Forums - Torii MK5 or Sarah 300B

Skip

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Torii MK5 or Sarah 300B
09/12/25 at 19:40:59

I have a CSP325 + SE84UFO25. I'm on the list for a Sarah 300B, but have started thinking more about the Torii MK5. My room is 30' x 15' x 7'6", with front side and ceiling absorption panels. I really enjoy the SET sound and thought the Sarah would be a step up from the SE84UFO25. Aside from more watts I'm beginning to think it might essentially be a lateral move with the Sarah. Not to mention the dreaded "hum" that some folks are talking about. My Klipsch Forte I speakers are pretty sensitive. I'm thinking about the push-pull Torii for a few more db's and the ability to use some of my less efficient speakers. So for anyone that has heard both amps, could I get your opinion on the overall differences?

Cheers,
Skip

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Lon

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Re: Torii MK5 or Sarah 300B
Reply #1 - 09/12/25 at 20:12:09

I had a pair of SE84UFO3 with all the mods for over four years, and now have had the SEWE300B for over two years.

I'm posting just to say that the SEWE300B is more/different than the UFO25 sound with more watts. To my ears the UFO25 sound is more analytical, and the SEWE300B a fuller, deeper sound. That's the best way to describe it. I've lived happily with both, and both allowed me to tailor the system to fantastic playback. But there's more to it than just power number difference. (I've had a fully modded CSP3 in use with both--the differences in texture and depth are even more pronounced when the SEWE300B is used with the preamp, but I found that better sound came without a preamp as the SEWE300B has an amazing "preamp" stage built in).

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Skip

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Re: Torii MK5 or Sarah 300B
Reply #2 - 09/13/25 at 20:30:55

Lon, Thanks for that info. Interesting that you prefer the Sarah without the CSP3. I was excited with the thought of pairing them up, but now, I don't know.
I just watched a video from Thomas & Stereo on YouTube comparing the Torii and the UFO25. Really leaning toward the Torii now. It seems like I'll get what I'm looking for. Two fairly different amps. One with the SET sound and the other for my less efficient speakers, like the Acoustic Control Corp. set in the photo.

Cheers,
Skip

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Lon

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Re: Torii MK5 or Sarah 300B
Reply #3 - 09/13/25 at 22:08:14

I just think that Steve carefully chose just the right preamp stage for the SEWE300B and that another stage before it is too much of a good thing. Others may differ, though I do know one other owner who has forgone a preamp because of this. The SEWE300B ended my amp envy--I really love this amp and after having Zen amps, Rachel type amps and Torri II and IIIs . . . this is the one for me. Paired with my HR-1 speakers I get dream sound. (I can honestly say that I prefer the single-ended Decware to the push-pull after living with them both).

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Dominick

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Re: Torii MK5 or Sarah 300B
Reply #4 - Today at 03:05:14

Skip…I was originally on the list for a UFO25, but after a conversation with Steve, I changed my order to a Torii MKIV 25th due to room size and speaker efficiency. A few years later I acquired a pair of SE84C+ zZen amps that I upgraded to the UFO’s and 25th Anniversay mods that I run in a mono configuration. So I do own both SET and Pushpull amps, and I love them both for different reasons. In terms of sound… the SET sound draws me in more than the push pull.

I heard Kamran’s Sarah 300b amp, and it sounds amazing. The sound is deeper and more 3 dimensional than my pair of Zen SE84C+ amps. The Torii is a great amp, and you really can’t go wrong with either amp. The Torii is a tube rollers dream and has great adjustability.

I would place a call into Steve and go over some details like room size, speaker efficiency, the concerning “hum” with your speakers, your listening volume level, etc etc.

Hope this helps.

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The other Lon

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Re: Torii MK5 or Sarah 300B
Reply #5 - Today at 18:27:19

Skip, I have both amps at the house. The Torii MKV is my preferred amp to listen to. It suits my ears better than the Sarah.

I do have a HUM with Sarah, and it is loud enough I can only use the amp in the basement listening room (almost an identical size to yours), and live with it. It is not e speaker efficiency thing as it is apparent on anything from 84db - 100+ efficient speakers. As the original owner and the second owner did not mention a HUM at all, I will have to go with it being something in my house that I have yet to determine, even if no other amp hums.

I really love the Torii, checks off all my boxes, and brings a smile to my face.

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Tony

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Re: Torii MK5 or Sarah 300B
Reply #6 - Today at 19:52:04

Over the past year, I have been studying, working with, frustrated by, and ultimately learning to accept that my Decware 300B has a hum. If I don't hold that against it, which I am becoming more adept at, I'm happy with the 300B. Almost every night, however, I'll hear its hum during a quiet moment, which causes me to sigh.

I still hope to minimize the amp's hum further. My plan from a few months ago was to replace my 99dB speakers with 91dB ones, which I believe will soften the hum a bit more. That plan did not work out as expected, but I'm back in the hunt for a pair of HRv2. Bottom line, by the end of this year, I will have spent as much money on hum management products, strategies, and different speakers as I spent on the original purchase of the amp.

This issue was not on my mind this morning, but when I saw another's reference to it, I knew I wanted to jump in and add that if one is very sensitive to audio hum like me, this might be a risky amp to add to your system.

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Lon

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Re: Torii MK5 or Sarah 300B
Reply #7 - Today at 20:17:48

Interesting. I have to report that using the Line Noice Black Hole and the Snub Station Zero components from Verafi Audio (two of each, one pair for analog components, one pair for digital) have reduced system hum noticeably. I hear zero hum with no music playing from my listening system, and a little from close to my HR-1 speakers, more from one channel than another, which swapping tubes shows me comes from within one 300B tube.

There is always going to be a little hum to a 300B amp, but that is all I have--a little hum.

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JD

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Re: Torii MK5 or Sarah 300B
Reply #8 - Today at 21:03:37

I would love to see a poll of all 300b owners, their speaker choice/ db level, cables etc and if they have hum. I've been waiting a couple of years for a 300b but I can't handle any type of hum so not sure if I should just cancel my order and be out my deposit or switch to a se84ufo25 or se341.6 (I have a couple quads of early mullard el34)and possible monoblock em. I already have a Torii III so I don't want to be redundant.
Anyone use a 300b amp from another company that is comparable in price but does not hum?
Tanks
JD

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Lon

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Re: Torii MK5 or Sarah 300B
Reply #9 - Today at 22:00:00

I've never heard of a 300B amp that has zero hum, and I believe Steve has said that it is the nature of the beast on this forum.

I have a little hum, not audible at the listening position. Had that with Zen amps and Torris as well.

Just to be contributing I am using PS Audio transport and DAC, ZBIT and ZROCK3, VooDoo Cable Stradivarius signal cabling, and PS Audio top of the line power and speaker cables, Decware HR-1 speakers. Verafi Audio Line Noise Black Hole and Snub Station Zero, Snubway and Mainstream in my system, just took the Zen Line Conditioner out of the system, will put it up for sale soon.

Hum seems to be the same regardless of listening level.

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