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Welcome to Decware
The Zen Sarah Amp
Model SEWE300B
DESIGNED FOR THE WE300B TUBE
an anniversary grade masterpiece from Decware
starting around $4500 factory wholesale
We designed the Zen Sarah Amplifier for the Western Electric WE300B triode.
Both are made in the USA
The Zen Sarah Amp
Model SEWE300B
SPECIAL FEATURE
Decware is a family business. This amp was named after our daughter Sarah who is also the customer service manager at Decware and one of the main people who keep this ship afloat. If you've called Decware you've probably talked to Sarah. Her kind and confident communication skills and good looks is reflected in this amplifier so we named it after her to have a little fun.
FEATURES
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Class A Single Ended Triode using one 300B per channel.
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Purist Design is hand built point-to-point with no circuit boards.
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Drives speakers from 2 to 16 ohms.
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Cold Cathode Vacuum Tube Diodes (VR tubes) filter the power for all three driver tubes.
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No global negative feedback used or any solid state parts.
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4 to 7 watts / channel depending on which VR tubes are used.
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Designed and voiced for the Western Electric 300B Triode.
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Voicing switch used to move presence forward or back.
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Boutique internals including Miflex Copper Foil capacitors and F&T electrolytics.
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Cathode biased and AC heated for foolproof operation and maximum tube safety.
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Analogue Current meters for each 300B output tube.
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Decware UFO wide bandwidth output transformers.
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Dual volume controls.
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Dual RCA inputs with selector.
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Output speaker impedance switch for each channel - use while listening.
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Carefully voiced preamp stage is built-in. Can be used without a preamp.
DESIGNED FOR EXTREME FIDELITY
The main directive behind each Decware amplifier has always been to see 'how good can we get it to sound'! Since we make our amplifiers here in the USA we have dreamed of being able to put modern day USA made tubes in them. When we heard Western Electric was considering producing several common guitar amp tubes, many of which Decware amplifiers actually use, we knew the best way to fast track that effort was money. To show our support we decided to design an amplifier for the audio tube that Western Electric does produce, which is the legendary 300B. Decware customers have been asking for a 300B amplifier for nearly 20 years...
The end result was over a year in the making. In the spirit of this classic vintage tube and Decware in general we choose an old school design approach that supports the lifetime warranty and has the best sonics. Things like cathode bias, AC heaters, point-to-point wiring and exotic transformers were all sound quality motivated. A year for such a simple amp design is the result of bending the design through all the possible windows of operation across many different circuits and tubes until we heard everything that was possible and knew there wasn't anything in this category / price point that was likely to sound better.
This amplifier has some real voicing features using simple switches and your choice of three different Voltage Regulator tubes. Each VR tube sets the plate voltage for an input or driver tube so that you can make the amp sound your choice of nine different ways ranging from lush to super clean.
The voicing switch for each channel took months to develop and test across a wide range of speakers. It was primarily about imaging. In one position the amp images deeper and in the other position it has more midrange presence. You can operate it while listening.
Different rectifier tubes also affect the overall character of the amp and all of these things come together to bring the amp through a range of being slightly lush to super neutral and from laid back to snappy. All of this voicing can be done without rolling the 300B output tubes.
The amp works with all 300B output tubes, but the real Western Electric 300B was the most transparent and neutral that we tested and closest to the Decware sound we all love. Many other popular 300B tubes have been tested in this amplifier and they all sounded good -- each with its own positive contribution to the pleasing sonics of the Sarah 300B. One of particular notice is the Cryotone 300B-WC.
Steve Deckert / DECWARE
WHAT ELSE SETS THIS AMP APART?
1) Tube Regulation - shown left.
2) Cathode Bias - Best sound / no way to blow up your tubes.
3) Tube Rectification - 5U4G / 274B compatible
4) Handles low impedances well.
5) AC Heater circuit with all bias current flowing through the transformer center tap.
6) Built-in preamp stage that is preset with the right gain structure giving the amp a better sound when no preamp is used.
1) There is a vacuum regulator tube for each of the three driver tubes in this amplifier. They are used in series with the plates to filter the power independently for each tube. You can use OC2, OB2 or OA2. Each one has a different voltage drop ranging from 75 ~ 150 volts so they can be used effect a wide range of voicing.
2) Cathode Bias offers the least efficiency but the best sound with no chance of the output tubes becoming damaged from bias runaway. Meters display the current for each tube and there is never anything to adjust. If there is nothing to set, there is no way to set it wrong.
3) Tube Rectification - This is done solely for sound. The alternative would be solid state diodes. Changing the rectifier tube has an overall effect on every characteristic of the amps sound. Some make the amp sound softer, some firm things up to make it harder, some fall in between.
4) 4 ohm speakers are no issue with this amplifier and it even performs reasonably well at 2 ohms. There is a high and low switch for impedance on each channel. For 8 and 16 ohm speakers simply adjust the switch to the high setting. The ability to perform into low impedances aka 'difficult to drive loads' comes with all Decware designs. It is in part from using higher than normal primary impedances in our transformers so that when the output tubes see the reflected impedance drop they put out more power instead of less. Also the higher winding ratios and thinner wire needed to accomplish this higher impedance gives the top end more air and detail.
5) AC heaters are simple and claimed by many to be the better sounding method vs. DC. In the Western Electric data sheets it suggests that AC heaters can also favor longer tube life. The downfall to this approach is that many designs you see draw current through the hum balance pot which is certainly not ideal to have in a signal path. We draw all the current through the center taps of the transformer so that none of the audio signal is dependent on the quality of the hum balance pot. Then we use the best hum balance pot we can -- just because.
6) Completely unnecessary is the added preamp stage. But it was done because when you add a preamp to a Decware amplifier, it always makes the source sound better. Plus you can turn the amplifier down and the preamp up resulting in a more dynamic presentation. We call it gain structuring. There are only two problems with this -- 1) a good preamp with cables and cords will add thousands to the cost of your amp. 2) even with a good preamp setting the gain structure to it's best possible point will escape at least 50% of users. We took care of this, and left nothing to chance and no way to set it wrong because it is built into the amp and pre adjusted.
GALLERY
OPTIONS
The following options are selectable from within the shopping cart.
Tubes
This amplifier is available with some different options regarding tubes.
1) The amp can be purchased without tubes at a significant savings.
2) The amp can be purchased with Steve's (hand picked and calibrated in the actual amplifier) favorite tube complement using budget 300B tubes and a coupon for 10% off Western Electric WE300B tubes that can be used when you're ready to upgrade.
3) The amp can be purchased with Steve's (hand picked and calibrated in the actual amplifier) favorite tube complement without 300B tubes and a coupon for 10% off Western Electric WE300B tubes.
Knobs
From left to right is; Ebony, Gold, Black Chicken Head, Cream Chicken Head, Rosewood
Anniversary Mods -
This amplifier comes with full Anniversary Mods which include Foil bypass caps in the power supply and F&T mains caps. These mods are included at no extra charge.
XLR Inputs -
If you want to run balanced XLR into this amp, use our product called the ZBIT. You would set the ZBIT next to the amplifier and adjust it's output to your liking. It can be used like a master volume for both channels which is handy since the amp has dual volume controls.
Voltage -
The amp has a CE rated world voltage compatible power transformer. You can select your voltage from within the shopping cart. A power cord for your country will be supplied with the amplifier.
Available Woods
Walnut
Maple
Cherry
Oak
Padauk
Sapele
The Sarah model SEWE300B amplifier has its own unique 1.5 inch thick solid hardwood base design because it is too thick to fit into standard Decware bases. It comes in your choice of the above woods. Custom wood bases may be available for quote and would be non-refundable and paid for in advance.
SPECIFICATIONS
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World Voltage compatibility 50/60Hz
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DRIVER TUBE Compatibility: 6N6P, 6922, 6N1P
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INPUT TUBE Compatibility: 12AU7
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OUTPUT TUBE Compatibility: WE300B
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VOLTAGE REGULATOR TUBE Compatibility: OC2, OA2 OB2
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RECTIFICATION: 274B or 5U4 or 5AR4
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INPUTS: Two pair isolated 24K Gold RCA INPUTS with switching.
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OUTPUTS: LO & HI , for 2~6 & 8~16 OHM SPEAKERS
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IDLE CURRENT: 65~75 MILS PER OUTPUT TUBE
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HIGH VOLTAGE: 390 VDC AT TRANSFORMERS
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INPUT IMPEDANCE: 100 K OHMS
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INPUT SENSITIVITY: FULL POWER @ 2.0 VOLTS
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POWER INTO 8 OHMS: 4 to 7 WATTS PER CHANNEL @ 3%THD PENDING VR TUBE USED
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NOISE: -80dB
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CURRENT METERS: 0 to 100 MA
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SIGNAL CAPACITORS: COPPER FOIL MIFLEX
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ELECTROLYTIC CAPACITORS: F&T
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BYPASS CAPACITORS: COPPER FOIL MIFLEX
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CATHODE CAPS: NICHICON MUSE, ATOM
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INPUT JACKS: MACHINED GOLD RCA
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OUTPUT JACKS: RED COPPER BINDING POSTS
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MACHINED STEEL CHASSIS with POWDER COAT FINISH
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IEC CONNECTOR: HOSPITAL GRADE DUAL FUSED / NOISE FILTER
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SWITCHING: DUAL CONTACT SILVER
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SOCKETS: EIZZ Gold Ceramic
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SIZE: 17-1/4" WIDE x 13-3/4" DEEP x 9-3/4" HIGH
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NET WEIGHT: 31 LBS.
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CAN BE BRIDGED INTO EITHER SINGLE-ENDED or DIFFERENTIAL BALANCED MONOBLOCKS
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WARRANTY: LIFETIME TO ORIGINAL OWNER
MANUALS
Amp Manual in .pdf format
Tube Manual in .pdf format
SUPPORT
Since we don't have dealer's and we sell our amplifiers directly to the customer, our customers have a direct line to us. As a result, Decware support is legendary for 25 years.
Support is not only a phone call or email away at any time, but when you purchase this amplifier you join a huge family of customers who also own one and enjoy supporting each other on our support forums.
Special Offer
from
Western Electric
Western Electric has been kind enough to make a special 10% off coupon on a pair of their tubes to those who purchase the Sarah 300B amplifier. This coupon will be either included with your amplifier when it ships or mailed to you ahead of time.
TRY THIS AMP AT HOME FOR 30 DAYS!
Return IT if not satisfied FOR 10% RESTOCK FEE !
MODEL SEWE300B
7 WATTS x 2
Starting around $4500 without tubes
Amps are hand-built to order. There are presently lots of orders on our real time build sheet. A 10% deposit secures your place on the list with today's date and time stamp. Balance is due when it's ready to ship. We will send you a final invoice with the total price including actual shipping costs shortly after your deposit is taken.
Model SEWE300B
