[Code Red]

Was wondering if anyone has experience with 274Bs in the Red October? Looking to give it a try, but on Sophia Electrics site:

"Sophia Electric Princess mesh plate 274B and rigid plate 274B tubes have been widely praised as the best sounding rectifier tubes ever made. However there is a catch - the first capacitor after the rectifier tube needs to be small. The max value allowed for the Princess 274B mesh plate is 4uf, or 8uf for the Princess 274B rigid plate. But for a typical 300B single ended amplifier, it is usually larger than 8uf. To overcome this limitation, Sophia Electric came out with a newly designed Aqua 274B rectifier tube to raise the limitation from 8uf to 47uf. This Aqua 274B can directly replace 5U4G in most amplifiers with great sonic improvement.

Aqua and WE 274B tubes would deliver 150ma-160ma of current at 430vDC per 274B tube.

Stereo 300B tube amplifier needs to have one 274B rectifier tube per channel, two 274B rectifier tubes for two channels. If the amp was designed to have only one rectifier tube for both channels, then 5U4G is more suitable."

Want to confirm before giving it a try and having decreased lifespan tubes if it is too much.

 

[theveterans]

How does changing the drive tube increases the power output of the amp when all it does is to increase gain? Not changing any tubes other than input tube For example, a 6SN7 (~20 mu) on the Mogwai with 5U4G and KT88 against the same Mogwai with 12AX7 (~100 mu)? Wouldn't the power output be the same between 12AX7 and 6SN7 and since it's mostly influenced by the rectifier and power tubes?

Input sensitivity would increase from the higher gain of the 12AX7 but power output and drive-ability of Susvara would still be the same right? Just less volume knob range overall?

 

[JooLoo]

I was a HUGE fan of the Pendant and was hoping for a bit more of everything with the Bigger Ben and that is exactly what I got!
The BB is one CRAZY good amp that has had me non stop grinning every night I listen.

Simply stunning!!!

What EML is that Is 5u4g fine since this doesnt officially support it>?

 

[nwavesailor]

Yes, 5U4G

 

[ampsandsound]

The Bigger Ben fully supports a 5U4, the EML is being used without issue.

 

[Code Red]

I was happy with the Gold Lions that came with the Red October, but the WE300Bs just blow me away, especially with the ZMF Calderas. Im currently burning them in, but what I can only describe as the "thickness/meatiness" of the WEs are absolutely crazy. Especially as someone who listens to alot of rock/guitars you can literally feel each pluck of the strings and their reverberations.

some gratuitous picks...

 

[shwnwllms]

I was happy with the Gold Lions that came with the Red October, but the WE300Bs just blow me away, especially with the ZMF Calderas. Im currently burning them in, but what I can only describe as the "thickness/meatiness" of the WEs are absolutely crazy. Especially as someone who listens to alot of rock/guitars you can literally feel each pluck of the strings and their reverberations.

some gratuitous picks...

Just wait until you try Elrogs

 

[Code Red]

Just wait until you try Elrogs

This has been an internal conflict...Since I'm so enamored with the ZMF sound recently is why I ended up with the WE300B first. The Elrog black hole is definitely in my near future...

 

[shwnwllms]

This has been an internal conflict...Since I'm so enamored with the ZMF sound recently is why I ended up with the WE300B first. The Elrog black hole is definitely in my future...

I use ER300B’s on my Agartha 2021, they have excellent synergy with ZMF’s (which is all I own/listen to anymore)

Nice amp btw! Congrats on The Red October

 

[Code Red]

I use ER300B’s on my Agartha 2021, they have excellent synergy with ZMF’s (which is all I own/listen to anymore)

Nice amp btw! Congrats on The Red October

I'm actually curious have you heard the ER300B-MR or TM300B? TBH I should probably be more financially responsible, and thinking to skip the ER300B if there is much of a difference compared to the WE3000B.

 

[shwnwllms]

I'm actually curious have you heard the ER300B-MR or TM300B? TBH I should probably be more financially responsible, and thinking to skip the ER300B if there is much of a difference compared to the WE3000B.

No, but others have. Probably only a handful with the Red October though. Ask in the 309B thread

 

[theveterans]

Anybody here notice your amps only sounds optimally good after 45 minutes of straight playback? For some reason, just warming up the tubes without any playback doesn't cut it. It needs to have a load such as a headphone to actually warm up and sound its best.

 

[Code Red]

Anybody here notice your amps only sounds optimally good after 45 minutes of straight playback? For some reason, just warming up the tubes without any playback doesn't cut it. It needs to have a load such as a headphone to actually warm up and sound its best.

TBH I have never warmed it up without playback. Curious, will have to give it a try next time.

 

[nwavesailor]

I never intentionally warm up my tubes.

The Elrog TM always sound great to me from the first track. Then again, I am older and I don’t have ears!

 

[Strayngs]

I usually turn on the tubes a few hours before listening. I find the hot tubes sound better.