Please let me know if you liked the video by clicking the like button. 👍 If you are interested in the World top full range drivers - please visit www.cubeaudio.eu For amazing 3 way Semi Open Baffle speakers build with the best components available go to - www.qualioaudio.com And if you really like what I'm doing here you can always buy me a coffee ☕☕☕ - buymeacoffee.com/VirtualHiFi

I like the 2A3 best, more elegant delivery over the whole frequency spectrum. Never pushy.

@VirtualHiFi

10 ай бұрын

Thank you for sharing your feedback

@frankgeeraerts6243

2 ай бұрын

Agree !

Thanks so much for doing these kind of vids! Your May versus Spring was great and helped me decide between the two (I went with May...) For this, I hear a certain weight to the notes with the 300B amplifier that's perfect for jazz for me. The 2A3 sounds like it's got an airy lift in the upper midrange and treble and I dig that for voices and midrange focused things. It's clean and clear too and not fatiguing to my ears. The 211 tube amp is a new sound to me - it's got a quality that I like a lot. It's got the nice weight to it like the 300B, but it's got a unique quality in the mids that I can't quite put my finger on versus the other 2. All beautiful amps!

It's best to have all kinds of amps. I want to own them all 😅😜 No one is better than the other. Each type has a characteristic sound color. Your mood also changes color. So it's best to prepare all the equipment to suit your mood.

@VirtualHiFi

10 ай бұрын

Well said!

1. 2A3 (Most realistic sounding in the circuit applied) 2. 211 (Darker but less glare compared with 300B, a bit too resonant in the bass - may be the circuit?) 3. 300 B (Too lush, again, can be tamed with interstage)

@VirtualHiFi

11 ай бұрын

Thanks for the feedback ;)

@klepp19

5 ай бұрын

Hi Dan, I never listened to a interstage driven 300b before. You said it makes 300b less lush! What else does it do for the sound? Thanks!

I have had many 300b Amplifiers, they all sound mellow, too mellow. Now I run a 45 SE which is the same as 2A3 but single plate with less power, it is the best triode SE I had by far. Realistic textures and natural sound, fantastic, and despites its 3 watts, it works with Cube Audio Magus.

@VirtualHiFi

11 ай бұрын

Thank you very much for sharing your opinion. I have to test the 45 myself. Never had a chance to hear it for a long time and the Tektron amp allows for it as well. Which brand for the 45 do you recommend ?

@bogdanspiridon6760

11 ай бұрын

@@VirtualHiFi I have tried EML, but still the midrange of a good NOS is unbeatable on my system, so I picked up NOS bottle shaped 45 tubes from various brands with nearby values, all good.

@klepp19

5 ай бұрын

In an absolute sense 300b is a wee bit slow but beautiful mids! I use a select grade Linlai 300b.😊

@frankgeeraerts6243

2 ай бұрын

NOS 45 is pure MAGIC ..................and the ballon shape 245 nos is even better...

I like 300b with widebanders! At an audio show I was impressed with 2a3 monos with Songer S2s!

@VirtualHiFi

5 ай бұрын

Great to hear that :) Thank you for the feedback and 300B with Fullrange is a recepie for success :)

@klepp19

5 ай бұрын

@@VirtualHiFi Yes, 100% agree!😊

Really joyful...each song...or composition...on any type of mentioned tubes..beautiful melodies

@VirtualHiFi

8 ай бұрын

Thank you :)

211 is more mid hall. it's open and wide maybe wider than the rest. I most like the essence of the music rather than walk through the band. I won't get tired of it that way. AWESOME DEMO! 😊

Compliments fore how the test is performed.Compliments fore how you did the comparisment. Compliments fore the different music styles and switching between the Amps !!

@VirtualHiFi

Ай бұрын

thank you very much for your very positive feedback ;)

Man I wish...These speakers ,the sound is so pure !

@VirtualHiFi

9 ай бұрын

Thank you. It's a single driver with no crossover so that's what makes the sing.

They are all lovely I would prefer the 2A3 - but only by a bit, over the 300B

I'm new to your channel - don't know if you often do comparisons like this, perfect in my book, excellently done - - not that it matters much - I'm on the same page as danbosak, I agree with his line up choices and JoseSantos because yeah, they all get the job done but again yeah, typical audiophile stuff as it would be nice to combine the strengths of all three of them. Really nice sounding system/room to do the comparisons, nice music choices too - - thanks.

@VirtualHiFi

10 ай бұрын

Hello 👋 Thank you for your comment. That means a lot to me and it gives me plenty of power to do more videos like that ;) My early videos are from my lining room and now I have a dedicated KZread recording studio where I only do listening and recording sessions so soon many more videos will come ;)

Thank you for this comparison.

@VirtualHiFi

7 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

Great comparison test!

@VirtualHiFi

6 ай бұрын

Thank you! and Thank you for subscribing :)

Very nice video, keep up the good work! I would like to see a review of 211 amplifier on your channel.

@VirtualHiFi

10 ай бұрын

Thank you very much I will do it for sure :)

Hi, thanks for the video and comparison. It's difficult to assess even in the same brand's amps with different brand tubes. The 211 sound very muddy and veiled and drop the emphasis to lower octaves; the 300B's sound great by themselves but then a bit bloated once the 2A3 come in. The 2A3 sound very detailed and expressive but you may miss the lower mid/bass harmonics. The soundscape relates very much to the amp design and tubes...obviously!...but sometimes in unexpected ways. I've recently tried an Electro-Harmonix Gold 300B next to a JJ 2A3-40 in an Elekit 8900 (switchable tubes) and I was expecting to hear the detail and transparency increase with the 2A3s like your video, but surprisingly the EH 300Bs were more detailed and less warm and blurred than the JJs... I much prefer them.

@VirtualHiFi

10 ай бұрын

Thank you very much for sharing your opinion. I highly appreciate it,

@frankgeeraerts6243

2 ай бұрын

It's not realy the 211..............but in fact you listen to a hard working driver tube....

Congratulations on this very good performance. You got it exactly right! And it's amazing to me how clearly and distinctly you can hear the differences via a simple internet connection. However, I also have headphones, which makes a big difference. I think this test setup with continuous music is better than rewinding the track over and over again, which someone suggested in the comments. I also think the relatively short alternating rhythm is good because you can then concentrate on different aspects when switching several times.

@VirtualHiFi

8 ай бұрын

Thank you for your very positive comment and feedback. I'm glad it is helpful and you can clearly hear the difference. Depending on the. Video I sometimes don't or other or mix the comparison version. Ill do more videos this week so there will be definitely some more videos to watch ;)

2A3 with good speaker matching.

@frankgeeraerts6243

2 ай бұрын

A good 2A3 amplifier rarely deceives ............

I love parallel single endes 2A3

I like all

2A3! Still tempting me but I have enough SE tubeamps including 300B. Also I heard a recurring problem on piano notes saturating. I suspect its the Lampizator DAC. I had one here (not the Baltic) brought by a friend to compare and the output stage was tuned rather hot so it overmodulates on piano and soprano. This is what I hear on all 3. Also I like the other speakers better. You can drive them ok with the 211 and maybe even the 300B.

I did NOT expect the 211 to be my favorite. To my ears, it was the most holographic, had the widest soundstage, and sounded fuller. Not as detailed as the others, but not as thin as the 2A3…more oomf. Felt more like a live show to me. I do like the 300bs. I wonder what one type as a pre amp and another as a power amp would do. Might exits, but I don’t think I have seen one.

Great video greg. I don't have any tube experience but really enjoyed this. Who is that female singer at 11m30s 💚💚💚💚?

@VirtualHiFi

9 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it. the song is kzread.info/dash/bejne/mGx4u7R-eM2aiZs.htmlsi=q8eQ86qAj4vH84SC

Hi, I also got the 211 from Tektron. Do you also get the fairly high transformer noise when you power up the amp? Cheers for the video it’s a great addition for the community

@VirtualHiFi

10 ай бұрын

Thank you very much for the feedback. Ill do my best ;) Yes I can hear a bit the amp starting up but it's quiet after a minute or so

Hi, thank you for the show, I tend towards 300B sound with this loudspeaker but I cannot justify why. On the other hand I feel that there would be a different winner with each track and I'd like to make my decision mathematically, based on how each one performs with different genres of music. I find it difficult to be critical with this sort of listening, as comparison is on different passages of the music. Could we have a more strict, one-to-one comparison? Like, half songs played with each tube succeedingly, one after the other? This way we could have a more rational comparison, not an emotional guesswork. Thanks again.

@VirtualHiFi

10 ай бұрын

Thank you very much for the feedback. Yes now I will do it exactly that way. Few tracks playing on while I'm changing devices, and later the same part of the track on on each device ;) just like in this video - kzread.info/dash/bejne/lKh9y66Nc9fTk6Q.html

Amazing otherwordly sound! All 3 amplifiers are very good!

2A3 !

Soundstage depth appears to be deeper with the 211 and 2A3. I am listening with sensitive IEMs, and prefer the 2A3 sound.

@VirtualHiFi

9 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing your opinion ;)

For me going just by the video and my desktop speakers... 211 > 2A3 > 300B

@VirtualHiFi

8 ай бұрын

Thank you for your feedback :)

- 211 - 300B - 2A3

@VirtualHiFi

10 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing :)

I want to try 300b my self, tho 300b amp are pricy. My speakers are 92dB, should be enough. Good test, thx.

@VirtualHiFi

10 ай бұрын

You can find 300B at around 2000-3000$ or even less on second hand market. You should definitely try it if you like very colorful sound

I would be interested in what microphone you used for this since, I am affraid, it was unable to pick a sufficient dynamic range at this recording distance (not to mention an unvoidable suppression YT adds itself).

@VirtualHiFi

10 ай бұрын

The microphones are Shoeps CMC6 MK4 and Sound Devicdes Mix Pre recorder.

211 sounds like someone is scratching chalk on a chalkboard. 2A3 is buried in some sort of barrel one tube to rule them all remains: 300B

@VirtualHiFi

6 ай бұрын

thank you for sharing your comment ☺️

@RafaelZama

5 ай бұрын

@@VirtualHiFi thank you for making it possible

I really like the idea of this video - but the change every 10 seconds is too quick for me.

@VirtualHiFi

10 ай бұрын

Thank you for the feedback. I cannot go much slower maybe 15 seconds would be better. I'll test it ;)

@GavinHodgson

10 ай бұрын

@@VirtualHiFi or keep them separate and have time stamps.

71A ambrosia

2A3 sounded best to my preference

@VirtualHiFi

7 ай бұрын

Thank you for your vote. I highly appreciate it ;)

They all sound great. They should blend them into one. What one is missing the other fulfills. Thanks for sharing.

@VirtualHiFi

10 ай бұрын

Thanks for listening ;)

I was surprised at how similar the overall tonal balance between all three amps was similar. The differences I heard was that the 211 gave more body and shape to the individual notes, more punch, the 2A3 made the shape of the notes less distinct, more rounded, more washed together, more delicate, but not dissagreeably so. The 300B was somewhere in between. The 211 also seemed to produce a larger sound stage, and I can see how some people would describe the 211 as darker but for me not in a way that is unfaithful to the music. I believe if you could mount those drivers in the wall in a true infinite baffel, slightly higher than the speaker mounting height, the overall tonal balance and presentation would improve, it would be more extended and less stressed, I would also like to hear a multiple driver line array open baffel version with the speakers. Putting drivers in this sort of enclosure, narrow, and the speaker at the very top if the front baffell, will accentuate peaks and dips in the speaker response, please refer to the baffell studies Oleson published, and those peaks and dips will not chage a great deal depending on the amp, aside from the dampning factor of the amp. In the case of these speakers and enclosures, I believe they would sound better with very high quality sold state amplifiers, the high end would be more distinct and extended. I appreciate this presentation and I can imagine that eidting it perfectly as it was took some effort.

excellent,,, for orchestra i need micro detail and speed,,,, which is better,,,

@VirtualHiFi

5 ай бұрын

Depending on your speakers ease of drive. For very easy above 93db go for 2a3 and for 90+ db not very but still easy ones go for 211 ;)

@kaybhee6

5 ай бұрын

which gives better speed and micro detail... if no change in spkrs @@VirtualHiFi

First track: 211, 300B, 2A3 Second track: 211, 300B, well both. 2A3. Third track: 211, 300B, 2A3 Fourth track: 211, 300B, well both. 2A3. -> 300B or 211 are the best

@VirtualHiFi

5 ай бұрын

Thank you for your feedback :)

Hey, i can't take a sharp decision... But what's the second track in the playlist?

@VirtualHiFi

10 ай бұрын

Here it is - kzread.info/dash/bejne/ZIONp6-BYrLflrg.html

@Michlag

10 ай бұрын

@@VirtualHiFi great, thanks

1. 2a3 valve a full ...plus sound Natural 2. 300b 3. 211..

@VirtualHiFi

7 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing :)

300B сцена пошире

Seems the 211 has more room for manoeuvre,literally I would say. Perhaps it is all physical with valves. Like - valves work with Newtonian physics and transistors are quantum rules. Fine, get it down to quarks if you like, it's going to work. But we're moving speaker cones here,and the signal doesn't want to be flinching or hesitating, waiting for the power to be available. 500 volts and a big glass tube followed by a block of laminated planet earth is definitely more likely to be up for the game in my estimation.

@VirtualHiFi

4 ай бұрын

oh I totally get your point of view. I love 211 not only for the sound but the looks, glow and if being a great substitute of fireplace in the winter - totally awesome

Maybe the 300B version is better and the 211 the less interesting and the less musical. But who knows? But the brand of the tubes is also very important as we all know

@VirtualHiFi

5 ай бұрын

Totally agree, I did some 300b and 2a3 comparisons and definitely 211 is more energetic than the 300b ;)

No talk about wires pl. Western Electric copper tin plated r still the benchmark.

Man that’s a korean music! Sounds really good! by the way, what’s the speaker name?

@VirtualHiFi

10 ай бұрын

This is a Cube Audio Nenuphar you can find it here www.cubeaudio.eu

Impossible to say because one sound more full on specific music and it change for another one. So...

@VirtualHiFi

4 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing. ;)

300b or 211 for me. 2a3 sounds wonky

@ColocasiaCorm

10 ай бұрын

Leaning 300b

@VirtualHiFi

9 ай бұрын

Thank you for sharing 😊

The room sounds over absorbed or it is just me?

1. 300B (realism, little too much bassgrunt) 2. AA3 (nearly as realistic, vocals little bit too thin) 3. 211 ("snorting", not my kinda style)

@VirtualHiFi

11 ай бұрын

Thank you very much for sharing your opinion. Its very interesting ;)

@audiotom3855

11 ай бұрын

@@VirtualHiFi thank YOU for These vids

1. 300B 2. 2A3 3. 211

@VirtualHiFi

10 ай бұрын

Thank you for sharing :)

300B here is least pleasant in tonal terms, piano attacs are dirty. Both 2A3 and 211 sound more soft and warm. 211 has less top end. As for me 300B lost, 211 is more "atmospheric", 2A3 more precise

@VirtualHiFi

5 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing your feedback and opinion :)

I just hate most Piano Music. Its an Ice Pic to my Brains. Try some Hammond B-3 & LARGE chimes with resonance. Or TRANCE Musica

@VirtualHiFi

7 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing, I am limited to the music I can obtain copyright licenes to so I cant go very crazy :)

le son est vraiment pas terrible

@VirtualHiFi

10 ай бұрын

Thank you for sharing

Video Fail, which is which? A little card in front of each amp 2a3 300 211?! 😂

@VirtualHiFi

6 ай бұрын

The tubes are displayed on a laptop on the lowest level of the table.