Headphone Tube Amps - The hunt for all 300B TUBE AMPS

[normie610]

TM PSA: TM300B should ship in two weeks which should close-out as normal production resumes.
Thomas is finalizing the 300B headamp. Progress follows.

This could be the ultimate 300B headphone amp. Any specs? And it looks like it has ground lift switch, similar to Primavera & it can drive high sensitivity speakers.

 

[ThanatosVI]

TM PSA: TM300B should ship in two weeks which should close-out as normal production resumes.
Thomas is finalizing the 300B headamp. Progress follows.

Did you order it or are you just up to date out of curiosity?

 

[robo24]

Can anyone here confirm that the jj 300b is a good tube? Just read a review where the guy is comparing it to the KR VV302 and KR 300 BXLS and he prefers it.

I hadn't considered it before because it was so cheap but maybe I'm missing something? I would buy it as a back up if it was near the performance of the EML mesh. I might get lucky and it could be better.

Anyone heard it ?

Personally I think so. I'd read positive comments elsewhere about them being lush and figured with the tubemonger discount for signing up for their email list they're $360, and that was a risk willing to take. They probably only have 50 hours on them and need more time to compare with my others, but I don't regret the purchase at all even though I'll probably go ELROG eventually. I've also been happy with the $280 black Cossor ones on Amazon and elsewhere, given those were the tubes in the one I first heard in the Envy with the Verite Open, and that listen was enough for me to buy the Envy. I've not heard the KR nor EML so can't comment on that. If it's the same page I saw I noticed it was a 24 year old comparison so I wonder if any of the tubes have changed at all in design since then.

 

[paradoxper]

Did you order it or are you just up to date out of curiosity?

I am done with gears.

This could be the ultimate 300B headphone amp. Any specs? And it looks like it has ground lift switch, similar to Primavera & it can drive high sensitivity speakers.

It can drive speakers as well as headphones.
output is about 6W / 8 Ohm
Nr of inputs can be chosen up to 6
volume control is a stepped attenuator by DACT
It can work with any decent line level source

The output is switchable between headphones and speakers, so speakers do not need to be disconnected when headphones are used.
There is an attenuator switch at the front for very sensitive headphones to get a good useable range on the volume control
It can drive any headphone low and high impedance

It comes with ELROG ER300B as standard and NOS 6DN7 driver tubes as well as NOS 6AX4 or 6DA4 rectifier tubes

Export price initially 7150 Euros plus shipping
Can be bought without 300Bs then 5900,- Euros
It can be used with any 300B as long as it follows the standard 300B spec (No XLS types)
Can also be upgraded to ER300B-Mo and TM300B (depending on availability)

This amp can also be ordered in configuration of 2A3, 45, 46, 71A etc.

 

[protoss]

Getting into tube 45 ampfilers as a compliment to my 300B amp. A few post as an extension to 300B but they will be 45, "magical tubes."

I think my final tube amplifiers will be 300B and a dedicated 45 Tube amp.

@paradoxper I remember you mention them but it just didn't register with me, probably because of 300B thread.
@Saberpunch Reawakening the idea of 45 tubes.

I will list random 45 amps and tubes until I settle on one. Trying to find a dedicated 45 headphone amp.

Alan Eaton Custom Type 45
yamamoto a-08 45
Will Vincent 45 Triode Amplifier
Radu Tarta Turbo 45


45 Tubes:

Arcturus type 45
Sophia mesh 45
EML mesh 45
Perryman mesh 45
Ken Rad Type 45
Tung-Sol Type 45
Cunningham/RCA 45
Philco Globe Tube 45
National Union 45
Sylvania Type 45

 

[protoss]

Eddie Current 4-45 amplifier.
It amazes me that Craig has so many wonderful amps! And sadly they are all discontinued!

So if anyone knows a similar 45 type of amps, please post. No too expensive thou.
I want to retire with a 45 and 300B amp

 

[ThanatosVI]

Getting into tube 45 ampfilers as a compliment to my 300B amp. A few post as an extension to 300B but they will be 45, "magical tubes."

I think my final tube amplifiers will be 300B and a dedicated 45 Tube amp.

@paradoxper I remember you mention them but it just didn't register with me, probably because of 300B thread.
@Saberpunch Reawakening the idea of 45 tubes.

I will list random 45 amps and tubes until I settle on one. Trying to find a dedicated 45 headphone amp.

Alan Eaton Custom Type 45
yamamoto a-08 45
Will Vincent 45 Triode Amplifier
Radu Tarta Turbo 45


45 Tubes:

Arcturus type 45
Sophia mesh 45
EML mesh 45
Perryman mesh 45
Ken Rad Type 45
Tung-Sol Type 45
Cunningham/RCA 45
Philco Globe Tube 45
National Union 45
Sylvania Type 45

Elrog ER845, don't forget it for your list

 

[EagleWings]

845 is not a 45.

 

[ThanatosVI]

845 is not a 45.

You never stop learning, it seems.

Thx for clarification

 

[EagleWings]

45 amps are more popular in the high-efficiency speaker community and so most of the 45 amps out there are made for speakers and 45 being a oxide coated filament, DC filament heating is not that common. AC heating has its sonic advantages, but it will have a hum with very sensitive transducers like headphones. And so most of these amps won’t work for headphones. This includes the 45 amps from Alan Eaton, Aum Acoustics, Triode Labs, some versions of Yamamoto A-08.

 

[protoss]

45 amps are more popular in the high-efficiency speaker community and so most of the 45 amps out there are made for speakers and 45 being a oxide coated filament, DC filament heating is not that common. AC heating has its sonic advantages, but it will have a hum with very sensitive transducers like headphones. And so most of these amps won’t work for headphones. This includes the 45 amps from Alan Eaton, Aum Acoustics, Triode Labs, some versions of Yamamoto A-08.

Interesting, yes, I heard they are amazing with speakers with glowing praises.

I just want that same magic into headphones. So, I am assuming I need a truly dedicated 45 amp strictly for headphones or stay away altogether?

 

[protoss]

Well this is extremely hard lol. Only found 3 and pretty much they are all discontinued.

Eddie Current 445, Minute 45, and Toolshed 45

I notice the rest are all DIY projects.

I guess 300B for life

 

[jjshin23]

Eddie Current BA has a 2A3/45 or 300B/PX4 version. I had a 300B/PX4 version but never heard the 2A3/45 version.

 

[paradoxper]

Getting into tube 45 ampfilers as a compliment to my 300B amp. A few post as an extension to 300B but they will be 45, "magical tubes."

I think my final tube amplifiers will be 300B and a dedicated 45 Tube amp.

@paradoxper I remember you mention them but it just didn't register with me, probably because of 300B thread.
@Saberpunch Reawakening the idea of 45 tubes.

I will list random 45 amps and tubes until I settle on one. Trying to find a dedicated 45 headphone amp.

Alan Eaton Custom Type 45
yamamoto a-08 45
Will Vincent 45 Triode Amplifier
Radu Tarta Turbo 45


45 Tubes:

Arcturus type 45
Sophia mesh 45
EML mesh 45
Perryman mesh 45
Ken Rad Type 45
Tung-Sol Type 45
Cunningham/RCA 45
Philco Globe Tube 45
National Union 45
Sylvania Type 45

The Perryman mesh is a wonderfully spooky tube. The globe 45 mesh is behind that.
And then a drastic drop as the rest recycle one-another.

I have bugged Thomas for a time to complete my dreams of a ER45. He is confident his 45 would be very different.

 

[magiccabbage]

I remember chatting to Glen over at t the glenotl thread here years ago. He was willing to make dedicated amps for 2a3 and 45 at one point. I'm sure there were headfiers here that had at least 1 or 2 45s made by him. It's a pity he isn't doing it anymore. At one point I was talking to him about a dedicated 2a3 that could take 300b also.

If I can remember the headfier here who had the 45 amp done I'll post it. But I'm sure there a few guys out there that could do a custom job for you