musicality, purity of sound

not very powerful (not really a weakness)

This is a review for 24W 300B push-pull Silver Night, not for single-ended version. I bought a demo pair of Silver Night about three years ago, putting in my wife's office, driving a pair of Ensemble Animata. My wife is very satiusified with the sound and the looks. Recently I got a trade-in Rogers LS3/5a when selling the system in my office (Chinese OEM tube gears driving a pair of Thiel CS2). I bought a Unison Simply 4 for amplification. However, as my office is “over-damped” (there are thousands of books around), the sound is somewhat closed-in and not energetic enough. I though the problem should lie in the amplifier. I brought LS3/5a back home, tried them on my bedroom setting. It consists in a pair of RCA vintage theater amps (150W, 4* 6550 per side) driving a pair of the imposing Sonus Faber Extrema. Although the “tiny” 3/5a does not have the bass impact of Extrema, it does present almost the same elegant sound beginning from mid, with a very good soundstage. After some consideration, I relocate Simply 4 to my wife's office. Simply 4 and Ensemble are better match as Animata are more efficient than LS3/5a and have more extended treble. I then took my wife's Audion Silver Night's to my office and matching them with LS3/5a. These two are much better match, although many people say that EL34 based tube gear match LS3/5a very well. For me, 300B improves the somewhat closed-in treble of LS3/5a, and has better control over the speaker, though the rated power of Simply 4 and Silver Night are about the same (24W). With this re-arrangement, I am satisfied and can enjoy the music for a long time, though sometimes I would image how the sound would improve if I can get a quad of original Western Electric 300B's and NOS 6922 & 5687 tubes. But the sky-high price of WE 300B always wakes me up from the dream...

Similar Products Used:

Unison Simply 4, various intage tube gears.

Sweet midrange, good with all models of LS3/5a speakers from Roger, KEF and Spendor

Only 7.5 Watt per channel. Don,t expect to use it to blast speakers

I have used them for over 2 yrs. All the tubes are still in good condition. I have noted that changing the 300B to Sovtek 300B yield more bass. The mullard ECC88 replace the 6922 tube will gives a sweeter and smoother mid-range.

Using it directly and hook up to the Marantz CD-10. The music was smooth and easy listening. Goes well with Jazz and new age music.

Amp is always hot.

I use B&W CDM1 of 88 dB sensitivy. The music is crispy clear and detail.

I would recommend horn speaker to go with it

Heard this amp alongside the Cary CAD300SEI and it blew the Cary out of the water.Cheaper, fuller sound; full 300B triode wonders flows from it.

Full potential realised only when used with good 300B tubes like those from Westrex, JJ Electronics.

I'm currently using one with the Westrex 300Bs and change the cheapo Alps volume pot to a Noble. The result: more transparent and greater dynamics.

A must hear - steal for the price !!!