #3
Re: Western Electric 300b's
Wow
Thats great!
Thanks for the info.Jock
If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters.
---------
House: Naim ND555/2PS, Naim 552, Naim 500, Studer A80/Doshi V3, Magico M2s, 2 Magico Q-Sub 15s, Lumina IC/SC, Shunyata Everest and Omega PCs.
Workshop: Naim ND555/2 PS, VAC Master Pre, VAC Sig 200iQ, Border Patrol pre/power, Avant Garde Duo Mezzo XD, 2 Magico Q-Sub 15s, Shunyata IC/SC, Shunyata Typhon QR/Triton V3/Sigma PCs.
-
July 25, 2014, 12:01 PM #4
- Join Date
- Jun 2014
- Posts
- 149
Re: Western Electric 300b's
That certainly is good news. Thanks for doing the research and giving us the update Mike. I will definitely be trying them once released.
Shindo D'Yquem's
Shindo Vosne Romanee
Devore 0/96
Luxman PD-171
Dynavector xx2 MkII
Mac Mini
Luxman DA-06
Magnum Dynalab MD107t
Shindo and A23 Cables
J.J.
-
July 25, 2014, 02:51 PM #5
Re: Western Electric 300b's
Cool
Acoustical Systems, AMG, Aqua Acoustic Quality, Audeze, Audio Desk, Audible illusions, Audioquest, Aurender, Bryston, CH Precision, Chord Electronics, Constellation Audio, Dynaudiol, Fyne Audio, Grado labs, Ikeda, JL Audio, Kondo, Kronos, Kubala Sosna, Lumin, Luxman, Lyra, Magico, Nordost, PS Audio, Roon, Shunyata, SME, Sugden, Tenor, Tannoy, Vertere, VPI and ZYX.
www.audiobymarkjones.ca
-
July 25, 2014, 03:00 PM #6
Re: Western Electric 300b's
Thanks for doing the legwork Mike. That's great news for 300B tube guys. Heck if they can get even half the life with their new tubes at around 20,000 hours, that's amazing!
Doug
-
July 25, 2014, 06:04 PM #7
-
July 25, 2014, 09:02 PM #8
Re: Western Electric 300b's
300 rule !
Paul
-
July 26, 2014, 08:34 AM #9
Re: Western Electric 300b's
Great job Mike !!
Mark
Kharma DB9 Signature
Pass Labs XP32......incoming
Pass Labs X350.8
Esoteric N-05XD
VPI Avenger with Magnetic Drive
Manley Chinook Phono Pre
Ortofon Cadenza Black cartridge
Kharma Elegance speaker cables
Kharma Elegance interconnects
REL Subs
-
July 26, 2014, 10:07 AM #10
- Join Date
- Apr 2013
- Posts
- 43
Re: Western Electric 300b's
Anyone tried the Psvane WE replicas? Under $1k a pair is a good thing!
-
July 26, 2014, 10:13 AM #11
-
July 26, 2014, 12:40 PM #12
Re: Western Electric 300b's
WE is famous for making promises on starting tube production and then never following through. Remember the KT-88 tubes? It took WE a long time to restart the production line the last time they did it. I expect they will have similar problems this time as well. Tribal knowledge may be in short supply.
AudioShark - The Best High End Audio Discussion forum.
AudioShark forum is a leading forum site for High End Audio Discussion, Stereo System Discussion, Home Theater System Discussion, Best Home Stereo System Discussion, Home Theater Installation Discussion etc.
The AudioShark forum was created for sharing the passion of high-end Audio. We have Audiophiles from all over the world participating and sharing their knowledge. From novice to experts, you will find a friendly environment for discussing about High End Audio, Stereo System, Home Theater System, Home Stereo System, Home Theater Installation, Amplifiers, Speakers, Subwoofers, Integrated System, Acoustic treatments & Digital Room Corrections and many more.
At AudioShark, we also have incorporated an exciting Marketplace where members can peruse terrific buys on used gear, as well as meet dealers and discuss the purchase of new gear.
We are as crazy about this hobby as you are! So come on in and join us! Audioshark.org the Friendliest Audio Forum!
Industry Participation Disclosure : The owner and administrator of Audioshark is the owner of Suncoast Audio LLC in Sarasota Florida. Suncoast Audio has a full brick and mortar presence in Sarasota with several great show rooms with many world class brands. More information can be found at http://www.suncoastaudio.com
Audioshark is a community of like minded individuals. Audioshark welcomes participation from all manufacturers and owners of all brands and products. It is our belief that online forums provide a community of like minded audiophiles and music lovers to encourage the growth of this wonderful hobby.
Sincerely,
The Audioshark.org Team
AudioShark forum is a leading forum site for High End Audio Discussion, Stereo System Discussion, Home Theater System Discussion, Best Home Stereo System Discussion, Home Theater Installation Discussion etc.
The AudioShark forum was created for sharing the passion of high-end Audio. We have Audiophiles from all over the world participating and sharing their knowledge. From novice to experts, you will find a friendly environment for discussing about High End Audio, Stereo System, Home Theater System, Home Stereo System, Home Theater Installation, Amplifiers, Speakers, Subwoofers, Integrated System, Acoustic treatments & Digital Room Corrections and many more.
At AudioShark, we also have incorporated an exciting Marketplace where members can peruse terrific buys on used gear, as well as meet dealers and discuss the purchase of new gear.
We are as crazy about this hobby as you are! So come on in and join us! Audioshark.org the Friendliest Audio Forum!
Industry Participation Disclosure : The owner and administrator of Audioshark is the owner of Suncoast Audio LLC in Sarasota Florida. Suncoast Audio has a full brick and mortar presence in Sarasota with several great show rooms with many world class brands. More information can be found at http://www.suncoastaudio.com
Audioshark is a community of like minded individuals. Audioshark welcomes participation from all manufacturers and owners of all brands and products. It is our belief that online forums provide a community of like minded audiophiles and music lovers to encourage the growth of this wonderful hobby.
Sincerely,
The Audioshark.org Team
I continue to be very impressed with the Esoteric “Master Discrete DAC”. I’ve owned my N-01XD for a couple of years and it continues to impress. I believe one would have to spend at least 2X to get...
My experience with the K-03XD