Sophia Electric

[Everest Dave]

Does anyone have much experience with Sophia Electric amplifiers or tubes. I have heard that their 300B tube is superior to the Western Electric, any truth to that?

[Metralla]

I haven't heard their amplifiers so cannot comment.

Sophia Electric sell 300B output valves made by the Full Music tube factory in Tan Jiang in China. These tubes are branded by the factory for a number of distributors, and appear with different names: Full Music, TJ, Sophia Electric, Golden Dragon. It's the same tube.

The 300Bs that have generated the most interest are the "mesh anode" version - actually, not a mesh in the true sense but a perforated anode. There have been a number of comparison tests published and the Full Music tubes have been very well received. Some reviewers have rated these as their favourite.

There are a number of comparisons on-line - just search in google. Look at Enjoy the Music and find Thorsten's 300B shoot outs.

There was a nice test in issue 17 of the UK mag "hifi+", where Roy Gregory compared the Golden Dragon meshies with current Western Electrics (in the fancy box) using the Russian Electro-Harmonix as a control. The conclusion was that there was a different presentation between the WEs and the Golden Dragons but they were both very, very good and you would be happy with either.

Now look at the prices and which one would you pick? You can get the Full Music tubes in a premium version with ceramic base and gold pins for $300 from DIYHiFiSupply in Hong Kong.

I have the non-premium version. I paid $275 for a tested pair. They are glorious.

Regards,
Geoff