Decidedly retro, the 300B harkens to a bygone era that focused on the simplicity of design. Expect luscious mid range, delicate detail, and seductive emotion. User control of negative feedback and the ability to switch topology ‘on the fly’ from 12 Watts in parallel SINGLE-ENDED mode to 25 Watts in PUSH-PULL mode is totally unique. This is an amplifier that will always delight and entice you as it adapts to a variety of efficient speakers (and ears!).

The wonderfully simple 300B directly heated triode is virtually Lee De Forest's very first evolutionary 3-element piece, comprising only filament, input grid and anode output. Brought to reliable perfection by Western Electric USA and later by Standard Telephones UK as the 4300B, the 300B was very much intended and widely used for telephony amplification. But audio enthusiasts of older times knew a good thing when they saw (heard!) it and the great love affair between the 300B and music began... and dwindled many years later as the American Western Electric 300B was taken out of production in the late 1980's making the genuine ones extremely valuable and, accordingly, very highly prized as collectors' pieces. With the Asian-driven passion and resultant revival of SINGLE ENDED topology the call for the 300B to be put back into production was too overwhelming for the Chinese factories to resist. The Russian and the re-start of USA manufacture of the genuine Western Electric original have further expanded the selection. Basic thermionic simplicity... directly-heated triodes... it is a drug for some, a religion for others...

With its decidedly (and studiedly) 'retro' physical proportions- very deep front-to-back dimensions with a narrow side-to-side width, this layout closely follows concepts of a bygone era, where the well-conceived intention was to keep the power supply as far as possible from the hum and noise susceptible octal input tubes. The output tubes themselves require careful distancing from the mains transformer and, of course, require pure DC on their filaments. Again, reverence to past times begs the use of vacuum tube rectification with its very gentle voltage rise-time. But to bring the performance up to modern demands, we use two rectifiers to enable the use of very substantial filter / reservoir capacitors... over 1300 microfarads in the B+ rail- much improved from the 4 or 8 microfarads utilized in the 1930's.

When several other manufacturers started selling single-ended amps with 5 to 9 watts of power, we understood subjectively and objectively the good part of the story: the superb mid range, the delicate detail, the inherent simplicity. The bad news was that there were almost no speakers efficient enough to help form a dynamically viable system. The worst news was that either these single-ended amps cost more than the condo and or they had specs that could only be read as a joke. As the triode fans increased, more efficient speakers became available and several fanatics began to dismiss push-pull as a bad thing to be avoided at all costs. We objected to such blanket generalities and stressed that the push-pull done right with truly phase-balanced transformers, quality parts throughout and well designed circuitry has proven to be a superb technique. We also enjoy single-ended topology but only when it is done right, mostly because we expect flat frequency response and low distortion out of an amplifier. We knew that we could achieve this in a properly conceived single-ended design. We chose to rise to the challenge of designing special circuitry that could be switched "on the fly" From 12 watts in parallel SINGLE-ENDED to 25 watts in PUSH-PULL which, we believe is unique in the industry.

The Output transformer (hand-wound in our own factory) is of complex design employing inordinately high primary inductance to compensate for the mandatory magnetic "gap" required for the uni-direction current and voltage flow of the single-ended output stage. Another factor in the single ended triode saga (currently enjoying a wide spread popularity) is demand for little (or sometimes zero) negative feedback. We at Manley Labs believe in the judicious or sensible amount of feedback to refine and maximize performance. Our Neo-Classic SE/PP300B gives you the choice in precision switched 1 dB steps to go from ZERO dB's to 10 dB's of negative feedback. Even with zero negative feedback, this amp is cleaner and flatter than any single-ended amp we know of. For more information about variable feedback read Notes on Negative Feedback.

One interesting aspect of negative feedback is it gives a higher damping factor. Conventional wisdom would have us think that the higher the damping factor, the better. Our experience is that the optimum damping factor is not infinity and that it depends on the speaker, the room. and the taste of the listener. In other words, the optimum is variability, and this we provide. This amp satisfies us as long time amplifier builders, amazes the critics in several well known magazines and is bound to satisfy you with the ability to fit into your system and your expectations. BUT REMEMBER PLEASE the overall facts of power ratings versus loudspeaker sensitivity and room size when electing to venture into lower power amplifiers (less than 50 watts) and especially when contemplating single-ended topology. Please read Considerations of Amplifier Power for more info.

As highly regarded as the Retros were by dealers ,audiophiles and reviewers, the Neos take the design and the sonics to a new level. In 2000, Mitch Margolis completely overhauled the previous "Retro" model to create the Neo-Classic Version you see here...so what's new with this Neo-Classic version you ask?

Now... onto the techno mumble jumble... here's all the guts improvements we made in 2001. Mitch spent six months doing all this:

• The driver stage was completely re-engineered. Peak output volts of driver increased by 60V p-p in PP mode. Clever new driver circuit delivers way better drive, with less punishing plate volts, and less THD. This offers enough drive even for more exotic tubes such as VV30B, etc...

• The NEO's have WAY improved power bandwidth. NEO's deliver much more power at higher and lower freq's than the ol' Retro's did. We did rescale the B+ and reduced idle plate dissipation on the NEO's 300Bs for better tube reliability.

• New power max ratings are 12 watts in SE mode and 25 watts in PP mode. BUT because of better bandwidth delivery and better driver "drive" into 300B's these NEO's sound louder and "seem" to be more powerful. They distort much less early when pushing the power envelope. The power supply sags-on-demand at a much high point than before for more headroom. It is all beefier 'n' heftier.

• The heater (300B "cathode" which is directly heated triode design) now has 40dB less ripple. NEO design has MORE capacity in heater supply and LOTS of PI filtering! So the result is a quieter amplifier. Big time.

• Now in the NEO version, the B+ rectification is all-real-Full Wave Bridge vacuum tube rectification. Even more better. Especially sonically for you vacuum tube rectifier fans...

• The NEO'S chassis was redesigned to accommodate a much bigger power tranny. Huger VA. Next frame size up. Cooler running. Much more able to deliver-on-demand. Less PSU sag. Kick-ass. And now, finally QUIET! REALLY! There wasn't enough room on the old Retros for next frame size up to achieve a nice'n'quiet power transformer design. Now the NEO's chassis is big enough to have a big enough power transformer that is really silent and running on holiday.

• Bias supply is now cleverly cross-coupled so that changing one tube's bias doesn't whack the other one out. This is very cool.

• We even isolated the input B+ for more stable input B+ supply. Again, so when pushed, the whole amp doesn't drag everybody down with it.

• We added a MUTE switch on the front panel. SE-PP switch on the other side of front panel.

• Power switch at the IEC so all those nasty AC volts don't come up and infect the input stages.

• Discarded the transformer-balanced XLR input. Because WHAT'S THE POINT??? At gunpoint, we will make a balanced XLR transformer coupled input available "upon special request"... but you need to have a bigger gun than EveAnna does...

• Still has those nice sounding MultiCap® coupling caps and even more of 'em....

• Now NEO has nice beautiful WBT binding posts that everybody loves. Still has impedance load switch as before.

• Service is now a piece of cake in the NEO design. The main PCB can now be lifted out for service without a soldering iron... if switches get banged or broken they can be user replaced with a phillips screwdriver to remove the bottom stainless-steel (now) cover and then remove faceplate with little allen key, then unscrew the switch with pliers or (better) correct nut driver, then unplugged out old switch then new one plugged in with switch assembly from us. Easy as pie!

• But, just in case, we did invent newer stronger foams and packaging so hopefully no more breakies....

• And bottom line, in all our listening tests, this NEO is very much improved. Now with this six months of re-engineering of the Neo-Classic SE/PP 300Bs, "THD BE-GONE!!!!"

• The Electro-Harmonix Russian 300B tubes are being shipped as standard. That's 300B-EH.

• And finally, sorry to say, we had to raise the price to PAY for all this R&D and nice improvements and so we can start making some money on this product for a change... (insert trite capitalist expression here). Sorry folks, that's the way it goes....

So guys, WAIT UNTIL YOU HEAR THEM AND SEE THEM.... then of course, as always, we welcome your comments!

There is reason for our madness....

…and his followup review where he names the Neo-Classic 300B his “DESERTED ISLAND AMPLIFIER”.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

FAQ #1: What tubes should I get for my Manley Neo-Classic SE/PP 300B?

You can get a complete retube kit right here on our webstore.

FAQ #2: Can I replace the 5U4 in the 300B SE/PP power amplifiers for NOS Mullard GZ32?

No. The GZ32 is equivalent to a type 5V4, not a 5U4. The 5V4/GZ32 has lower current ratings than the 5U4 that we use. The 5V4 was used on some of the earlier KSEPP amplifiers, but the 5U4 is a more rugged tube. A 5AR4/5AS4 has the advantage of very slow warmup (good for the 300B tubes), but will raise the B+ even higher. Keep in mind that even with a series resistor in place, any of these tubes is under a lot of initial strain due to the large power supply capacitors. Stick with the 5U4's please. 

FAQ #3: May I use the KR 300BXLS in the 300B SE/PP power amplifiers?

NO. Not recommended unless the amp is modified.

First, KR filament is 1.9 amps, not 1.2 as is a standard 300B. This will drag the filament down below 4V...no good... unless filament pi filter resistor values are dropped...now you've got an amp that will only work with the KR XLS tubes, and the ripple on the filaments will go up a little....

It would be possible to install a filament voltage switch to change the filament voltage, and the filament rectifiers would probably have to be beefed up to the next bigger current-handling part. This should allow auditioning of the KR tube operating at regular 300B operating stress levels. But the output power would be about the same, according to what I see on the KR data sheet.

To get more power:

The XLS tube's plate resistance, transconductance and gain (mu) are real close to the WE book values. Plate dissipation is bigger though, but to take full advantage of it, the plate voltage and OPT transformer primary impedance would need to be shuffled...plate voltage would have to go up a little.

(Now you've got a modded amp that is "tuned" for the KR tube, and no other lesser tube had better be fitted, or there'll be trouble.)

So, NO. Do not use the KR 300B XLS in these amplifiers. Stick to normal 300B tubes.

FAQ #4: The 300B tubes won’t light up and the fuse is blowing. Help!

It has happened to all of us. Pull those 300B tubes back out of the sockets. Note that there are two skinny pins and two fatter diameter pins on the base of the 300B tubes. Look at the sockets. You see there are two smaller diameter holes and two larger diameter holes. See? Be sure to orientate the 300B tubes so that the small pins are in the small holes and the big pins are in the big holes.

FAQ #5: Why can't I have balanced inputs?

The input stage of this amplifier, and the way the feedback is configured for the amplifier is configured for this single-ended input stage design. The input circuitry uses single-ended topology. In order to be able to provide balanced inputs we would have to convert the signal from balanced using something like some IC's or transformers. Both these options would add more "stuff" to the signal and be certainly audible detracting from the pure sound this amplifier provides. If you are driving this SE/PP 300B amplifier from a balanced preamplifier, check to see if you also have unbalanced outputs, change your cables and go with that. You might be pleasantly surprised that they too added extra audible "stuff" in order to provide balanced outputs and the RCAs on your preamp that don't have that extra "stuff" in the signal path actually sound better. (Depends on a given unit's specific design.) Or use some XLR to RCA adaptors. Most balanced gear has no problem driving single ended but check with the manufacturer if they are going to want the negative pin 3 of the XLR grounded or floating. Transformer-coupled XLR jacks always can drive single-ended by running Pin 2 to the HOT middle RCA pin and grounding pin 3 to the RCA outer shell. Some IC coupled XLR outputs will want pin 3 floating, others will require it to be grounded when driving a single-ended input. Check with the manufacturer of your gear to see how to hook it up to a single-ended input.

OLDER & GOLDER COSMETICS

Stainless-Steel & 24K Gold Plated version were available by special order. (No longer.)

Thanks to Eddy in Canada for some of these nice shots: