The BEST 300B amplifier with no pre-amp? Let’s Tube ROLL!

To pre-amp or not to pre-amp?
I compared the sonic results of using my pre-amplifier and not using a pre-amplifier with the Decware Zen Sarah 300B, and discuss a the possibilities of tube rolling with this amplifier.
#amplifier #preamplifier #stereo #audiophile
Part 1: • Beyond expectations. T...
FEATURES - Full specs on bottom.
Class A Single Ended Triode using one 300B per channel.
Purist Design is hand built point-to-point with no circuit boards.
Drives speakers from 2 to 16 ohms.
Cold Cathode Vacuum Tube Diodes (VR tubes) filter the power for all three driver tubes.
No global negative feedback used or any solid state parts.
4 to 7 watts / channel depending on which VR tubes are used.
Designed and voiced for the Western Electric 300B Triode.
Voicing switch used to move presence forward or back.
Boutique internals including Miflex Copper Foil capacitors and F&T electrolytics.
Cathode biased and AC heated for foolproof operation and maximum tube safety.
Analogue Current meters for each 300B output tube.
Decware UFO wide bandwidth output transformers.
Dual volume controls.
Dual RCA inputs with selector.
Output speaker impedance switch for each channel - use while listening.
Carefully voiced preamp stage is built-in. Can be used without a preamp.
Where to find the Zen Sarah 300B amplifier & Western Electric tubes:
www.decwareproducts.com/sarah
Cryotone tubes
www.wathenspeakers.com/index....
Support hificave:
/ hificave
My channel: / @hificave
FULL SPECIFICATIONS
World Voltage compatibility 50/60Hz
DRIVER TUBE Compatibility: 6N6P, 6922, 6N1P
INPUT TUBE Compatibility: 12AU7
OUTPUT TUBE Compatibility: WE300B
VOLTAGE REGULATOR TUBE Compatibility: OC2, OA2 OB2
RECTIFICATION: 274B or 5U4 or 5AR4
INPUTS: Two pair isolated 24K Gold RCA INPUTS with switching.
OUTPUTS: LO & HI , for 2~6 & 8~16 OHM SPEAKERS
IDLE CURRENT: 65~75 MILS PER OUTPUT TUBE
HIGH VOLTAGE: 390 VDC AT TRANSFORMERS
INPUT IMPEDANCE: 100 K OHMS
INPUT SENSITIVITY: FULL POWER @ 2.0 VOLTS
POWER INTO 8 OHMS: 4 to 7 WATTS PER CHANNEL @ 3%THD PENDING VR TUBE USED
NOISE: -80dB
CURRENT METERS: 0 to 100 MA
SIGNAL CAPACITORS: COPPER FOIL MIFLEX
ELECTROLYTIC CAPACITORS: F&T
BYPASS CAPACITORS: COPPER FOIL MIFLEX
CATHODE CAPS: NICHICON MUSE, ATOM
INPUT JACKS: MACHINED GOLD RCA
OUTPUT JACKS: RED COPPER BINDING POSTS
MACHINED STEEL CHASSIS with POWDER COAT FINISH
IEC CONNECTOR: HOSPITAL GRADE DUAL FUSED / NOISE FILTER
SWITCHING: DUAL CONTACT SILVER
SOCKETS: EIZZ Gold Ceramic
SIZE: 17-1/4" WIDE x 13-3/4" DEEP x 9-3/4" HIGH
NET WEIGHT: 31 LBS.
CAN BE BRIDGED INTO EITHER SINGLE-ENDED or DIFFERENTIAL BALANCED MONOBLOCKS
WARRANTY: LIFETIME TO ORIGINAL OWNER

Пікірлер: 44

  • @clintoncrofford1493
    @clintoncrofford14933 ай бұрын

    Hi I'm an old dude an consider myself an recovered audiophile who 20 years ago had the privilege to design and build a 300b with an audio genius with a cost no limit budget. And after a year of trial and error came up with an end game product. So in the end we were trying tube rolling and on my amp the differences were quite small...untill I tried TJ Fullmusic balloon tubes as you mentioned. Then I sent them out to get cryogenic treatment here in Canada. What were the results? When Dan asked me how the new tubes sounded.... I replied "tubes... what tubes? They were invisible ! It seemed like all I heard was the preamp tubes only magnified and I was so impressed I thought of going into business promoting those cyro tubes so I also used TJ input tubes and to me it brought audio nirvana. Now I know everyone has different tastes but if I ever build another amp I'd still opt for TJ cryogenic tubes... just saying 😊😊😊😊 PS,. I used the term "recovered audiophile". Because now my real joy is in introducing newbys to the wonderful world of an "ancient" craftsmanship of the glory of Tubes

  • @TombstoneTube
    @TombstoneTube3 ай бұрын

    You getting really good at this man. Great insights with no BS

  • @hificave

    @hificave

    3 ай бұрын

    I appreciate that!

  • @daviddowns3154
    @daviddowns31543 ай бұрын

    Thanks for another great review!

  • @labalo5
    @labalo53 ай бұрын

    More Sarah vids!!

  • @rg6556
    @rg65563 ай бұрын

    Well said, Loic!! as usual

  • @bengleason508
    @bengleason5083 ай бұрын

    Great Job Loic!

  • @hificave

    @hificave

    3 ай бұрын

    Thank you Ben!

  • @HifiBoomer
    @HifiBoomer3 ай бұрын

    Great info 👍

  • @alwayslearning3130
    @alwayslearning31303 ай бұрын

    For me the review content is timely and addresses questions I have. I am ready for a change and have contemplated Decware for the amp replacement. After your Sarah review I decided yes I want one. Friday I sent an email to Decware asking will I miss not having a remote? You answered this. Next question should I just get the Western Electric 300Bs? I am thinking yes. Thanks for your well articulated review. It sold me on the Sarah!

  • @IvoCoric
    @IvoCoric9 күн бұрын

    Definitely my favorite hi fi channel on you tube. I wish only how the Decware compare to Audio Note ToneMeister Meishu amp .

  • @hificave

    @hificave

    9 күн бұрын

    I wish I knew. I dont have access to those right now.

  • @Franky2A3
    @Franky2A33 ай бұрын

    Just saw this pop up. Great presentation! After building tube amps for many years and conducting numerous A/B sonic tests, I've found that while different tubes do make a difference, coupling capacitors also significantly influence the sound just as much. I've experimented with various exotic capacitors, but I always revert back to high-end interstage transformers for coupling. I'm not sure what Decware uses for coupling.

  • @jeffreythurston1822
    @jeffreythurston18223 ай бұрын

    Fun video

  • @hificave

    @hificave

    3 ай бұрын

    😎

  • @mediascapes2011
    @mediascapes20113 ай бұрын

    Awesome, thank you! BTW: you have occasionally mentioned your success with tube rectifiers, not being familiar how it works and how to use it, - would you make a video of your system component please.

  • @hificave

    @hificave

    3 ай бұрын

    I can work on a video on recrifiers. If you want to see the componnents in the mean time: Does it SOUND the same? (+tour my hifi rig) kzread.info/dash/bejne/dYNtzaVtj6fUeqg.html

  • @danielstevenson-francis974
    @danielstevenson-francis9743 ай бұрын

    I forget when I ordered the Sarah, I'm afraid to look where I am on the list. I'm probably another year on the 25th anniversary triode.

  • @chatrs1025
    @chatrs10252 ай бұрын

    Thanks again for the info. My problem is I'm on that list and it's a bit over 2 years. When my turn comes, I will order along with those VC tubes just for fun. In this video, you didn't mention about the regulator tube rollings. I had a good result with my current amp--Willsenton R800i rolled with Sophia electric 274B MK2 blue glass. Who cares if it's in the signal path or not.

  • @hificave

    @hificave

    2 ай бұрын

    It all has an impact.

  • @PaoloCaminiti
    @PaoloCaminiti3 ай бұрын

    👏👏👏

  • @winchwhip
    @winchwhip2 ай бұрын

    Thx for the great video. What volume level do you set the Sarah at when using a preamp? Do you find that that you get more of the 300B tube magic if you set the Sarah to maximum volume?

  • @hificave

    @hificave

    2 ай бұрын

    I am enjoying it at around 75%

  • @kenr4540
    @kenr45403 ай бұрын

    Nice video. Will the Decware Zen Sarah 300B easily drive the Maco Macaria Speakers?

  • @hificave

    @hificave

    3 ай бұрын

    I talk about it in this video: The Best Open Baffle speakers yet? Macaria, by MACO kzread.info/dash/bejne/kWWVlqpxiLefmLw.html

  • @kenr4540

    @kenr4540

    3 ай бұрын

    Thanks!@@hificave

  • @richardhesla5353
    @richardhesla5353Ай бұрын

    I’m about two months from getting my own Sarah. Have you heard the Brunoco Terra 6L6PP amp to comment on how the two compare? Thank you!

  • @hificave

    @hificave

    Ай бұрын

    Never heard about Brunoco.

  • @richardhesla5353

    @richardhesla5353

    Ай бұрын

    It is one of Jay Iyagi’s personal favorites.

  • @jeff3575davison
    @jeff3575davison3 ай бұрын

    What about the rectifier? as I mentioned last time you HAVE to try the WE 422A.

  • @hificave

    @hificave

    3 ай бұрын

    When the opportunity presents itself. I will.

  • @LeonFleisherFan
    @LeonFleisherFan3 ай бұрын

    Love your reviews! Once again detail (sorry!): no, the three voltage regulator tubes do not need to match! The outside two for the 6N6P driver tubes need to match or else one is going to get channel imbalance, but the third in the middle is the voltage regulator for the preamp tube in the front (see also manual, second to last page or so). Besides, rolling the rectifier tube makes no less of a difference sonically than any of the other tubes, so indeed, the permutations are seemingly endless.

  • @hificave

    @hificave

    3 ай бұрын

    Oh yes, thanks. Another detail, changing the rectifier makes a big difference in terms of soundstage, bass & air.

  • @oscarvalencia9485
    @oscarvalencia948510 күн бұрын

    have you tried 300b in OTL?

  • @hificave

    @hificave

    10 күн бұрын

    Not yet.

  • @bobgour6941
    @bobgour69413 ай бұрын

    Loïc !!! You never speak about your ladies back speakers ..? What are you waiting ? Please make the video about this beautiful as :)) speakers ❤

  • @hificave

    @hificave

    3 ай бұрын

    I will soon

  • @bobgour6941

    @bobgour6941

    3 ай бұрын

    @@hificave merci monsieur :))

  • @rodm1949
    @rodm19498 күн бұрын

    Your 6922 will accept a converter to a 6SN7, be prepared for a bigger sound stage.

  • @hificave

    @hificave

    8 күн бұрын

    Bigger soundstage is ALWAYS good imo. Thanks!

  • @greggb681
    @greggb6812 ай бұрын

    Green skin

  • @philipkershaw7918
    @philipkershaw79183 ай бұрын

    "Super quiet background"? Perhaps your intention here is for this statement to be taken in a relative sense. And that is fair enough. However, the more critical thinking amongst us might go on to struggle with the obvious yet dangerously regressive thought: relative to what? This risks demoting your statement to that of unhelpful hyperbole and obfuscation. If amplifier noise so exercises you [as it should us all] to the point where you feel it an important feature worth touting, then in the same relative terms you will find no better example of a "super quiet backgroud" than what can be routinely achieved with a well designed solid state offering. Absolutely no offence intended here. It's good to talk. Regards.

  • @hificave

    @hificave

    3 ай бұрын

    Everything is relative and in context.

  • @dick66482209
    @dick664822093 ай бұрын

    7:38 What ever amp or combo I use I tend to use volume control on average at least 3 times per song sometimes I change volume every 30-60S. But if I'm bussy doing something I tend to just leave it on a slightly lower volume. Using the volume control multiple times per song gives me best exprience.