S.E.T. Princess 300B mesh plate tube reviewed by Hi-Fi+ (Issue 48, page 88)

Reviewed by Tone Audio (Issue 5, page 71)

Dear Richard,

I had in my life, a good number of speakers and amplifiers (both, tube and transistor), but I fell in love instantly, as never before, with my first Avantgarde Acoustic, a UNO ... I was already in my second one, a DUO (much better) when a friend came to demonstrate his Audio Note Conqueror, which I ended up buying from him (it had several goodies, as Black Gate capacitors, etc; he was going to a newer Audio Note version). Initially I was skeptical if a mere 8 watts would be able to drive them, but it worked...

And now, with the Sophia Electric S.E.T. Princess carbon plate 300B tubes, the sound is simply incredible. It has all the "beauty" and "clarity" that only a 300B single-ended amp is able to show, but ALSO the best qualities, that are usually associated with the best transistorized amps., like SPEED, and a correct and defined low frequency, that goes VERY deep!!!... (Actually I don't remember hearing such a good bass, from ANY amp)

Note that I am comparing the Sophia Electric S.E.T. Princess carbon plate 300B tubes to the much acclaimed "Western Electric". These don't come close. They don't have the speed or the bass in the same category… With the Sophia Electric S.E.T. Princess carbon plate 300B tubes, you have everything, the "complete sound package". Nothing is missing…

I would like to congratulate you for a magnificent product: The "State of the Art", Sophia Electric S.E.T. Princess carbon plate 300B tubes!!! It couldn't be any better.

Best regards,

Decio

Sophia Electric Princess 300B mesh plate tubes are the best 300B's I have ever heard. I only had about 80 hours on them and they are already better than the TJ 300B mesh plate. I also compared the princess to Svetlana 300B, Sovtek 6A3, Sovtek 300B, Alesa VV30B, Alesa VV302B, and JJ 300B, and the princess came out ahead of them all. The Princess 300B mesh plate tubes give a very coherent, detailed, natural sound that all instruments come out very distinct but yet natural. Wood instruments come out very close to a real wood instruments, piano pieces come out like a real piano. My friends like them very much. They call them very natural sounding and less hi-fi. At first, I did not quite understand what they meant, then I finally realized that their definition of hi-fi means exaggerated dynamics and instruments, things that blows on you, well, the princess is not like that, the princess give you music not noise. Alex

Dear Richard, Just received my Princess 300B mesh plate tubes. I was originally draw to the 300B for the clean signal. I was draw by the transient speed, harmonic richness, detail, excellent mid-bass. For me the 300B was just plain more involving. Your 300B is, to my ears, superior to my Western Electric 300B, and that is right out of the box. Your 300B allows me to better understand the musical lines. Is that because it is more linear? Your 300B also sounds bigger, more robust, and has better musical continuity. Thank you for an excellent power tube. Sincerely Fred

After several tests I can tell you my impression about the Sophia Electric "mesh" Princess 300B I bought from you. My comparison has been done with the WE 300B on the Cary CAD SEI integrated used as headphone amplifier with a Sennheiser HD650/Equinox cabled. On the amp the other tubes are Tung Sol round plate-round mica- 6sn7GT NOS December 1942.

Now I prefer the princess because they are more detailed and dynamic. Especially in the mid-bass and low-bass region this tube beats the WE. Even in the upper high frequency the Sophia Electric is better not rolled off as the WE and more open and airy sound. With this clear and detailed sound the soundstage is also better and the position of each instruments and voices are more precise. This tube matches perfectly in the Cary CAD SEI integrated.

Just my two cents, sorry for my poor English.

Best!

Nicola (Italy)

Having had the two pairs of S.E.T. Princess 300Bs in my main system for 4 months now. I must say I am more than happy.

The system consists of an Audio Note CDT2 + Musical Fidelity X-DAC V3/X-10 V3/X-PSU V3 triple as digital source, a Pro-Ject RPM 9X turntable (fitted with the Van Den Hul MC One cartridge) + Project Tube Box SE + Project Speedbox SE as analog source, an Audio Space DU-6i 300B Push-Pull integrated amp, and a pair of B&W Signature 805 speakers with original stands filled with Danish beach sands. The digital cable is the Kimber Illumination D-60, and phono cables are Van Den Hul D-501 Silver Hybrid and Transparent Audio Ultra Phono. All interconnects are Stealth Audio PGS. Power cords are the Van den hul mainsstream and mainsserver, and the Revelation Audio Labs Passage Cryogenic Silver Reference. Speaker cables are Stealth Audio Hybrid MLT. Power for the source is conditioned with the Octave Filter II, and all electronics have been upgraded with HiFi-Tuning silver fuses, and SoundCare spikes.

Upon replacing the 4 stock power tubes, gone were the annoying microphonics. The sexy open-grid design caught my eyes, especially in long night listening sessions. I have thought that there is little space left for further improvements for the Audio Space DU-6i 300B about a year ago, when I acquired a pair of Mullard ECC32s and a pair of Mullard ECC35s for the preamp and driver tubes. Adding them have been truly a leap ahead, the amp is not bright anymore, with significantly improved articulation. However, after the 4 S.E.T. Princess 300Bs have been in place, I am more and more convinced about the benefits these tubes bring. The signature 805s’ bass is even more firm and yet tight. This is especially evident with Bach and Handel’s organ notes. The slight harsh top-end while playing with the stock 300B tubes has diminished. Murray Perahia’s Goldberg Variations interpretation comes from the B&W is now sweet and warm – easier to my ears. Listening to female voice and acoustic guitar is truly heaven as can be expected from 300B midrange magic that many crave. I have never tried the NOS Western Electric 300Bs, but who cares - I am satisfied with these affordable Princesses. Period.

Good work! Thanks!

Xiaoyuan Gu (Germany)

I just wanted to tell you that I have been using the tubes (Princess 300B's) that I bought from you for a couple of months now, and they sound incredible. I am using a Cary 300 SEI, Cary 303/300, VPI/Koestu Turntable set up. I think that they are a definite improvement compared to the older 300B Globe Meshplates. The highs offer better detail and seem more airy, while the bass has more weight and authority. Plus, like the Globe Meshplates, the voices are magical. It is enough of an improvement that I don't think that I can go back to the Globe Meshplates. Furthermore, reliability is just as good as the old one.

Lastly, I want to thank you again for your GREAT customer service. You guys ship fast, and are extremely friendly, especially to a recent college grad unlike some dealers I encountered.

Thanks very much!

Patrick

I just wanted to write you a few lines and tell you how the sound has developed during the last few days. Everything has gotten far better just as you said it would and is now much better than with my old tubes.

I must admit that when I first tested the tubes I got a bit worried. I listen to music and I think that many products in the market today give you a wonderful sound, but it's not music. 'Thrill is gone' as B.B. King would put it. The Sophia Electric Princess tubes are certainly not one of those products as they have instead made the music come further more involving and thrilling to listen to. It's very satisfying to be able to go through the CD collection and rediscover a lot of music and musicians again and to realize that passages in the music that I previously did not understand now makes sense. I would recommend these tubes to anyone who wants a deeper musical experience.

Thanks from Christian in Sweden.

In August of last year, I purchased a pair of Princess 300B Meshplates With a One-Year Warranty. I have enjoyed these wonderful tubes since I installed them upon receipt. They are absolutely the best 300Bs I have ever listened to and I like them more than the vintage Western Electric 300Bs they replaced. Most of my audiophile friends think I'm crazy when I tell them this - until they listen to them for themselves.

Everyone I know agrees that these Princess 300B Meshplates are the best sounding 300Bs being manufactured today, regardless of origin or cost. Thanks for making them available.

Jeff

In fact the bass sounds tighter and more controlled than before.

Overall, I have to say these tubes really sing!!

Best regards,

David