[Whitigir]

Thanks for sharing. DNA amps stage incredibly well in depth and width. Not sure if that is due to the no feedback design or the tubes used or the transformer used or maybe a combination of all these things. Very few amps I've heard stage as well as DNA amps and I can kind of understand why that can be a double edge sword for the hd650 as it can make it seem less intimate. The wavedream is a very nuanced dac and in my experience plays very well with DNA amps so hopefully this solves your issues with haze/clarity.

It would be more from the transformers itself, and in many OTs amplifiers, the better the OTs, the better the performances. Negative feedbacks usually give an even wider and deeper stagings but also is more artificial and more similar to SS rather than sweetness and liquidity of tubes. It would be interesting to see what options people would modify the amp toward to

Also the coupling and decoupling capacitors would do a big rolls as well

 

[heliosphann]

Any good 300B's that won't break the bank? I'd like to try a pair as I've only used 2A3's.

 

[dncnexus]

Any good 300B's that won't break the bank? I'd like to try a pair as I've only used 2A3's.

Idk if you mean in a DNA amp, but you can't roll 300B into Stratus or any DNA amp, only 2a3.

If you mean in general, I think the Acme 300B and Linlai e300B. If those are too expensive, you can get a pair of Linlai/Cossor WE300B clones for around $500. For cheaper than that, you can get Gold Lion which are okay.

 

[erics75]

Idk if you mean in a DNA amp, but you can't roll 300B into Stratus or any DNA amp, only 2a3.

If you mean in general, I think the Acme 300B and Linlai e300B. If those are too expensive, you can get a pair of Linlai/Cossor WE300B clones for around $500. For cheaper than that, you can get Gold Lion which are okay.

i've no experience with them, but Sophia Electric makes 300b tubes with 2.5v combatible with 2a3 amps like the Stratus. When my Stratus comes next year i'll likely grab a set to try.

https://sophiaelectric.com/products/sophia-electric-300b-2-5v-mesh-plate-tubes-for-2a3-amplifiers

 

[dncnexus]

A 300B that is not either a 300b or a 2a3. I would avoid myself, but thats just me.

 

[erics75]

A 300B that is not either a 300b or a 2a3. I would avoid myself, but thats just me.

I’m new to tubes so I’m ignorant to their nuances. what would be your worry about them? The voltage change is a design issue? Would love your feedback to learn.

 

[heliosphann]

A 300B that is not either a 300b or a 2a3. I would avoid myself, but thats just me.

Didn't know 300B and 300b are different. I meant the latter.

 

[dncnexus]

Didn't know 300B and 300b are different. I meant the latter.

Sorry that was bit unclear, I was typing on my phone. 300b and 300B are the same, just accidently capitilized on my phone. Sorry for the confusion

 

[genefruit]

Sorry that was bit unclear, I was typing on my phone. 300b and 300B are the same, just accidently capitilized on my phone. Sorry for the confusion

and the referenced tube - https://sophiaelectric.com/products/sophia-electric-300b-2-5v-mesh-plate-tubes-for-2a3-amplifiers is neither, as it operates at the typical voltage of a 2a3 but is constructed the same as a 300b. So a hybrid, if you will.

 

[dncnexus]

and the referenced tube - https://sophiaelectric.com/products/sophia-electric-300b-2-5v-mesh-plate-tubes-for-2a3-amplifiers is neither, as it operates at the typical voltage of a 2a3 but is constructed the same as a 300b. So a hybrid, if you will.

I know, hence why I said its neither a 2a3 nor a 300b. So its trying to take the best of both, which usually ends up being not as good as neither a 2A3 or a 300b. If you want a 300b, get a 300b amp. If you want 2a3 get a 2a3 amp instead of trying to smash a hybrid 2a3/300b tube in.

 

[Donald North]

Many modern tube manufacturers are doing essentially that: take the 40W plate structure and large ST-19 glass envelope of the 300B, fit it with a 2.5V filament, and call it a 2A3.

The original 2A3 uses a smaller plate structure with 15W dissipation rating in the smaller ST-16 envelope.

 

[heliosphann]

and the referenced tube - https://sophiaelectric.com/products/sophia-electric-300b-2-5v-mesh-plate-tubes-for-2a3-amplifiers is neither, as it operates at the typical voltage of a 2a3 but is constructed the same as a 300b. So a hybrid, if you will.

Ah yea, I remember reading about that earlier in this thread when I first got my Stratus.

 

[stuart1927]

Hey folks...it's been a while. I moved to New Zealand earlier this year and still waiting for my beloved Stratus to make it here in my shipment. In the meantime I bought a pair of Hedd Headphones and running on a Kinki Studio THR-1 amp. It's a nice setup, but really hoping that the Hedd's can be driven by the Status. I couldn't find any direct experience of this combo and was wondering if anyone has tried? Stratus is 1.8W into 50 Ohms (so should drive the 42 ohm Hedd's) but it's only 87 db efficiency, so reasonably hard to drive. The Kinki THR-1 drives easily, but puts out close to 5W into 42 Ohms. I do miss the Stratus magic though, so really hope it's a good match.

 

[prtuc2]

After auditioning the Rockna Wavedream Edition SE I picked it up from the dealer, as his setup is a speaker which I am not quite familiar with. I believed the amplifier was the AVM Evolution A5.2 Integrated Amp, I don't know the speaker model. Running everything to Roon through his laptop.

Update impression with Rockna Wavedream Edition SE
Setup: Foobar --> USB --> Rockna Wavedream Edition SE --> DNA Stratus --> Sennheiser HD650/800 running 4 pins-XLR

Sennheiser HD800
At first I am quite baffle with the sound I can't quite understand it. Until I visited Rockna Wavedream page I mirror 100% with Purr1n's impression on page 1. The soundstage doesn't sound as big as the Yggdrasil at first. But, the sound overall is more cohesive. So, I change to the Sennheiser HD650.

Solving the missing puzzle
With the HD650 I finally understand what changes, it sounded like the Wavedream's soundstage expand on the presenter/performer side as the Yggdrasil expand on the listener side. Yggdrasil shift my sit to 30 rows back making everything sounds less energetic on the HD650 losing its distinctive feature. Now, the Wavedream I remain in the 3rd row but the presenter shift into a larger performing stage given them a distinctive deeper soundstage and yet remain cohesive at the same time. I think Purr1n use the word "diffuse" that is what is it on the Yggdrasil to my ear. On some tracks I can actually hear a 3 dimensional sound like the vocal is actually projecting through the stage giving it's wonderfully layering effect. Expanding the stage on the performer side I think give the Wavedream it's wonderful microdetails as you can clearly hear everything upfront not as distant as the Yggdrasil. Clarity issue is not heard with the Wavedream matter of fact, the vocal is exceptional on the Sennheiser HD650. With the Rockna Wavedream + DNA Stratus + Sennheiser HD650 easily best the HD800 as my preference is more forward vocal focus.
The Sennheiser HD650 sounds so beautiful with the Stratus and Wavedream is almost speaker like. Exceptional vocal + great soundstage + extract microdetails + speed/clarity, the overall presentation itself is enough for me to stop searching for more. I probably added a CD-transporter in the future that is probably the end of the road for me in term of headphone.

Rockna Wavedream solve my clarity issue with the Schiit Yggdrasil, brought out the best of my HD650 with the Stratus as it power it through it's amazing transparency. Thank you Donald again for the whole audio amazing experience.

 

[Smallpie]

I picked up some Acme 2a3’s secondhand for my Stratus but one tube is making a repetitive clicking noise that can be heard during quiet parts. The volume does not change the sound and it is not from any interference. Has anybody dealt with this and could it possibly go away after a long burn-in? I bought them with only 100 hours.