Detailed review here, with sound samples ....
http://www.bonedo.de/artikel/einzelansicht/traynor-yba300.htmlAudio samples are on the "praxis" tab
Google translate -
The first look at an angle from the top of the YBA 300 is admittedly a bit scary: rage behind a removable grille fewer than twelve of the type 6L6 tubes and provide for 300-watt power amp. Three 12AX7 preamp tubes and one 12AU7 Driver complement the lush tube equipment of the 300th YBA That's all kinds of smells, and from afar, after much effort service, the Traynor met but with a user-friendly system for handwritten bias adjustment of the tube pairs. Then I will discuss in detail later. The case itself is compared to the YBA 200 grew only very slightly, and the weight about 23kg with higher minimal.
The YBA 300 is a tube amp in this power class that is still very easy to transport. Here, the construction is rock solid, the 19mm plywood panels are covered with durable Tolex, protected the corners with metal caps and thick rubber feet, both well below and to the left before slipping back up the amp. Is a folding handle for transporting it to any page that can be 23 kg but also relatively easy to carry with one hand, at least over shorter distances. The front has been compared to YBA200 done a lot: the "grille" with the silver "Trayor badge" is now sitting up and the control panel with the knobs and connectors has been thinned out thoroughly what the YBA 300 in total a much more classic look gives, in my opinion.
Two jack inputs (0 dB and-6dB) for the connection of passive and active basses with mostly higher output level, sit still on the left, flanked by three switches labeled "Deep", "Bright" and "Resonance", the the little brother YBA 200 not exist. The Deep and Bright functions most likely to be known bassists from other amplifiers, they are hidden behind EQ presets that make the sound in the bass either thick (deep) or just the highs and upper mids (Bright) stress. Resonance with the switch of the damping factor of the low frequencies is reduced, the membranes of the speakers vibrate and therefore produce a slightly more open and perhaps even a little "sluggish" sound. Other way, the sound activate Resonance switch due to a higher damping factor will be "tighter and more compact. At YBA 200, the resonance feature was continuously adjust with a knob, the Traynor YBA 300, has probably decided in favor of ease of use for a fixed value. In the center of things, there are six pots in vintage-look: gain for the input signal, a passive 3-band EQ with bass, mid, including frequency selection knob (200 to 3.0 kHz) and heights. To the right of the master page provided for adjusting the final volume. Stay for the front, only the Power and Standby switches to mention, including the operating lamp.
All other ports, such as the tuner or line-out jack, which had yet to find the YBA200 the front, when YBA300 walked to the rear.
Some of the users will surely find something impractical, others will appreciate the simple and cleaned up acting front - a matter of taste. On the connectivity latched changed very little: two jacks (send / return) allow the addition of an effects device, one more is to connect a tuner provided and with the balanced XLR output, the signal can be routed to a console. This output also has a Pre / Post EQ switch and ground lift switch to eliminate ground loops. At YBA 200 could connect the speakers via phone only, the Traynor YBA 300 has donated an additional and more reliable now standard belonging Speakon jack. The impedance of the YBA switch 300 allows a choice between 2 or 4 ohms, the previous one could not decide between 4 or 8 ohms. Due to the increased power output, I think this change for quite reasonable, experience has shown that most bassists use several smaller 8-ohm speakers or just great examples 4-ohm and no more big-box 8-ohms.
Finally we see the rear "grille" all lights and controls, which allow the user to the above matching all six pairs of tube. For each tube pair are three LED's are labeled "Protect", "Low" and "High" and a recessed knob with Phillips for individual bias adjustment available.
Immediately after pressing the power switch and then you get to enjoy the full light organ, as in the standby mode, the power tubes "be attracted" and all the red, blue and yellow lights are impressive. It gets really exciting when one switches from standby to normal operation mode, namely, should, ideally, all LEDs go out, which means that all 12 tubes work properly and correct the bias of the tube pair. In my Testamp the bias has been on two pairs of tube too high and at too deep and I could direct me to start my testing with the familiar balancing system. And what shall I say, it would Traynor also easier for the beginner can do little. The blue LED, the bias is too low and the wheel must be rotated for adjustment with a Phillips screwdriver to the right, the yellow lamp is the bias too high and the perfect setting with a rotation reaches the left when everything is right , all LEDs - finished!
The red LED labeled "Protect" indicate a defect or malfunction of a tube. As a consequence, the pair in question is automatically removed from the game and the amp runs on "10 cylinders," continues with a little less power tube. Pretty clever system, it really is to operate from any layman. One can only hope that it works technically flawless.
Once in my test-tube amp now all work properly, I am finally able to enjoy the powerful tube sounds. Even without a direct comparison is immediately clear that the new Traynor has significantly more power than the YBA 200 and can be really loud. He has much more headroom and is very long, "clean". Only when he starts to gain full wide open easy to crunch. Although I overdrive sounds like the YBA 200, I find that he had a bit too fast in the Zerre is too small and can provide a range of clean sounds. At YBA 300, it is the other way around, right overdrive sounds are not there, but he stays clean even at high volumes and provides an immensely powerful and warm sound. With a relatively neutral recommended by Yorkville "Flat" setting (if something with a tube amp even exists), with bass and treble on 5 and the middle knob at 1.0kHz to 3 or 4, the YBA 300 music sounds as expected, less aggressive than the YBA 200th This is not least because the centers be somewhat milder. You can hear the audio clip in the "flat". I used to clip the same bass with the identical setting as the YBA 200 test and also played a similar groove, so you can compare.
Except for the somewhat milder Mittenvoicing the YBA 300, which may of course be due to a different mode of action of the EQ, the basic sound is different but not significantly different from that of the smaller brother YBA 200th The bass is very solid and sounds relatively open, not as compressed as in some other tube amps. The highs are clear and the upper mids are not too intrusive, but still have enough for a transparent and balanced sound.
A pronounced difference between the two amps is audible only at much gain cranked. You can also refer to the audio clip "Full Gain" with the appropriate file from the YBA Compare 200th In both I have again used the same bass with identical settings on the amps and only slightly boosted the mids.
Traynor YBA of the 300 is actually a very successful development of the YBA Vollröhrentops 200th The bass player is not at least because its a tube amp, and its compact size, low weight, yet very popular, many bassists but wanted a bit more power and headroom. They are getting now with the YBA 300 - without which the basic data have changed great. Traynor has some additional features such as Resonance - Scoop simplified or the department, or new, like the very user-friendly bias means or the more reliable Speakon Speaker Jack added. The new "12-cylinder" Traynor is typical for excellent workmanship and will remain affordable, with a street price under thousands of brand. Highly recommended for tube fans!
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