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Melody DarK Star 300B-1 Power Amplifier The right channel has failed due to the failure of the input transformer. The rest of the amplifiers are in excellent condition. The internal components i.e. capacitors and resistors (except for the input transformers) are of an excellent quality. Included are the surviving inverter valve a Mullard 5AR4 (1962 vintage), two Sylvania 6SN7 (UT231) input valves (vintage "mid 1960s") and two Emission Labs EML 300 XLS output valves. The valves have had aproximately 1000 - 1200 hours of use. The aluminium valve protective cover is also included (never used).
Ambitious. At A$2,500, this sits far above the A$288 75th percentile and is dramatically outside the typical used range here, so it’s not a bargain unless there’s something unusually special about this particular build or provenance. In plain market terms, you’d want strong justification before paying this much.
That said, 300B amps are prized for their fluid mids, dimensional imaging, and low-power charm with the right speakers, and this could be a lovely buy if it’s genuinely excellent and fully sorted. The upside is strongest if it’s been carefully maintained, comes complete, and has fresh valves or documented servicing. At this level, provenance and condition matter a lot more than usual.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Captain Stanley R. Mullard founded the Mullard Radio Valve Company in 1920 in the United Kingdom, initially to produce high-power transmitting valves for the British Admiralty. Drawing from his engineering background and passion for music, he expanded into audio components, creating vacuum tubes renowned for their reliability and superior sound quality. Acquired by Philips in the 1920s, the brand grew into a dominant force in valves and semiconductors, with production spanning facilities in Mitcham and Southampton.
Mullard focused primarily on vacuum tubes—or "valves"—that powered high-fidelity amplifiers and professional recording equipment, alongside early transistors and audio drivers. Historical products like the 1960s Mullard 510 valve amplifier exemplified their expertise in hi-fi amplification, while their hand-assembled valves became staples in studio and home systems. Though not a modern maker of speakers, turntables, DACs, or headphones, their components influenced entire audio chains.
Today, Mullard holds a revered position as a vintage high-end icon among audiophiles and collectors, celebrated for the "Mullard sound"—warm, detailed, and musical. Reissues and NOS tubes command premium prices in the boutique market, cementing its legacy over a century of craftsmanship amid technological shifts.
See all Mullard listings on RADAR.
