jlbrach
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2005
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how does it compare to the big boys?
I'm well aware PSVANE builds the 4300E, but its supposed to actually be a good sounding tube. It is also fully built to the specs and design given to them by AN UK and IIRC is using Molybdenum anodes, similar to the ER-300b-mo.Well, in case you didnt know, that good 4300E is also a "cheap low end Chinese rebrand" by PSVANE.
That's handsome indeed. Curious as to what changes it brings to both your Boulder and GG.Very happy with the Supratek DHT running the 300b's thus far but I've only had a couple days with it. It came with a pair of Audio Note "Carbonized 300b" (not the good 4300e's) so I'm assuming they are a cheap low end chinese rebrand, but even with these there seems to be great promise. Definitely really happy I gave the idea a chance, and look forward to trying out some WE300b's to hear decent "classic" 300b's before I branch out into Elrogs or the Audio Note 4300e's etc...
Its a handsome little unit, if nothing else.
So far the differences are subtler than I thought they might be, but in terms of positives there is slightly more low end, slightly more harmonic richness/warmth (but not tons.) There also just seems to be a bit more "drive" to the sound overall, though thats sort of hard to quantify and a very subjective description. In terms of negatives, there is a bit harshness in the upper mids on some tracks, I'm curious if this is the tubes I'm using, so I'll find out about that eventually.That's handsome indeed. Curious as to what changes it brings to both your Boulder and GG.
Yes, I can assure you I know, I am just playing along with the bias. Didnt you notice I used apostrophe?You also have no clue.
It's not a rebrand. Audio Note contracts out to PSvane with their specifications.
To be clear, I have no bias towards chinese tubes, or equipment in general, and I don't know why you would take that away from my original post in any way.Yes, I can assure you I know, I am just playing along with the bias. Didnt you notice I used apostrophe?
My apology but I always find it skeptical when companies claim design in-house but outsource for production. Like Apple, does Audio Note have an in-house R&D department for tubes? I highly doubt they do. How do they proceed with design and specification without the input from PSVANE? IMO, it is all marketing.I'm well aware PSVANE builds the 4300E, but its supposed to actually be a good sounding tube. It is also fully built to the specs and design given to them by AN UK and IIRC is using Molybdenum anodes, similar to the ER-300b-mo.
Though I don't know about the 4300E specifically, Audio Note UK (post Kondo Split) is one of the few, or perhaps only, that would be in a position to design a tube and have others build it. ANUK not only builds equipment, but has their own lines of parts (capacitors, transformers, resistors, wire etc..) Was there perhaps some collaboration with PSVANE on the final design? I would guess so, you would have to ask ANUK to know for sure.My apology but I always find it skeptical when companies claim design in-house but outsource for production. Like Apple, does Audio Note have an in-house R&D department for tubes? I highly doubt they do. How do they proceed with design and specification without the input from PSVANE? IMO, it is all marketing.
Why do you like Elrogs? How do they compare to other 300Bs you tried?The power of Elrog
Funny how that reminds me of the cycling industry. Where big brands have their frames built in CN... to their R&D specs of course.I'm well aware PSVANE builds the 4300E, but its supposed to actually be a good sounding tube.
Whats with the hostility? I'm not even using Psvane tubes currently. I'm using old, no longer produced shuguang rebrands.Funny how that reminds me of the cycling industry. Where big brands have their frames built in CN... to their R&D specs of course.
So that frame from CN manufacturer offer an inferior one although they know everything about the other companies frames they build?
So you don't like Psvane tubes you tried as much as others? Who could argue about that, right?
Whats with the hostility? I'm not even using Psvane tubes currently. I'm using old, no longer produced shuguang rebrands.
And yes, there is a difference between producing tubes to the desired specs for another manufacturer for a specific price point, and building tubes intended for stock use to a much different specific price point (aka, much lower) so that an amp can ship with a pair of tubes and be used right away.
That doesn't mean Psvanes top level 300b's are no good. I haven't heard them, and can't comment on them.
I can however assume that tubes which are specifically made to a $1000USD+ dollar price point for a pair, are better than a $150USD pair made for mass production and OEM use.
All I said in my original post was that the "Audio Note" tubes I'm using are cheap chinese rebrands (which they 100% are. They were made by shuguang, and multiple manuacturers used them as stock tubes under different names) and that they were not the 4300e's, so people didn't get confused as currently, there is only one Audio Note 300b tube on the market, in the 4300e.
Thats all, nothing more, nothing less.
Maybe... since I'm not a nativ English speaker I understood that line/post#2,837 as 4300E is actually good and Psvane not!I'm well aware PSVANE builds the 4300E, but its supposed to actually be a good sounding tube.
It just suits my preference and has good synergy in my system.Why do you like Elrogs? How do they compare to other 300Bs you tried?
Yup,it's Elrogs for me too!It just suits my preference and has good synergy in my system.