What's In The Box? Tube Edition ------------------------ Western Electric 300B Review

[@Nephilim-81]

This is one of my favorite spot light videos you’ve done, Michael. I love what you put into it and I’m incredibly into tubes these days, so this episode hits real good with me. :)

[@86cha]

Now, this is what I define as a complete review/unboxing. Bravo.

[@DirectorsGarage]

Thanks! And thanks for the subscription. It means a lot.

[@russb3n]

Outstanding job Michael and very cool family history... Stuff like this deserves a place on KZbin as well as a MUSEUM.. Just a great job and I am sure if you let them play for a while they will open up even more.

[@mojoneko8303]

Thank You! Thank You! I didn't know GE was back in the 300B Tube business. I just finished building a Elekit TU-8600S 300B Tube amplifier and a pair of CSS Criton 2TD-X Towers speakers. I am presently using a pair of Electro-Harmonix 300B Gold tubes with the Elekit amp. I will definitely be buying a pair of the GE 300B tubes. As soon as my bank account recovers from building the amp and speakers... 🙂 Thanks for the video. Liked and subscribed!

[@DirectorsGarage]

Western Electric! Not General Electric.

[@NickP333]

Stunning tubes! So glad WE is producing them again! 🎶🙂🔊 Great history lesson on Western Electric too! Thanks so much!

[@thelastrhino2581]

Dude, really nice, and not just saying this. I own WE 421As from the 50s, 60s, 70s... I understand what this is about. But to see the time you put into the historical review. Outstanding. Great to get your first reactions. Also please come back to us with impressions vs the other tubes after one month of listening, it will be interesting.

[@bubblehead78]

Great video. Very professional presentation. Some of the 'interjections' were silly though. I've subscribed! Keep up the good work!

[@fritzstern1662]

Lucky man, we all waiting for a new production of the WE 300 B :-)

[@Nephilim-81]

Omg that is so freakin cool!! Western Electric are an awesome company. Also I believe that metal picture is a lithograph. Buddy that is so cool. Love this video and I am all for tubes! They are great. So much character

[@gjtube37]

What a great video! I am in the market for a 300B amp and this video was so much fun to watch and learn from so thank you for that! Where did you by these beautiful tubes from and how much were they? That metal plaque is pretty amazing! Have you tried any other manufacturer's 300B tubes and whose did you like and what differences did you find between them? Thank you again, I really enjoyed this video and all of your others for that matter.! All the best!

[@DirectorsGarage]

I've compared them to the Takatsuki 300B, and I still have a pair of Takatsuki's here in case of emergency. I think they're extremely similar in sound. I still use the WE 300B today, if that tells you anything.

[@JoeGunawanfotosiamo]

Great video! Got my Western Electric 300b tube in order since Monday 5/17. Can't wait to plug it into my Cayin HA-300 (running w/ Chord Hugo TT2 DAC & Audeze LCD-3 headphones)

[@mfgillia7606]

What is your overall impression of the WE 300b with the Cayin? I just got the MKII version and considering getting these tubes for it.

[@Yen486]

Really good explanation to beginner, thank you!

[@HiFiInsider]

wow! the metal plaque is nice.

[@zergolicious666]

Hey man good vid as always keep up the good work

[@DirectorsGarage]

Thanks Adam! Thanks for the subscription. It helps a lot!

[@davejohnson2702]

quality fu**ing s*** as always. Learning the history of this company was way more entertaining than I would have expected! That's one big light bulb you have there Michael

[@jamwagon87]

This was a very cool video. I had no idea Western Electric were making tubes again. Would love to see a new production 421A. Thanks for sharing and gathering all the old info/footage

[@ginaschmitz4755]

WE will never again make this tube. This is a new tube, produced from old machines with new raw materials and a new production process. Seems easy to do so, but Mr. Whitener it took several years to manufacture them again, after a successfull run of the tubes production line in the 1990s and early 2000. Something must have gone pretty bad tha he failed to produce the tubes for a long time now and it has been on pre- anouncment of new production for a long time. I think he had to manage to find new raw materials and the whole process have changed a little.

[@mariodrv]

With tubes its like with DAC's, take your time with listening and comparing, don't do quick switches - that will only fatigue you - and that would be a tragedy in a beautiful hobby as ours, take a few days or weeks and then switch, than the differences will seem much bigger than they really are but you will notice them immediatly. And consider tubes need 10-15 hours of burn in (to burn out residual stuffs).

[@frankgeeraerts6243]

INDEED !

[@russb3n]

Michael the other great thing about the Western Electric 300B you get a 5 Year Warranty vs the Takatsuki 300b tube with a 1 Year Warranty. I have owned the Tak 274B which has failed just after 1 year with so many other people out there. I plan on buying the WA5 LE with upgraded parts next year. How are the WE300B working for you so far since you got them?

[@DirectorsGarage]

I think they're great, and yes, I think I point out the warranty in the videos. I had 1 tube fail and WE was very responsive replacing it. It was building up a charge within the tube and discharging making an audible click. After playing with Elrogs and Taks-- I think the WE is at least as good, if not better. I'm very happy with them and I won't be changing. They've been in the amp ever since. I should probably sell the Taks, but they make a good backup pair of tubes.

[@dwightlaw2105]

I wonder if they upgraded their base adhesive?

[@jked7463]

Do they. Red to be rebiased? Thanks for the history. Will love to hear a follow up now that the tubes break in.

[@richardmiglioranza4004]

How are the western electrics sounding after a few months of use?

[@johnhayes8476]

Very cool

[@gjtube37]

Being that I am still in the market for high-end 300b tubes, I rewatched this video and enjoyed it just as much as I did the first time so thank you for that! I recently pre-ordered the Feliks Audio Envy amp and am now considering either the Western Electric or the Takatsuki 300b tubes. Since you rececied the Western Electric tubes and have let them age how are they sounding and especially compared to your Takatsuki 300b? This could really help my purchasing decision. Thanks for any thoughts and advice you can give me on these tubes. Thank you!

[@frankgeeraerts6243]

there's a run in time...............and NOT to push when new !

[@Stephenwongdirectimaging]

I prefer takatsuki 300b for headphone amp

[@DirectorsGarage]

Good tubes for sure! I still have mine.

[@barrylopez9938]

How are you doing i own a WA5LE amp 2 great amp I don’t think I will ever sell my amp, using HE1000V2 cans. So tell me do you think the TAK tubes sound the best you owned so far. Barry

[@DirectorsGarage]

The Taks are the best rectifiers I've heard, the Western Electric 300B is my favorite power tube. Taks are really really good, though. Not that far apart on sound. To my ears the WE gives a slightly wider soundstage, and there is a bit of of a 3D quality to the bass I like. Not sure I would pass a blind taste test, however. It's close, and my ears are old! LOL.

[@barrylopez9938]

@@DirectorsGarage Sorry to bother you again what driver tube do you use .

[@DirectorsGarage]

@@barrylopez9938 Tung Sol round plate. I've heard there are better out there, I just haven't experimented as much with drivers.

[@202One]

🍾W.E.👍

[@fatdoi003]

Michael how much you paid for this pair?

[@DirectorsGarage]

$1500 for a matched pair.

[@fatdoi003]

@@DirectorsGarage not bad at all compared to $20k

[@ginaschmitz4755]

@@fatdoi003 Don't take a foolish boutique ad from a web store for real world money. People don't pay those prices. Look for used 300B and you will find those phantasy prices everywhere on the web, but the real money that has been paid is just a fraction for those tubes.

[@bubblehead78]

@@ginaschmitz4755 How do you know what has actually been paid for these tubes? There probably are people that would pay $19995 for a pair of vintage tubes... crazy, I know, but maybe I would too if money were no issue.

[@tu_papichulodorozco2414]

I work there 😂

[@hasanbasrikoksal7729]

If you want to be taken seriously how about turning off the frigging TV and background music? Or maybe you do critical listening with a football game playing?