Paramount

[thdewitt]

OK, it looks like I am going to pull the trigger on the Paramounts today.  Can I get some basic advice.  What are the advantages or disadvantages of the 2A3 versus the 300B.  Also, can you order without tubes and just buy my own online.

I will be using these with a second set of Ora Deluxes.  I personally really like singer songwriter type music and older rock.  So Jason Mraz, Jack Johnson, Regina Spektor, Norah Jones, Tom Petty, Neil Young. 

I do not normally listen to the music very loud.  This particular system will be in my living room.  It has high ceilings about 20 FT.  and is open to the dining room and our piano room.  I would be less than 10 feet from the speakers in the listening area.

Thanks,
Tom

[Paul Birkeland]

Hello Tom,

Yes, either configuration can be ordered without the tubes. 

The 300B is more powerful, does not require biasing, but 300B's are quite expensive.

The 2A3 is directly coupled, a bit more finicky, requires biasing, but there are a lot of 2A3's out there that aren't quite as expensive. 

For an Orca, either will work well. 

-PB

[Paully]

The usual description is 300B is fuller, more euphoric and powerful. 2A3 is more detailed.  You can read archived material on 2a3 vs 300B here and elsewhere until the cows come home.  Nice thing about the Paramount is you are not locked into either.  And your Orcas are good for all of the above.  I ended up all the way to the 45, which is a 2A3 like tube only more so.  Some days I really miss the ambiance of the 300B.  I think start with the 300B and decide if you want to experiment.  Other people will tell you the opposite.  You're just going to have to decide based on whatever information you can find.

[thdewitt]

I think what I am going to do is use the JJ 2a3-40 tubes that I use in my Stereomour.  I really like them in the Stereomour.

It just seems that the 300B's are very expensive as I just started looking around on Ebay today.  I am afraid that I may not be able to afford the 300B's that I would really want and then I would just think about it all the time.  Do you have any experience with the stock tubes that come with the Paramount.  I felt that for the Stereomour, the JJ's made a big difference over the stock.  If I wanted to upgrade the 300B's it looks like I am looking at about $1000.  I could buy a BeePree for that kind of money

[Paul Birkeland]

I think what I am going to do is use the JJ 2a3-40 tubes that I use in my Stereomour.  I really like them in the Stereomour.

JJ 2A3-40's are 300B's with a 2.5V filament.  If you really enjoy the way these sound, then I would recommend going with the 300B option.

-PB

(You can wire the Paramounts for 2.5V filament operation and otherwise as 300B amps, and that will optimize them for the 2A3-40)

[Paully]

I "upgraded" to Shuguang 300B.  $150 for a pair?  Loved them.  Then JJ does make a straight 300B also for about $250 a pair also.  I have no experience with latter tubes in my Paramounts.  But there is no need to spend a grand to get good sound from 300B or 2A3.  Anyway, I anguished over this just like you are.  Sat there going back and forth before I orders because I thought that is what I would end up using and it was a tough decision because I hadn't heard a lot of single ended tubes at that point.  But the change over from one tube to another is so, so easy.  And getting another set of tubes (2a3 or 300B) just isn't that outlandishly expensive on down the line.  If you are struggling still, literally flip a coin and call it good and worry about whether you are missing out on something later.

[thdewitt]

Thanks Paul, I saw that you recommended that in other places.  Is that something that will be easy to figure out once I start the build and I am going through the instructions.  I am somewhat of an amateur on the building side.  In looking at the manual for the Stereomour manual, it look like that should be pretty easy to figure out.

Would you recommend that I build it with the stock 300B, listen for awhile and then change the filament voltage for the 2a3-40 voltage after some time listening or just go straight to the JJ's.  I do like the JJ's in the Stereomour and I am assuming they would be better than the stock 300B's but I don't have any direct reference point.  I just don't want to invest in a bunch more tubes since I already have quite a few.

[galyons]

IMO there are two distinct offerings in 300B's...

Current production 300B's can be either modern, "detail" oriented voicing or traditional "tube" voicing.  The European tubes are all in the modern camp. They make no real attempts to sound like WE300B's.  The Russian and Chinese 300B's are more traditionally voiced, benchmarking the  WE300B sonic signature. (Although, IME, not really all that close to actual WE300B overall presentation)

I agree with PB, the JJ 2A3-40's are modern sounding 300B's with half the filament voltage. I have BH amps with 300B's, 2A3 and 45's.  Bear in mind, IMO, the BH amps are, by design, not voiced as traditionally "tubey" amps.  I am, for the most part, a tubey sound lover, so I compensate with the voicing of the driver and power tubes. IMO the 45's rule for sheer palpable presence and mid range, (MQ iron with nickel outputs).  My Paramount 300B's just do a better job of drive, dynamics and frequency extension than my Paramour 2 45's, (on my speakers).  They both do time in the system!!!

Cheers,
Geary

[Paul Birkeland]

Is that something that will be easy to figure out once I start the build and I am going through the instructions.

It's not too tough.  You wire the FC-1 for 2A3's and wire it to the power supply for 2A3 operation, then everything else is built as the 300B version.

Would you recommend that I build it with the stock 300B, listen for awhile and then change the filament voltage for the 2a3-40 voltage after some time listening or just go straight to the JJ's.

That's a good idea.  Starting with a working amp is always a good idea before performing modifications.

[BNAL]

Tom,

If you go with the Paramounts 300Bs you could convert your Stereomour to use the 45 tube. That would give you the ability to compare the 300B, 2A3, and 45.

Brad

[denti alligator]

does it matter if one's using the BeePre? Meaning, is it advisable to "match" the pre and power amps with 300Bs? Because of the sensitivity of my Klipsch, I plan on running mine as 2A3 first, but maybe it's best to start with 300B.

[johnsonad]

Sam, I would say no. I rolled some nice tubes through my BeePre but what worked there didn't work in my Paramounts.

IMHO, the driver tube will influence the sound to a greater extent then the power tube. Thankfully the 5670 is cheap and plentiful and if you don't like the sounds, it's easy to swap in other drivers.