Category: Reviews by Tube Model

TJ Full Music 300B mesh plate vs. Treasure 300B-Z

Posted adminPosted in - 300B all types, Reviews by Tube Model

from customer Doron O by email:

“Hello, Tubes arrived and are playing along. I do not think they are going back to you anytime soon…:-) Very good from the get go. Compared to the existing TJ 300B/n Mesh Plates the SG 300B-z have massive bass, they sound smoother, more relaxed, mid range is fuller (more lush) yet clean – more meat on the bones so to speak. Very seductive and un-fatiguing tubes, exactly like the experience Ian presented in the forum.”

More from Doron O in Feb 2010:

“Just wanted to share I put about another 15-20 hours on the tubes and they do get better.

Eva Cassidy sounds less shouty, more details are coming through in the mid range (contrasts between music and silence are more pronounced, nuances in her voice are clearer) and bass is getting heftier.

All changes are for the better. The sound is more balanced and less aggressive than with the TJ and fuller too.
But more than anything I find myself not being able to listen to few tracks of LP’s anymore . I put one side and having hard time getting up from the listening couch until the complete side is played…It used to be much easier to swap LP’s or tracks in the middle.
If this is not what this hobby is all about, than I do not know what is.
Explaining this phenomena to myself in technical terms: I believe that these tubes generate less distortion, especially in transitions (soft sounds followed by very loud ones – like a burst of a sax’ solo) which translate to a smoother, more lifelike sound which is much less fatiguing:
The best I heard in that department so far was coming from a pair of 195W/Channel McAlister Audio OTL mono block amps – all the details were there with gobs of spatial information yet there was no hint of harshness or glare. My JAS SET amp (http://www.charismaaudio.com/Array2.html) along with very serious NOS tubes across the board (did not keep any of the stock tubes) comes awfully close and that it is very very impressive to me (the McAlister OTL’s are ~US$9,500).”

‘sonically as good as KR300B’

Posted adminPosted in - 300B all types, Reviews by Tube Model

Grant Fidelity provided a pair of sample Premium Grade A 300B-Z to TNT-Audio.com. Reviewer Geoff Husband says:

“If you are looking for a more even performance then the three candidates are the KR’s, the Shuguang and WE re-issues. The latter are very expensive, and to my mind offer nothing over the other two. The Shuguang and KR sound very similar, but the Shuguang build quality is inferior to the KR’s. The decision then comes down to availability and price – the KR’s are more expensive but beautifully made, but not always available. The Shuguang on the other hand are less well made, but at least as good sonically and, depending on market, cheaper.”

Read full review here: http://www.tnt-audio.com/accessories/shuguang_treasures_300b_e.html

‘these are the most closely matched tubes I have ever bought’

Posted adminPosted in - 6SN7 / CV181

by customer originally posted on AudiogoN:

Just recieved two pairs of CV181-Z ‘A’ Tubes from Grant Fidelity. They came in nice boxes, way over packed, and quick. I then tested them on my own Amplitrex 1000 tube tester, and, folks, these are the most closely matched tubes I have ever bought.

full thread here:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?aamps&1248723961&read&keyw&zzshuguang+treasure

‘fully Shuguang-ed Mac’

Posted adminPosted in - 12AT7-T/TII, Reviews by Tube Model

by customer Atom shop:

I’ve been familiar with the Chinese Shuguang brand of tubes for some time. I’ve got a very rare collection of the original nickel-plate 7025 Select Silver Series which went out of production long ago. Bellari used these in their early VP129 phono preamps. McIntosh has used the comparable grey-plate 12AX7 version in their gear. (my own Mac’s stock tubes)

A while back I upgraded my Mac 275 outputs to the Shuguang KT-88 Black Bottle series. THAT was no insignifigant improvement! What a gorgeous aural sensation.

Now come the Shuguang Psvane Reference Series. I got a pair of nicely-boxed 12Ax7’s to try between my Mac C2300 and same 275. No matter where I put them the result was another several notches higher in performance. 

Holy Freakin’ Crapolla! The short rewiew: greatly improved dynamics, wider and deeper soundstage, increased air and space in the upper octaves, more slam in the bottom and just plain better resolution in harmonic detail overall from top to bottom. If ‘it’ is there, you here it better. If ‘it’ doesn’t exist, there’s no filler added to color the sound. 

I used to cherish my NOS Telefunken ECC83’s in the Mac’s phono stage. Not anymore! This pair of Shuguang-ies have now moved in and made it THEIR home.  They might be a smidgeon noisier but that’s hardly heard with program. (My current favorites at the Mac outputs are a pair of NOS Tesla yellow-ink, frame-grid E83CC’s. A super match in performance characteristics with the Shuguang-ies.)

I’ve tried all types of tubes in my Macs and over time I’ve cultivated a select few which I rotate from time to time. Along with my eggs there’re days I like bacon; ham is always a tasty choice. Another option is sausage links. 

My tube collection gives me a lot of HIGH-fi possibilities from which to choose from to satisfy my aural tastes. At this point, though, the Shuguang gang could take over the neighborhood. I’m going to try their 12AT7’s as well.