[leftside]

C3G’s showed up the other day (not quite sure they are my cup of tea though)

To sound their best, they need to be in a circuit designed for them. That's been my experience anyway.

 

[leftside]

Thanks, should have spoken to you first. Lesson learned

Also I just picked up a Cen.Grand Silver Fox, which will pair nicely with my Caldera (so I can stop searching for drivers other than 6SL7 that work well with them in the Agartha)

Might be a matched pair of C3G’s & adapter in the classifieds soon

Have you tried Mullard ECC35? They are an 6SL7 equivalent.

 

[triod750]

So are these made in Canada or by RCA? I have only seen the photos and no codes.

 

[leftside]

I never did like them in my Glenn. I had @L0rdGwyn rewire and swap out the C3G sockets on my GOTL and replace them with 6J5 sockets.

That would be a tough decision for me. Paired with 300B I'd go with C3G, otherwise I'd go with 6J5. In one of my amps I had @A2029 build me separate 6J5, 6SN7 and C3g sockets. There is a definite difference in sound between 6J5 and C3G. More than the difference between different 6J5's.

 

[triod750]

There is also a definitive difference between C3g. If you compare Siemens made C3g with genuine Lorenz made versions you will have no difficulties to notice this.

 

[raindownthunda]

That would be a tough decision for me. Paired with 300B I'd go with C3G, otherwise I'd go with 6J5. In one of my amps I had @A2029 build me separate 6J5, 6SN7 and C3g sockets. There is a definite difference in sound between 6J5 and C3G. More than the difference between different 6J5's.

It’s nice to have the option. I can hear strengths in both C3g and 6J5. In my 1101 amp I hear the C3g as having a sense of pristine clarity in a vast open space. The 6J5 tend to have more harmonic richness and density. Though power tubes and other factors can swing things one way or another.

Apparently getting a wide range of driver types to sound good (bias correctly?) was one of @A2029 ‘s design goals with the Blue Halo amp circuit. I feel like I can get 10/10 experiences with both. Not sure how experiences would differ with other amp circuits.

Between the Siemens C3g, Lorenz C3g, and STC 5A/152M, I think I like the 5A/152M the best.

 

[shwnwllms]

Have you tried Mullard ECC35? They are an 6SL7 equivalent.

Yes, they sound great with my Caldera on the 8 Ohm tap, but the ECC35 is too noisy for the 300 Ohm tap

I do have some 6SL7s that are listenable on the 300Ohm tap but most of my 6SN7s and single triode equivalents just sound better with ZMF Dynamics on the 300 Ohm tap

 

[incredulousity]

C3G’s showed up the other day (not quite sure they are my cup of tea though)

Try them with WE300B.

Though the 5a/152m are magical.

 

[shwnwllms]

Try them with WE300B.

Though the 5a/152m are magical.

No longer have WE300B, but from the short time I had with them I can see how that would be a good pairing

 

[incredulousity]

No longer have WE300B, but from the short time I had with them I can see how that would be a good pairing

Most unfortunate. One needs both WE and an Elrog of choice. But that is a big chunk of change, for sure.

Even with Elrog TM, I still enjoy having the WE.

 

[shwnwllms]

Most unfortunate. One needs both WE and an Elrog of choice. But that is a big chunk of change, for sure.

Even with Elrog TM, I still enjoy having the WE.

That was my plan, until one of the WE turned noisy. I’ll probably buy another pair but not anytime soon

 

[Isaacc7]

That would be a tough decision for me. Paired with 300B I'd go with C3G, otherwise I'd go with 6J5. In one of my amps I had @A2029 build me separate 6J5, 6SN7 and C3g sockets. There is a definite difference in sound between 6J5 and C3G. More than the difference between different 6J5's.

Apparently running the c3g as a pentode is the way to go for driving the 300b. Needless to say that would be a very different circuit!

 

[incredulousity]

Apparently running the c3g as a pentode is the way to go for driving the 300b. Needless to say that would be a very different circuit!

Most of us are running C3g as triode strapped pentodes in quads on amps like Envy and HA300-2 that take pairs of 6SN7, using both triodes per 6SN7 tube. I wonder what the difference would be running as a pentode with purpose designed circuit.

 

[shwnwllms]

I’m coming around on the C3g in my Agartha.

In addition to needing some burn in time, as others have said they are an extremely transparent driver. It’s a much better match for ZMF dynamics in this regard. I don’t care for them at all with my Caldera, but that’s not surprising considering the drivers I do prefer with them tend to lean warm.

I wasn’t expecting to like the C3g as much as I do with my VO however, they would probably sound even better with a VC. The may not be ever be my favorite driver but they will stay in my rotation with my VO & AC.

 

[Isaacc7]

Most of us are running C3g as triode strapped pentodes in quads on amps like Envy and HA300-2 that take pairs of 6SN7, using both triodes per 6SN7 tube. I wonder what the difference would be running as a pentode with purpose designed circuit.

I know just enough to be dangerous when it comes to circuit design. With that caveat out of the way my understanding is that some pentodes like c3g or d3a are better able to handle the Miller capacitance of the 300b than the typical triode drivers. It’s really common to see mosfet followers or paralleled triodes as drivers of 300b outputs but apparently those particular pentodes can do it directly.

Here’s an ad for a DIY(!) amp that has more info. https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/fs-eml300b-c3g-vacuum-tube-single-ended-amplifier.315627/ He says that the c3g has the needed gain and allows more headroom while having low distortion. It uses interstage transformers and a fancy regulation system for the heaters. Looks like it didn’t sell, that’s a pity. Looks like a serious amp.