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欲拒还迎 - 2005/6/7 16:14:00

               胆王之王——新版《西电》WE300B
                                        弹弓杨
   1957年，加拿大空军成功地研制出音速2.5倍的Arrow战机，比当时科技先进二十年，并于58年试飞成功。奈何当年反战情绪高涨和庞大经济开支令政府负担沉重，1959年政府动用1200万加元，将之彻底地毁灭！此案令军事科学家唏嘘不己。莫非英雄自古如名胆，不许人间见白头。1988年，美国最负盛名胆厂Western Electric经历近百年历史，制胆技术臻炉火纯青的境界时，决定关门大吉，并由最具资历总工程师Bernard Magers监察和执行这项悲剧性破坏行动，将所有制造真空管的设备都拆成废铁！还幸《西电》高层仍然十分理智地留下案底，除了完整地保留每部机器的结构蓝图外，还将重要程序一一记下，收藏在保险库内，不像Arrow战机般完全地被毁灭，不留任何线索。
    1992年，世界三大通讯巨头之一的AT&T终于醒觉，发现其辖下Bell Lab（贝尔实验室）拥有一所在音乐重播上最具价值的资产被荒废，就是Western Electric。当时WE300B在美国已被炒高至750美金一枚，在亚州更高达1250美金一枚。AT&T的高层（部分是超级发烧友）决定注资500万美元（今天可能已花费1000万美元）下令重建Western Electric，
由经验丰富兼活力十足之Charles Whitener当掌门人，重召当年执行拆散所有机器之总工程师Bernard Magers，进行装嵌所有机器的主帅，更聘到十五位均能独当一面熟练技师东山复出，为Western Electric再创高峰。
    一千万美元的投资对AT&T如斯大的财团虽然只是九牛一毛，然而上市公司仍须有所交待。AT&T到底凭着什么条件可以令《西电》（Western Electric）重登胆王这王宝座外，还可赚到合理利润。说老实话，若《西电》主权属我拥有（只是梦想），而本人又有足够财力的话，弹弓杨一定重建《西电》。从长远着眼，《西电》的再生有绝对投资价值。读过以下WE300B的十大优点后，对真空管有认识的发烧友都会同意《西电》不但可臻真空管的最高境界，恐胆症晶体管一派亦会对真空管刮目相看，无胆不欢的嗜胆鬼甚至将WE300B视为一件充满艺术细胞的无价宝！家里拥有WE300B就好象有劳斯莱斯（Rolls Royce）那么样的自豪感。
十大优点
1：低污染
    制造WE300B的房间是经过特别空气处理，比其它胆厂之空气杂质低很多，君知否，空气污染就是灯丝（Filament）的毒药，真空管长命与否，与此绝对有关。                2：无氧金属
    一支WE300B三极管内，由四十多种不同的物料和元件所组成，其中以Anode plate（屏极）所占去大部分的体积，因此之故，Plate用料的优劣会对真空管的寿命和音效构成直接影响，与《西电》掌门人查理斯的多次交谈中，他虽然只肯道出WE300B内Plate的用料是稀有而纯正的无氧金属。凭笔者对金属的认识和经验已可猜到WE300B体内Plate用的是高纯度Titanium（钛）。经典真空管内Plate以矽钢片为标准，矽钢高温时会膨胀，释放出氧气，而令真空管的寿命（灯丝）和音效均受一定程序的影响，钛在高温时，不但不会像矽钢般膨胀，也绝对不会放出对灯丝构成损害的氧份，而且对热的感应亦比矽钢低四倍多，则更合乎Plate的极限。钛的物料不但比矽钢昂贵数十倍，焊接时难度亦相应地高数十倍。君知否，制造钛金属需在无氧下进行，有氧份，钛之晶体就不能结合，钛之烧焊时，亦需在无氧密室下，始生效应。笔者在加拿大开设的弹弓厂也储存大量钛为客户制弹弓，通常一支钛造的小弹弓约卖2美元（数量以万计）。若客户要求焊接工程，钛弹弓随时卖贵十倍，我们先在密室注入Inert Gas（惰气），迫走氧气后，再由技师带上氧气罩进行焊接的工度。由此可知，一辆Titanium单车加动则卖4000至5000美元是可见的。
3：高度真空
    新一代WE300B的真空标准是2*0.000006 torr，即50万份之一的气压，其它真空管制造厂的气压标准仍然停止在2*0.0004 torr，即5千分之一。言下之意，全新标准WE300B会比其它300B真空100倍。Filament（灯丝）在近乎没有空气分子（moleculeo）干扰下，工作时之质感、频响、准确性和稳定度大增不在话下，灯丝的生命亦因此而长100倍，才是焦点。WE300B要做到1/500K之高度真空，外层玻璃瓶亦需特别处理，才能对抗外面的气压，普通玻璃瓶早已爆烈。厂方亦不允透露其中秘密，想深一层亦不太复杂，水晶强度不但比玻璃高数十倍，水晶透热（散热）功效亦比玻璃高数十倍，凭此点可料到WE300B多数将水晶混入玻璃作外瓶，从音效上看，水晶音色当然比玻璃高数班。君知否，就算饮红酒时，用水晶杯与玻璃杯都会有天壤之别！幼滑、醇净、冰肌玉骨……红酒、水晶、300B，论点颇相近似。
4：深海技术                           WE300B钨丝的核心与保持层（coating）均由Bell Lab（贝尔实验室）之深海电缆专有技术特别处理，贝尔在此方面是世界权威，卫星通讯未普及化前，我们在香港打电话往呈由加拿大致电欧州，都是透过贝尔海底电缆作通讯，万尺深海的压力、重盐份的侵蚀、强大暗流冲击和凹凸不平的海床下工作，仍能路路畅通者，导线的coating和质素必定比陆上标准高上千万倍始行。今日《西电》300B所采用钨丝正是Bell于1963年处至高状态时所制造存货。
5：无磁屏蔽
    Bell最引以为荣的设计是数十年前独创秘方，可令coating（钨丝核心保护层，既可增强钨丝的生命力，又可人微言轻屏蔽，而避免电子束射的干扰）混合core（钨丝核心），而无需借助任何chemicals（化学物）作介体。Bell的秘方至今仍然独步天下，比其它真空管设计领先十年或以上。今日所有其它真空管制造厂仍需依赖chemicals作介体，混合（mix）coating与core，此等chemicals会在开头1000~2000小时增加能量放射，之后能量放射徐徐下降，直至力竭声嘶……寿终正寝。Bell独创秘方无磁屏蔽（与Sony十年前发明无磁直接镀金原理相近，Sony设计仍比Bell迟到二十多年，况且钨丝的直接屏蔽至今还未有其它真空管制造厂可以掌握到其中技术上的奥妙。）可令《西电》皇牌WE300B比传统真空管标准长命二十倍以上。
6：万寿无疆
    《西电》以最高纯度之金属、最高素质玻璃、最先进而用钨丝、近乎零氧的真空状态所结合而成的WE300B，由两组超过40年经验工程师进行严格测试和计算，再加上在Bell Lab（贝尔试验室）的稽核下，WE300B的平均寿命是40000小时。初次认识《西电》掌门人Charles，他蛮具信心地问笔者：“Albert，你每天花多少时间听音乐？”，约四个小时。“就算你每日均听四小时，WE300B可以听足四十年而面不改色。”哗！四十年那么长命，是真还是假？有什么附带条件？“Plat voltage of 300， @60mA，grid voltage of -58mA，filament voltage of 5”
7：超线性配对
    每枚WE300B的单一售价是400美元，用家只须多花100美元，厂方会利用精确仪器扫描每枝WE300B的全频曲线后，挑选一对全频对称WE300B，再以一个手工精细木盒盛载和保护着才售出，其中还包括每枚WE300B的编号、出世纸和特性图表，再附上各部门临察工程师的签名。若阁下肯付1900美元，厂方更可严格地挑选四枚全频配对WE300B盛在一木盒予你付托终生。《西电》全频配对与弹弓杨经常提及超线性配对真空管不谋而合，到底其优点何在？笔者曾利用Sonic Frontiers Power 3和Power 2作实验，在推动级细胆处，放进超线性配对6DJ8和5687，不论Power 2或Power 3都登时大力了20%！可是我用仪器测量Power 2或Power 3的输出功率根本没变，然而在听觉上感觉上就任何人都可以听到比以前节拍强劲两成，这就是音乐演绎时，当音频齐上齐落时所显示的节奏感。全频配对下真空管除了劲道强20%外，其它如定位、层次、音场、质感和透明度还是有近20%的增益。至于WE300B的超线性配对收效如何？请留意笔者撰Gold Tube和Canary Audio由中国300B换上《西电》WE300B后的效应……惊为天人！
8：超静
    以前用过的Shuguang 300B和Cetron 300B都有hum的问题。虽然并非只只皆hum，但当你从厂方或代理收到四只，而其中一只有hum，就很扫兴，而且有时不止此数。WE300B不但完全没有hum当插进Golden Tube 300B时，更是静如深海，宁静程度可以比美全平衡晶体管放大器中极品Krell KAS II。
9：超阔频
    全新制作WE300B，其频响之阔是我听过所有300B之冠，其中包括旧装WE300B，初期新WE300B有点bright（光辉）和薄，却越煲越醇和越丰厚，其高频尽处明显比旧装WE300B更精致和更多音乐细节。Cetron 300B的低频最具说明力，动态可与新WE300B争一日之长短，高频则被WE300B放离班半，尤其是质感和节奏更被新《西电》300B抛离近两班。Shuguang 300B的中频十分幼滑，可惜碰上WE300B就显得中气不足，高频伸展与低频动力比起WE300B，就相差近三班。新一代中国300B（Graphite Plate）的中频十分醉人，机械结构亦比上一代之Shuguang 300B素质高很多，给我深刻印象，亦何碰上WE300B又相形见绌，高频又输两班，其它如线性、控制力、节奏感和立体凝聚等亦被WE300B放离近两班。VAIC VV30B的动态和冲刺力比WE300B有过之而无不及，低频的线条亦比WE300B更硬朗，高频质感亦比WE300B更鲜明，奈何中频气质则没有WE300B般高贵，高频亦没有WE300B那么松化和细腻，超高伸展亦以WE300B略战优势。至于谁更长寿？我暂时还未可作出定夺，因我的VV30B只是用了约800小时，状态依然甚佳。Sovtek 300B的动态比中国300B强劲而具控制力，音场则没有WE300B的高和阔，高频质感和细节亦未及WE300B的水平，空气感和泛音亦追不上WE300B，犹幸Sovtek只卖60美金一枚，若有2000小时以上的寿命就是超值产品，Sovtek 300B初期的QC甚差，近期已有大幅改良。论频响，众多的300B中仍以WE300B伸展力至为无远弗届。
10：动态
    Golden Tube原厂用Shuguang 300B（新一代Golden Tube已改用第二代Sovtek 300B）。若有8瓦的功率的话，当换上新WE300B会吓你一跳！听声收货下，就好象令Golden Tube单端放大足有15瓦之厉害，以前用Golden Tube 300B推105dB Ultra A5，就可听室内乐和小提琴独奏，今日Golden Tube与WE300B合作下，竟然蜚声鹊起！同是一部8瓦Golden Tube可以爆起灵敏度只有93dB的JBL 4333（彻底改良后可达95dB/瓦/公尺），以前Golden Tube推 Ultra A5时，就算听小提琴协奏曲，一到群奏时就脚软。在《西电》300B的超线性配对，音频起伏一致下，自当动态猛增，再加上无氧屏极和极度真空协助下，能量接近百分百保持下，不但听协奏曲时节拍强劲，在适当地控制音量挚下，确是可以在JBL 4333身上捕捉到爆棚的动力和气氛。
    胖子Sam听过《西电》300B后，恨不得即时拥有之余，还冷静地问弹弓杨：“单凭以上十大优点，WE300B已经是超值珍品，说真的，到底WE300B有无缺点？”，唯一缺点就是只得8瓦，它虽然令JBL 4333有95%录音有极出色的表现，但仍有5%，例如是布澜娜或马勒第二和第八等，怎么也造不出Krell KAS II那排山倒海之压迫力。因此之故，用四只WE300B作推挽，而每声道有22瓦输出的Canary Audio 301，是弹弓杨极有兴趣探讨其实力机种之一。一言以蔽之，今日弹弓杨手上拥有四枚超线性配对WE300B，就可千变万化地玩过不亦乐乎，例如用四枚WE300B作Bi-amp推JBL 4333或A5 Ultra MK II，又或者以四枚《西电》300B取代Canary Audio 301那四枚新一代中国300B（日后有专文报道），甚至Canary专为WE300B而设计的单声道推挽，亦其具苗头。
    胖子Sam继续问：“你喜欢新WE300B抑或是旧装WE300B？谁更长寿？”新的WE300B在分析力、形象线条、质感、频响和透明度均略胜旧装WE300B，然而旧装《西电》300B亦有煞食优点，无可否认，旧装WE300B比新款WE300B在声底上略为丰满和在弹力上略为强劲。听小提琴就以新款占优，听电吉他，则以旧有利。其于新款WE300B比旧装WE300B真空程度高100倍，以及用上无氧金属取代昔日矽钢等原料，从物理上推算下，新款WE300B一定比旧款的更长寿。“为什么WE300B选择在真空管的正中央绕Filament？”是防止电解和平衡。“什么方面的平衡？”就是弹弓杨今日提倡低重心平衡，可以减低真空管不平衡时引发的谐震，料不到《西电》如斯精明。
    巴士Sam听过《西电》300B后，虽然口沫生津，但仍有甚多疑问地说：“某些写手认为，300B有较多音染，你的看法又如何？”某些300B是过于强调中频，而令音调欠平衡度，成以Graphite plate之300B为甚，你可说这是音染，却不能说直热300B太多音染，在众多真空管的构造而言，300B是其中一个最简单和最直热的设计，从物理角度看，纯三极直热300B应比五极之KT88、6550、EL34、KT77、6L6、5881等之音效更纯净和更标准，音染亦是更低。其实真空管放大器之音染高低与放大器的结构和用料比真空管本身音染大得多，例如输出变压器的绕制法、直接交连电容的质素、导线的品种和排位、电阻的构造和电流等等均直接令音染增加。从另一角度看，完全没有音染的音乐就好象一支名琴在一所没有残响的死房拉奏一样，没意思和没半点趣味。适量音染才会令你如痴如醉，一听钟情。论分析力、立体3D、透明度、质感、空气感、频响和音色的气质（高贵），WE300B确是胆中之最。
    巴士Sam继续追问：“我还有一问题，在我脑海里疑惑了近十年，而没有正确答案？这不是WE300B独有，而所有其它真空管均存在的问题，例如熄灯后，WE300B的顶部有一晕圈状蓝光轻轻地浮现，WE300B的光虽然比其它真空管美丽的浪漫十倍，但到底是福是或祸？”那种柔和蓝光是由电离子冲击屏极（Plate）而激发Nickel（镍）中的原子（atom）出来，当Barium—Strontium（请查看Periodic table of elements，始洞悉其结构）之高速电离子冲击Nickel的原子时，会间中撞离Nickel原子里电离子，此时Nickel的原子因失去电离子，而产生正负不平衡，需在邻近的电子中吸纳所失去的电离子，使之回复平衡。当这种情况出现时，就会生蓝光。这种浪漫蓝光对WE300B的音频和音效不会构成影响。
    有一点要留心，当WE300B有朝一日若没有蓝光再呈现，而放出粉红色光彩之时，就应该是熄机换胆的时候。到时弹弓杨和巴士Sam可能已经是九十多岁的老人家了。巴士Sam最后微笑地说：“《西电》300B可能比我们更长命。”就留给下一代继续发烧吧。
摘自香港《发烧音响》，Key in by wtong。

欲拒还迎 - 2005/6/8 17:28:00

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欲拒还迎 - 2005/6/8 17:38:00

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拿胆主义 - 2005/6/9 15:05:00

[quote]真实在 2005-3-9 22:03:24 发表的内容
[quote]沙溪佬在 2005-2-10 21:42:20 发表的内容
楼上的,300B除胆好外,输出变压器更重要.[/quote]

还有电源变压器。一进一出最为重要，为什么国产的胆机不够靓声，就在于这一进一出的咽喉要害——输入输出变压器不够理想。为什么不少烧友换上了许多补品收效不大，也就是这咽喉不通畅，吃了再多的补都无法改头换面。建议摩国产胆机先从换变压器开始。[/quote]

兄台言下之意是不是把国产胆机的变压器也换掉？那么你有什么好介绍？我洗耳恭听

xtwxf6019 - 2005/7/10 21:39:00

那位大佬知道广广州市边度有天津银屏白座300B卖,谢谢

树有风 - 2005/7/13 13:30:00

[quote]xtwxf6019 在 2005-7-10 21:39:27 发表的内容
那位大佬知道广广州市边度有天津银屏白座300B卖,谢谢[/quote]我也想知道天津银屏白座300B那里有卖正规商家.谢谢

沙溪佬 - 2005/7/13 21:45:00

近日我和几个朋友在玩300B机的过程中，听一位朋友介绍，前期天津的300B的稳定性不是很好，我个人认为还是长沙和柳州的出口型的为好，特别是金栅丝的。稳定性相当了得，而且价格合理。

wangj - 2005/7/14 9:06:00

虽然现在出掉了MELODY的300B后级,但我想最终我还是会再上好的300B后级的

庄园 - 2005/7/28 1:43:00

我上了一对金丝雀300B推挽单声道后级。。。正在调整ing。

超劲 - 2005/7/30 10:48:00

[quote]xtwxf6019 在 2005-7-10 21:39:27 发表的内容
那位大佬知道广广州市边度有天津银屏白座300B卖,谢谢[/quote]

问问广州丽特

liouweiguo - 2005/8/23 11:43:00

[quote]沙溪佬在 2005-7-13 21:45:53 发表的内容
近日我和几个朋友在玩300B机的过程中，听一位朋友介绍，前期天津的300B的稳定性不是很好，我个人认为还是长沙和柳州的出口型的为好，特别是金栅丝的。稳定性相当了得，而且价格合理。[/quote]

正在用，非常不错！

太极 - 2005/8/23 10:35:00

哈哈，我也总算加入了300B一族！今后再搞台SIM AUDIO的W5，就基本结束了，2套前后级轮着听。

djs033 - 2005/10/12 17:32:00

曙光300BS-B是出口型、金栅丝吗？有知道，请赐教。

gxjyh - 2005/10/15 16:51:00

没错!300B是个三十多岁的艳妇,让她干力气活肯定不行.[/quote]

要看是那方面的力气活了!!!!!

美髯翁 - 2005/10/19 19:02:00

请教大侠们：
    欧搏CYBER--300BD功放推盟主升华再现怎样？
    我于年初买了一台这机子，2W多呢，买了不到两个月又进了一台PASS250，后就闲置了。最近想进盟主----升华再现，听说这对箱子用胆机推音乐味更好，但不知它能不能推好，特此请教。
    这台机子，我是从他们内部搞的，听说全外销、说明书全英文，我也看不懂，所以请教各位方家，见笑了!!

沙溪佬 - 2007/5/27 11:14:00

久别了；３００Ｂ上的朋友们，有什么好东西可分享？

玫丽音韵 - 2007/6/25 20:57:00

300B单端用户报到

wkdwkd - 2007/8/4 18:01:00

[align=center][align=center][b][size=18pt]300B's shootout -The valve of the (last) century[/size][/b][/align][/align][align=center][align=center][url=http://www.tnt-audio.com/accessories/300b.html][size=12pt][u][Italian version][/u][/size][/url][size=12pt][/size][/align][/align][align=left][align=left][size=10pt]Thanks: A heartfelt thanks to Phillip Heitz - [/size][url=http://www.audio-note.com/][size=10pt][u]Triode et Compagnie - France[/u][/size][/url][size=10pt]
Author: [/size][email=geoff@tnt-audio.com][size=10pt][u]Geoff Husband[/u][/size][/email][size=10pt] - TNT France
Reviewed: May, 2004 [/size][size=12pt][/size][/align][/align][align=center][align=center][size=12pt][/size][size=12pt][/size][/align][/align][align=left][align=left][b][size=13.5pt]Introduction[/size][/b][/align][/align][align=left][align=left][size=12pt]The Western Electric 300b has a long and distinguished history, which I don't intend to go into here beyond this brief resume! It was designed in the '30's specifically as a power valve for audio - cinema amps specifically. Since then it's been used in several configurations, but the one that everyone is familiar with is as a power valve in Single-Ended mode. It was this valve, more than any other that kept the Single-Ended torch burning during the bleak, transistor dominated days of the 70's and 80's. This was especially true in the Far East, notably Japan where original WE 300b's (increasingly difficult to obtain and after 1988 out of production) fetched astronomical sums and were used in hand made valve amps complete with such delights as silver wound transformers. This tiny backwater of high-end mavericks would have remained as it was had it not been for the opening up of the communist and ex-communist world, notably China and Russia.
Why? Because these economies, starved of technological exchange with the West continued to run much of their electronics on valves rather than transistors. With the fall in demand for valves from their military, factories specialising in valves turned their minds to breaking into the western market. One of the first fruits of this were Golden Dragon and Sovtec's copy of the WE300b. Suddenly instead of costing upwards of 3000e to buy a pair of NOS WE's they could be had for 100e each. This made the 300b a relatively cheap valve and various manufacturers, in particular Audio Innovations in Europe, designed SE valve amps at a price the average (obsessed) audiophile could afford. Now we move on to the present where SE 300b amps can be bought from China for 600e complete with valves, and there are literally hundreds of different 300b amps available - right up to one's costing 100,000e +... For some the 300b is still the king of valves... [/size][/align][/align][align=left][align=left][size=12pt]Of course with lots of amps around the choice of 300b's and their equivalents has expanded to the point where even Western Electric have woken up and started production again. These valves can be had for as little as 50e, direct from Russia or China, and up to 400e+ for top designer brands like WE. [/size][/align][/align][align=left][align=left][size=12pt]So I decided to have a look at a few that were available to see what differences were to be found, and of course to try and optimise my nice new Audionote Quest Silver 300b Monoblocks! These amps are around 'mid range' as far as 300b amps go, at about 8000e. They use one 300b each which made comparisons easy, and best of all the French distributor was happy to send me half a dozen pairs of valves to play with. A huge thanks to him, with little to gain from the TNT link (not many visitors from France) he did it all in the spirit of enthusiasm - thanks Philippe, you are a gent... [/size][/align][/align][align=left][align=left][size=12pt]Before I begin a three important points. First the cost of these valves can vary wildly depending on whether they are bought direct or from distributors. Searches on the net show variations running to 200%+ so you are going to have to look yourself. The prices where given are what Philippe Heitz charges, you may well find wild variations elsewhere... [/size][/align][/align][align=left][align=left][size=12pt]Secondly a reality check. Though each of these valves sounded different and identifiable I wouldn't say that the differences were at all of the 'make or break' variety. If you have a SE 300b valve amp that you are unhappy with, then it is unlikely that a valve change we exact a cure. Likewise someone with 'entry level' valves will not reach audio nirvana simply by swapping valves. However that said often with hi-fi it is the little changes that can bring happiness, so only you can really decide... I also had a pair of new WE 300b's here as reference, these courtesy of the Loth-x amp under test a few months back. [/size][/align][/align][align=left][align=left][size=12pt]Lastly about the typical 300b SE amp sound. Despite what you might believe SE 300b amps do not conform to the "warm and woolly" valve stereotype. If you are looking for warmth and weight go look elsewhere, an EL34 PP for example. 300b's are very open and clear in the midrange, to the point that some can sound pushy - the phrase "hear through" was invented to describe a good 300b amp. Given very efficient speakers they also can produce punchy fast bass and flawless high frequencies, but with normal speakers they quickly go flabby at the frequency extremes. So when I describe a valve as warm it'll still be much more open than most amps - everything is relative. [/size][/align][/align][align=left][align=left][b][size=13.5pt]The 300b copies[/size][/b][/align][/align][align=left][align=left][size=12pt]Two valves here are to all intents and purposes - identical. The AudioNote (120e) and Audion 300b's both hail from China (so I've only put up a picture of the AN's). The Audion uses a slightly taller glass envelope, but on close examination the internals are practically identical, right down to the tiny constructional details, the brick red plastic base and the Carbonised Anode. These are made in the same factory I am sure. And they are very good:-) Overall they are well balanced and clean. The balance is pretty neutral, and they are quiet. Compared to the best they lacked a little drive, detail and air, but we're talking minor details here, and for their cost they really are good alrounders and you'd need to be running a very revealing system to become dissatisfied. Certainly I couldn't spot any difference between them. [/size][/align][/align][align=left][align=left][size=12pt]Third up comes the Electro-Harmonix (also 120e) gold pin. This is, I believe, a specially selected Sovtec with a ceramic base. It's much the same cost as the Chinese tubes, though the 'cooking' Sovtec is considerably cheaper and probably the cheapest 300b available. This did sound different to the Chinese tubes. It had a slightly smoother and more laid back presentation, though once again the difference was not enormous. It was enough that if your system is just too pushy for it's own good then these might well help calm things down whilst retaining much of the openness of the other valves. On the other hand it could sound a little unfocused at times, particularly in comparison with the JJ. [/size][/align][/align][align=left][align=left][size=12pt]Fourth is the Svetlana SV300b (around 180e). This also hails from Russia with quality control and marketing being centred in the USA. Of all the valves this one was the most like the WE. It also looked very similar with the same sized bulb, and if anything both the glass envelope and internals were better made than the original. With much the same sonic signature as the Chinese tubes, this one managed to add another layer of very fine detail as if coming from a quieter background. Bass if anything was tighter and better defined than the WE but back to back I'd be pushed to tell them apart. Personally I'd really have to need that slight extra warmth that the WE's possessed to justify shelling out more than twice as much for them. [/size][/align][/align][align=left][align=left][b][size=13.5pt]"And now for something completely different"[/size][/b][/align][/align][align=left][align=left][size=12pt]All the above are essentially copies of the WE300b original, but other companies have produced tubes with the same electrical characteristics but with quite different constructions and the two most popular of these are the JJ 300b (170e) and the TJ300b (220e) gold mesh plate. These do sound different... [/size][/align][/align][align=left][align=left][size=12pt]First off the JJ's. Of all the valves these were the best built, with the thickest glass and the neatest looking internals. I'm no expert in valve design (or even beginner) but the internal structure was notably different to the others and the glass envelope the biggest. They also didn't sound the same. Of the test these were by some distance the most revealing tube. Let me explain. One of the characteristics of a high-end system is the ability to show the difference between recordings. I don't mean that you can tell if it's the Beatles or the Stones, more that the recording venue/equipment/processing differences are very clear. It's the ability to spot when Paul McCartney is singing rather than John Lennon, to spot the difference between a 'Tele' and a 'Strat' but more importantly to be able to hear where one track on an album is recorded in a different studio to another. This is a double edged sword as such a system will pick apart poor recordings to the point that all things being equal, you will begin to play good recordings rather than poor.
If the situation arises where you begin to avoid great music that is poorly recorded, then the process has gone too far (or you need to find another hobby). In this respect the JJ's were ruthlessly revealing, stripping bare the music to expose both its beauty and its faults. The Quest Silvers combined with the JJ's managed to walk the tightrope between music and analysis very successfully, but unlike the valves already described this would not be the case with every amp. I would hazard a guess that they could be the worse valve possible for the Loth-x 300b amp. Here they managed to make every other valve available sound as if they were missing things. [/size][/align][/align][align=left][align=left][size=12pt]Now the TJ's. These are the most widely talked about 300b's on the market, They seem to have met almost universal praise so of all the valves these were the ones I just had to hear. [/size][/align][/align][align=left][align=left][size=12pt]The biggest disappointment with 300b's generally is their appearance. The glass envelope is a voluptuously curved creation and they are big enough to look impressive. The problem is when you switch them on. If you switch the lights off you'll see the blue glow, but otherwise forget it. You can read by an 845, the 300b has the glow of a celibate glow-worm. Enter the TJ. The envelope is totally different, like a PX25 - big too - and by using a mesh plate the whole thing lights up, it's gorgeous and if looks are why you went for valves in the first place, then you've just got to buy the TJ's [/size][/align][/align][align=left][align=left][size=12pt]But... But... Look at the pic, you can just see that the pins aren't parallel - the other of the pair was worse. They are also pretty thick. These valves were a VERY tight fit in the Quests, so much so that they damaged the valve bases so that they became loose with the other valves on test. But maybe I was unlucky. So I plugged them in. Yup, very pretty. And the sound had a beautiful beguiling tone, warm and smooth and delicious. The effect made voices sound rounded and organic. Recordings lost their harshness, things became more listenable. You can see where this is going. If the definition of the high-end is to extract as much as possible from the original recording then the JJ is the ultimate valve - the TJ take a big step back from this. It lays a warmth and ease onto everything and there is the feeling that this is an 'addition'. Add to this is the fact that they are the noisiest valve on test, with greater hum levels and you can see that my enthusiasm is not as great as some others that have tested the valves. As it is they are probably the perfect valve for the Loth-x 300b amp. [/size][/align][/align][align=left][align=left][b][size=13.5pt]Conclusion[/size][/b][/align][/align][align=left][align=left][size=12pt]Six valves, with all the "copies" of the WE 300b giving a good account of themselves. Given a well-balanced amplifier any will do well, but of them all the Svetlana is my personal favourite being desperately close to the WE300b. Of the two 'compatables' I find the TJ difficult to recommend, poorly made, noisy and coloured, and with a high price it's for fashion victims first and foremost. The JJ is a scary valve. It is just so revealing - you get the feeling it is missing nothing. It is strong medicine, and for many ears and amps it may go too far, but once used to it you feel the others are cheating. I bought a pair for my own use. I also bought the Electro-Harmonix because they give me a tuning option for the Quests if I find a test component just too pushy for the JJ's. But if the TJ's had been better made and cheaper they would have done the job even better. [/size][/align][/align]

wkdwkd - 2007/8/4 18:04:00

呵呵，抱歉抱歉，小可新来乍到，还不会发帖，想做点贡献，没成想弄出一堆乱码。求版主删了吧！

wkdwkd - 2007/8/4 18:08:00

转贴一篇读到的300B比较评论文章。

[size=3]300B's shootout -The valve of the (last) century
[Italian version]
Thanks: A heartfelt thanks to Phillip Heitz - Triode et Compagnie - France
Author: Geoff Husband - TNT France
Reviewed: May, 2004 [/size]
[size=3]Introduction
The Western Electric 300b has a long and distinguished history, which I don't intend to go into here beyond this brief resume! It was designed in the '30's specifically as a power valve for audio - cinema amps specifically. Since then it's been used in several configurations, but the one that everyone is familiar with is as a power valve in Single-Ended mode. It was this valve, more than any other that kept the Single-Ended torch burning during the bleak, transistor dominated days of the 70's and 80's. This was especially true in the Far East, notably Japan where original WE 300b's (increasingly difficult to obtain and after 1988 out of production) fetched astronomical sums and were used in hand made valve amps complete with such delights as silver wound transformers. This tiny backwater of high-end mavericks would have remained as it was had it not been for the opening up of the communist and ex-communist world, notably China and Russia.
Why? Because these economies, starved of technological exchange with the West continued to run much of their electronics on valves rather than transistors. With the fall in demand for valves from their military, factories specialising in valves turned their minds to breaking into the western market. One of the first fruits of this were Golden Dragon and Sovtec's copy of the WE300b. Suddenly instead of costing upwards of 3000e to buy a pair of NOS WE's they could be had for 100e each. This made the 300b a relatively cheap valve and various manufacturers, in particular Audio Innovations in Europe, designed SE valve amps at a price the average (obsessed) audiophile could afford. Now we move on to the present where SE 300b amps can be bought from China for 600e complete with valves, and there are literally hundreds of different 300b amps available - right up to one's costing 100,000e +... For some the 300b is still the king of valves...
Of course with lots of amps around the choice of 300b's and their equivalents has expanded to the point where even Western Electric have woken up and started production again. These valves can be had for as little as 50e, direct from Russia or China, and up to 400e+ for top designer brands like WE.
So I decided to have a look at a few that were available to see what differences were to be found, and of course to try and optimise my nice new Audionote Quest Silver 300b Monoblocks! These amps are around 'mid range' as far as 300b amps go, at about 8000e. They use one 300b each which made comparisons easy, and best of all the French distributor was happy to send me half a dozen pairs of valves to play with. A huge thanks to him, with little to gain from the TNT link (not many visitors from France) he did it all in the spirit of enthusiasm - thanks Philippe, you are a gent...
Before I begin a three important points. First the cost of these valves can vary wildly depending on whether they are bought direct or from distributors. Searches on the net show variations running to 200%+ so you are going to have to look yourself. The prices where given are what Philippe Heitz charges, you may well find wild variations elsewhere...
Secondly a reality check. Though each of these valves sounded different and identifiable I wouldn't say that the differences were at all of the 'make or break' variety. If you have a SE 300b valve amp that you are unhappy with, then it is unlikely that a valve change we exact a cure. Likewise someone with 'entry level' valves will not reach audio nirvana simply by swapping valves. However that said often with hi-fi it is the little changes that can bring happiness, so only you can really decide... I also had a pair of new WE 300b's here as reference, these courtesy of the Loth-x amp under test a few months back.
Lastly about the typical 300b SE amp sound. Despite what you might believe SE 300b amps do not conform to the "warm and woolly" valve stereotype. If you are looking for warmth and weight go look elsewhere, an EL34 PP for example. 300b's are very open and clear in the midrange, to the point that some can sound pushy - the phrase "hear through" was invented to describe a good 300b amp. Given very efficient speakers they also can produce punchy fast bass and flawless high frequencies, but with normal speakers they quickly go flabby at the frequency extremes. So when I describe a valve as warm it'll still be much more open than most amps - everything is relative.
The 300b copies
Two valves here are to all intents and purposes - identical. The AudioNote (120e) and Audion 300b's both hail from China (so I've only put up a picture of the AN's). The Audion uses a slightly taller glass envelope, but on close examination the internals are practically identical, right down to the tiny constructional details, the brick red plastic base and the Carbonised Anode. These are made in the same factory I am sure. And they are very good:-) Overall they are well balanced and clean. The balance is pretty neutral, and they are quiet. Compared to the best they lacked a little drive, detail and air, but we're talking minor details here, and for their cost they really are good alrounders and you'd need to be running a very revealing system to become dissatisfied. Certainly I couldn't spot any difference between them.
Third up comes the Electro-Harmonix (also 120e) gold pin. This is, I believe, a specially selected Sovtec with a ceramic base. It's much the same cost as the Chinese tubes, though the 'cooking' Sovtec is considerably cheaper and probably the cheapest 300b available. This did sound different to the Chinese tubes. It had a slightly smoother and more laid back presentation, though once again the difference was not enormous. It was enough that if your system is just too pushy for it's own good then these might well help calm things down whilst retaining much of the openness of the other valves. On the other hand it could sound a little unfocused at times, particularly in comparison with the JJ.
Fourth is the Svetlana SV300b (around 180e). This also hails from Russia with quality control and marketing being centred in the USA. Of all the valves this one was the most like the WE. It also looked very similar with the same sized bulb, and if anything both the glass envelope and internals were better made than the original. With much the same sonic signature as the Chinese tubes, this one managed to add another layer of very fine detail as if coming from a quieter background. Bass if anything was tighter and better defined than the WE but back to back I'd be pushed to tell them apart. Personally I'd really have to need that slight extra warmth that the WE's possessed to justify shelling out more than twice as much for them.
"And now for something completely different"
All the above are essentially copies of the WE300b original, but other companies have produced tubes with the same electrical characteristics but with quite different constructions and the two most popular of these are the JJ 300b (170e) and the TJ300b (220e) gold mesh plate. These do sound different...
First off the JJ's. Of all the valves these were the best built, with the thickest glass and the neatest looking internals. I'm no expert in valve design (or even beginner) but the internal structure was notably different to the others and the glass envelope the biggest. They also didn't sound the same. Of the test these were by some distance the most revealing tube. Let me explain. One of the characteristics of a high-end system is the ability to show the difference between recordings. I don't mean that you can tell if it's the Beatles or the Stones, more that the recording venue/equipment/processing differences are very clear. It's the ability to spot when Paul McCartney is singing rather than John Lennon, to spot the difference between a 'Tele' and a 'Strat' but more importantly to be able to hear where one track on an album is recorded in a different studio to another. This is a double edged sword as such a system will pick apart poor recordings to the point that all things being equal, you will begin to play good recordings rather than poor.
If the situation arises where you begin to avoid great music that is poorly recorded, then the process has gone too far (or you need to find another hobby). In this respect the JJ's were ruthlessly revealing, stripping bare the music to expose both its beauty and its faults. The Quest Silvers combined with the JJ's managed to walk the tightrope between music and analysis very successfully, but unlike the valves already described this would not be the case with every amp. I would hazard a guess that they could be the worse valve possible for the Loth-x 300b amp. Here they managed to make every other valve available sound as if they were missing things.
Now the TJ's. These are the most widely talked about 300b's on the market, They seem to have met almost universal praise so of all the valves these were the ones I just had to hear.
The biggest disappointment with 300b's generally is their appearance. The glass envelope is a voluptuously curved creation and they are big enough to look impressive. The problem is when you switch them on. If you switch the lights off you'll see the blue glow, but otherwise forget it. You can read by an 845, the 300b has the glow of a celibate glow-worm. Enter the TJ. The envelope is totally different, like a PX25 - big too - and by using a mesh plate the whole thing lights up, it's gorgeous and if looks are why you went for valves in the first place, then you've just got to buy the TJ's
But... But... Look at the pic, you can just see that the pins aren't parallel - the other of the pair was worse. They are also pretty thick. These valves were a VERY tight fit in the Quests, so much so that they damaged the valve bases so that they became loose with the other valves on test. But maybe I was unlucky. So I plugged them in. Yup, very pretty. And the sound had a beautiful beguiling tone, warm and smooth and delicious. The effect made voices sound rounded and organic. Recordings lost their harshness, things became more listenable. You can see where this is going. If the definition of the high-end is to extract as much as possible from the original recording then the JJ is the ultimate valve - the TJ take a big step back from this. It lays a warmth and ease onto everything and there is the feeling that this is an 'addition'. Add to this is the fact that they are the noisiest valve on test, with greater hum levels and you can see that my enthusiasm is not as great as some others that have tested the valves. As it is they are probably the perfect valve for the Loth-x 300b amp.
Conclusion
Six valves, with all the "copies" of the WE 300b giving a good account of themselves. Given a well-balanced amplifier any will do well, but of them all the Svetlana is my personal favourite being desperately close to the WE300b. Of the two 'compatables' I find the TJ difficult to recommend, poorly made, noisy and coloured, and with a high price it's for fashion victims first and foremost. The JJ is a scary valve. It is just so revealing - you get the feeling it is missing nothing. It is strong medicine, and for many ears and amps it may go too far, but once used to it you feel the others are cheating. I bought a pair for my own use. I also bought the Electro-Harmonix because they give me a tuning option for the Quests if I find a test component just too pushy for the JJ's. But if the TJ's had been better made and cheaper they would have done the job even better. [/size]

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