Going to agree with Nick here, that’s a fantastic amplifier but it’s just not designed to be warm and rich, I’m sure you can maybe tilt it warmer with we300b and maybe a driver swap, but I think you may find that swapping the driver may end up losing some of the magic and balance of that design (the c3m is a special tube). I do think that the WE may help, but it’s going to be more subtle. If you’re looking for a drastic increase in warmth, if you want to keep the amp, you may find that trying to address warmth in some of the rest of the chain such as speakers, cables, source gear, etc may end up creating a more worthwhile impact instead of swapping tubes in the amp. Yamamoto amps are fantastic at what they do, but imo they don’t really offer the lush wet sound of other tube amps, that’s just seemingly by design. Out of curiosity, what does the rest of your chain consist of?
It took a long time for people to catch on to the c3m and c3g but there are (technically speaking) very few better driver tubes. I guess part of the late adoption were they were not publicly sold. I would say the Radu amp i had with c3g drivers (same as c3m but different socket iirc) was very nicely warm and cozy. The mods they are suggesting is a fundamental amp change and i would sell the amp to someone who enjoys it as is then to dive that deep unless you also enjoy the project aspect of it.
@marlboro i would say the WEs will add a certain “golden” air to the mids but they arent super warm or super lush. It may tilt it enough for you, i think the EHs are said to be the most ooey gooey but dont have the technical prowless of the higher end 300Bs.
Probably not, you might get something out of it, outside the triode strapped C3M/G the 6SN7 is about as linear as small triodes get.
The C3M also has a 150mA 20V heater, it’s hard to swap it for anything, so I don’t know what the adapter would do to provide the 6.3V 600mA a 6SN7 uses.
The C3M/G triode strapped are my favorite pre tubes, but they are very linear. And you can’t really roll anything into a C3M socket because of the 20V heater voltage.
They’re actually quite different, just both used for the same telco application. And both use the same socket, just different heater voltages.
The C3M is a much prettier tube with the shield removed.
Triode strapped as they are in most audiophile amps they are both extremely linear.
C3M’s because of the 20V heaters don’t have the Lampizator tax that C3G’s got, they still aren’t cheap tubes, but you can buy them today for <$ than they were originally sold to the telcos for.
The Yamamoto’s were all sold with the metal shields removed from the C3M’s.
Oh darn you are right. I think i mistook them for the f2a tubes which are also telecom tubes. I think the f2a had a sister tube that was the same but different socket. I emphasis i think because now i am doubting myself.
A couple months ago I brought my Yamamoto A08-S to my local repair technician steve@capstoneElectronics.net (located in King George county, Virginia). He did a light re-fresh and cleaning of the amplifier along w/ some very minor repairs.
Currently I’m using my Sonnet Pasithea DAC doing double duty as both DAC and volume control and getting excellent results 
The Pasithea provides excellent blackness, depth and separation in its output really allowing the Yamamoto amplifier to showcase the control and extreme resolution it’s capable of putting forth. Lastly I threw in my 100db+ sensitivity Charney Audio Companion speakers using new 2025 Lowther DX65 transducers and it’s been an audio eargasm experiencing previously unnoticed details in some favorite tracks from a fresh perspective 
I’ve been comparing the Yamamoto 45DHT SET amplifier VERY intensely to my Decware 341.5 EL34 SET and it’s been such an enjoyable & fulfilling experience. Both amplifiers are similar in cost, both builders have a similar build philosophy, voicing though is opposite and what an incredible pleasure it makes to experience the sweetness of the Decware next to the more resolute intensity of the Yamamoto. Gun to my head, I would take the bullet, it’s that hard to pick a favorite, the sound character of each is that beautiful 
The speakers are a combination Horn/Throat design using a long 108” horn, there is no crossover, the drivers are tiny 5”, no tweeters just a whizzer that will sometimes annoy me when there’s a bit too much emphasis around the 2.5khz region and there is a surprising amount of bass, so much so I had to pull the speakers a full 59” into the room to get them well away from the corners.
Charney Audio makes speakers w/ even more intense and expensive transducers and I would pair them w/ any Yamamoto amplifier in a second and admittedly I would do the same using the Decware SET based flea-watts too 
Happy Listening to all, keep posting about your adventures folks 
i so love living vicariously through your experiences and systems 
The bowling shoes?
I am not surprised as the Yamamoto is a common reference when i was searching for custom amps.
Ah dammit, now i can’t get the image out of my head🤣 i’m gonna have to get some bowling/music stickers now to add to the sides of the cabinets to take the theme to the extreme…
Maybe a random worry thats just mine, but sometimes I think… what if yamamoto shuts down, what if yamoto passes away and so does the company.
Im a headphone guy myself much more than a speaker fellow and I dont think any other amplifier has brought me more joy than the HA02
And as a headphone guy ive recently thought that I MUST adquiere his other HA Amp. The HA03.
I do worry about the timing because im earning basically 0 income as im very ill with a very long rehab to do
With my last savings for Audio I got the focal 2ch because it seemed like the best pick and I have 0 regrets.
I just have intrusive thoughts I wont be able to get the HA03 due to my sallary and the import taxes being astronomical.
….
This is a self motivation post, this is not random consumerism, I reslly do love this hobby and Yamamoto’s HA designs.
I believe in myself! Somehow im gonna get the HA03! Ill even rehab faster for it (((^_^;)
You’d be stunned how many hifi companies are just “one guy”. Even the ones you think must be bigger than that. In some cases the companies continue after the key people die, in some they fold up.
If your lucky and the person retires, they might put something in place for continued support, when Alex Cavalli “retired” and closed his doors, he made an agreement with a third party to allow continued service of the amps he’d made, but it’s not always the case.
Basis make $100K+ turntables, the company basically was AJ Conti, when he died after some uncertainty his family took over the business. But they could just have gone away.
Companies go out of business all the time, not just because the founder dies, it isn’t worth worrying about.
For something like a tube amp, you’ll be able to find people who can service it. The only exception is if the amp has custom wound transformers, and one of those fails. In which case unless the company still makes them or there is NOS stock somewhere the amp is basically junk.
I have a pair of 1990’s era quicksilver Amps, I believe they are still the most expensive amps Mike ever made they were $8000 a pair in 1992, if a transformer goes in one they’re junk, despite the fact Mike is still alive and well, because the transformers were wound specifically for the amps, and the amps haven’t been made in 25 years.
I know people don’t like to adhere to this advice and I have in the past stretched my budgets to buy nice audio things. But you should always assume anything you buy could be a total loss, you could drop it, your cat could pee in it, some moron from the Generator company could run 240V through your 120V circuits when servicing your generator (this happened to me).
And you should spend appropriately the fact of the matter is even if it’s not damaged, you have no control over depreciation and as things get more expensive actually selling something to turn it into cash, can take a lot longer than you think.
Or that any replacement part, especially transformers, that may meet spec can sound very, very different.
My ignorance tells me there is probably always a way to make things work again, my experience tells me that it just may not be in a way you like.
Sure, you can always have someone manufacture a one off part, at some point it’s just not worth it or in some cases practical, both in terms of cost and effort.
You might also I guess find a similar part, but it’s not the same amp at that point, like when Craig couldn’t source the transformers for the Studio T and ended up introducing the Studio M which is the same amp (though he had to change the packaging because of the size difference) with transformers sourced from Monolith, and they sound different to each other.
I dont assume theres a Yamamoto Jr working, I once emailed Yamamoto San in Japanese, he is a very old folk, that started the worries since back in the day
better than nothing and if done properly thats a hero move
Now that you mention it that is true, it would be very sad but at the end of the day theres a deep connection with the consumerist part, “I want it because its a yamamoto” its rare, never ever seen used, but when it comes to the hobby in reality it continues with or without.
that really sucks, I feel for you man, and it also sounds like it happened with several companies.
off topic but you were helping me with diagnosing the “transformer humm” from my Quicksilver, Mike was quite certain that I have the old version of the QSHA, which he redesigned to lower the hum and use with low sensitivities. Shielding the output transformers costs around $300 but with the (super expensive) shipping cost it wasnt worth it for me at the time; It was just another one of my tube amps-
Until I started using Amperex for drivers and Telefunken for power I realized how different this amp is to anything else, so now I am gonna get it upgraded at some point because its now a keeper for me.
This is 100% legit, its the first time I ever hear it but its totatlly true, thats how my rare 12au7 siemens/halski slipped from my hand, and thats how my favorite tube preamp ever (ATH-BHA100) short circuited when I connected it straight to the wall (while switched on) instead of the conditioner.
I will follow this the best I can and those songs I heard still live in my memory somehow.
….
With all that said and even with the chance to lose it, Id still like to put a ton of effort into getting this Yamamoto HA03, I feel a connection with the brand thats not normal, it may be wrong but thats what my heart tells me to do.
EDIT: This was supposed to be a DM, I didnt want to make it public LOL, I could erase it at your request and send in private, or leave here as is.
SORRY!
Hey man. I was just wondering where do you import your Yamamotos from, and how does the tax payment work for you.
As a non american taxes from importing are paid very differently here and tbh its a pain in the ass, but I could import the HA03 that I want to the states if that makes the tax paying/forms easiear.
I have a PO box and the adress of my bussiness partner in El Paso, TX. If its easier to get the package sent there thats what I would do.
Of course in a not so near future cause im broke, but I like to plan ahead.
I plan to buy from here as this is a legit retailer based in Japan.
Because its over 1k If they send it straight to Mexico that would requiere a special import order which is a pain in the ass to get and only adds to the expenses.
May I know how have you been doing it?
My unit was a local used sale so no issues.. I’ll take this to DM and we can talk about your situation.
@NickMimi @M0N and anyone who might know
TLDR; Id like to get to know some options of higher sensitivity speakers that could be a good match with low wattage Yamamoto (and Elekit) models im interested in since im new to 2ch tube amps.
Im running Exogal comet plus dac with dual SVS SB2000 pro unported subs in a medium sized room.
I can now import speakers from the USA, the budget limit is $3200 used or new, preferably less and not taking taxes and shipping into consideration. bookshelves are preferred but im open to any suggestions.
Im new to speaker tube amps, I just got my first: Elekit TU8200. I dont know ANY of the speaker brands and models that would be recommended since im also relatively new to 2ch, and almost every model I see with dealers is below 89 db/mw at 8 ohms. Ive heard of Zu Audio and I know some Klipsch could work but im really lost here.
Im running 89.5 db/mw @8 ohm Focal Aria X Evo N1 with the Elekit TU8200 which delivers 8wpc in ultra linear mode and it sounds fantastic but I just know im very close to maxing out the amp’s capacity, anything harder to drive would be bad.
YAMAMOTO SOUND CRAFT
The one model im definitely getting:
- Yamamoto Sound Craft HA-03 - delivers 1WPC on the taps, this amp is both for headphones and speakers, Im getting this mainly for headphones but Id like to find a suitable pair of speakers so I can experience the Yamamoto Signature on 2ch.
So 1wpc at 8ohm is what were working with, this would be for a secondary setup for funsies.
My second Yamamoto would be optional given that I also want to upgrade my Elekit, if money allows im getting both one Yamamoto Poweramp and one of these Elekits:
- TU 8400 Lundahl at 8ohm using KT170 = 9.8WPC, using KT88 = 8.6WPC, using EL34 = 8WPC
- TU 8900 at 8ohm using 300B = 8WPC / using 2A3 = 3.5WPC
These seem to be more powerful than the Yamamoto options im looking at and way cheaper, for my next speakers I really want to get the Monitor Audio Gold 50g (85db/mw at 4ohm) which I think is just about borderline enough with the 8WPC. Synergy is a whole other topic so here I am asking for suggestions.
And now for the Yamamoto Poweramps:
-
Yamamoto Sound Craft New A-08SS “45”
Thats 2WPC at 8ohms, I really really like this model, looking at its components and pedigree being the 3rd iteration of the legendary A-08 “45” this one is very special for sure. -
Yamamoto Sound Craft " 2A3" single stereo amplifier A-011
I can only imagine what kind of magical sound Yamamoto can achieve with their 2A3 design paired with their Western Electric expertise. Definitely seems like a killer pick to combine with the right speakers.
Thanks a lot, I hope to learn and Ill be checking the LTA since I think theres some recs there already.
In terms of bookshelf speakers at that price point, some brands that come to mind first would be Omega like an Alnico monitor, Fritz Carerra BE or Carbon 7 as well, both of which would fit nicely in your budget and I have had great success pairing with a Yamamoto.
If you just stretched a bit you could maybe get a pair of Voxativ Hagen (used around 3.5-4k with the lesser driver?) which are incredible with the yamamoto. I haven’t heard them myself but a lot of people mention Reference 3A MM de capo BE (horrible name) as worth a look around that price range for higher efficiency. There are other options from tekton and zu but I’m not as partial to them personally.
Unfortunately a lot of good high efficiency speakers need to be larger to get that efficiency, so floorstanders might be worth considering too. Options like DeVore can be fantastic value and sound awesome with amps like these so absolutely worth a look. Older bigger Klipsch can also be a great value used, going horn in general is a cheat code for sensitivity. More out there as well, less limited than bookshelf/standmount options, I’m not the most experienced in this realm.
Some open baffle speakers like pure audio project or spatial audio are absolutely worth a look but would entirely depend on finding something used for value reasons there and having the right space.
Otherwise I’ve mostly only tried higher end options that I’ve enjoyed, to be honest getting a truly good yet sensitive speaker is more expensive than you would think sometimes, it really puts a lot stress on the overall quality of components and careful design.
Maybe saving up for the klipsch forte might be a good idea after all, I really like klipsch signature but only on their bookshelves and floorstanders (which are out of budget), I feel like most of the Klipsch magic I love gets lost when theyre towers and I have no Idea why, maybe @NickMimi feels the same or has a take on this?
Ive wanted some klipsch fortes or heresy but havent had the chance. Then theres the JBL L100 which is cheaper but I feel thats just not a match for my room, amp or my taste.
Thanks a lot for the recommendations, ill keep noted every one of them, the Alnico Monitor seems just right up my alley, if I see one on sale im definitely jumping the gun.
I find those Fritz very interesting picks not in themselves but in a way they look very similar to in desing (except for the lack of AMT) to the Monitor Audio goodies Ive been wanting, the size is basically the same and their sensitivity is quite similar, I think the monitor might just work with tubes but cant find info on the net. In any case I have the powerdac if I end up getting them and tubes cant handle.
What about ZU Audio, is it worth checking out? Theres quite a few of them on the used market, but it seems like maybe Omega Speakers could be better picks in general.
@M0N It would seem to me that the tower versions of bookshelves that use very similar woofers (or identical) and tweeters, for example with a 3 way (tower) vs 2 way (Bookshelves), the tower would be easier to drive, specially with radiators or less ways, is this an acoustic rule that always apply? larger baffles equals more SPL?
This way maybe I could get better results getting Monitor Audio Towers instead of the shelves I want (im super fixated on this brand as you can tell, dont know if the itch will go away).
Yes I would only consider something like the heresy/forte/cornwall/etc and not anything else from them. I have experience with all of the heresy lines but never in my own house so I can’t comment too much
From my experience you would want more juice for those than what you’re shooting for imo
In sound I wouldn’t compare them to monitor audio, and I would say they take well to tubes in a different way despite similar sensitivity, the way they’re optimized just is best matched with SET amps imo. I can’t comment too much on the monitor audio pairing with tubes, I haven’t tried any of them on anything low watt tube I think
They’re good but personally I prefer some of the other options more, I’d rather have the omega. That being said, there could be value in the Zu if you can get a good enough deal used, not sure as I don’t have a ton of experience with their lineup
It really varies, and I don’t feel qualified to give a proper explanation lol, but larger drivers tend to be more efficient, larger cabinets can accommodate more room for efficiency focused designs and get more usable range out of drivers, and so on. It’s not really something hard and fast, you want to look at each individual speaker but in general the most sensitive systems I’ve heard have been on the larger size (with the most efficient being gargantuan horn systems lol).
It will be a challenge setting up these in my space, since klipsch has one of my favorite signatures ever ill eventually get one, theyll always be available so ill pick with the help of Nick when I get the amps.
Its just that I could demo Monitor Audio Bronze, Silver, and Gold lines and I instantly fell in love with the brand, I just cant get it out of my head, either a silver tower or gold shelves are next on line to upgrade-replace my focal aria x n1, since the tweeters are AMT and the synergy is unknown, I still have the 200mw at 4ohm exogal powerdac to cover them.
Important: the reason that I liked them so much is cause im a treblehead, never had I heard such natural, airy, sparkly highs, perfectly controlled and distributed for my taste Maybe theres a Fritz like or Omega like this.
So thats my favorite signature, altough I like many of them, @M0N @NickMimi @Camus which speakers from any brand do you think could provide me with that treblehead experience? Not mandatory but preferably for use with the tube amps.
Gotcha, Thank you very much as always!