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K-horns tubes and solid state?

y2keglide

y2keglide

Super Member
So I often see the debate about tubes VS solid state but that's not my question.

I've read tubes are warmer and have better sound quality (debatable for some) but high power solid state really cranks at higher volumes.

I listen a wide variety of genres of music which got me to thinking. I might want to hear tubes for something like Satchmo and Ella doing Summertime or Lady day doing Fine and mellow one day and later on I might be in a rocking mood and want to really blast Get you Wings from Aerosmith or some Led Zep or SRV etc.

So I got to thinking "why not set up some switching and have both?"

I'm looking at a few different pieces including a new The Dynaco ST-70 Series 3 rated 35wpc and a used Phase Linear I have a line on rated 250wpc.

I also have a Kenwood Eleven G receiver 125wpc and a Marantz 2240 currently.

Anyone else doing this? Am I all wrong headed? Your thoughts?
 
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With the Khorn being 105dB sensitivity, you should be able to run yourself out of the house with the ST-70. My custom built AE Lambda TD15M/Altec 802 speakers are around 98dB sensitivity, and 45WPC is plenty for them.

That being said, I've heard Khorns driven by a Balanced Audio Technology VK-255SE amplifier (150WPC), it could create rock concert sound levels. If that's what you're looking for.
 
Yes, I do this. I have two sets of speaker cables, one from my LK-72 and one from my SX-850. I use ss for movies and background music when I’m doing things around the place and tubes when I’m actively listening to music. If I were into heavy music I have no doubt that ss would be better for it.
 
The classic combo for decades has been McIntosh tubes with Khorns. A pair of MC 30s or an MC 275 would do very nicely.

Dynaco (at least the original stuff) is too noisy for Khorns because those speakers are so efficient / sensitive.
 
Horns really pay off with QUALITY amplification. They will reveal faults in lesser amps that could make you nuts. 40-75 watts should be PLENTY for any kind of music unless you're in a huge room listening at concert levels.
 
I've run mine with 40wpc Fisher 50a tube monoblocks. I've also run them with my B&K ST3030 200wpc solid state amp.

It's all good ! Hook up different types and see what YOU like.
 
The main reason there is a difference in sound is the source impedance of the amp in question, if its relatively high, say a damping factor of 10 the speaker and the amp interact changing the response of the system. Some times as much as +/- 3db. Where this happens is totally a function of the changing impedance of the speakers. The more linear the impedance the less change in sound. Amps that are SS with autoformers are affected but not near as much with as tube amps. Early Mac SS amps 2105 or 2505 are more affected than todays SS amps. Amps like Crown and Accuphase with very high damping factors are not affected at all it seems. Maybe a fraction of a db. There are other parameters that can change the sound. too. Back Emf from the speaker and where the feed back is taken from, say before or after the output transformer... Klisch woofers need all the control they can get sometimes So I prefer direct coupled amps. But Crowns and PL's are just to Austere with those big horns . So I prefer NAD and Mac power amps with out autoformers. 7200, MC 122, 202, 205, 207, 206. 7104, 7100, 754. We sold a lot of Klipsch with 275's. MC 75's, and 240s with early series I Cornwalls and Klipschorns. I even preferred the sound of Citation and Marantz tube amps over Dyna. The only Dyna I really liked was the MKIII. I used to build Dynakits to make money to pay for my early Scott Fisher and Mcintosh units. The harmonic distortion was pretty high which kind of made the sound have a lower midrange glow and congested the bass.
 
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So I picked up my Marantz 2240 from a service and new blue lights job, the tech has an HH Scott tube tuner/preamp and amp combo he's going to sell after he services it. Forgot what models but he said 28 wpc on the amp he thought. $1500....thoughts?
 
y2keglide said:
So I picked up my Marantz 2240 from a service and new blue lights job, the tech has an HH Scott tube tuner/preamp and amp combo he's going to sell after he services it. Forgot what models but he said 28 wpc on the amp he thought. $1500....thoughts?
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Ha you’re in WA so I’m pretty sure you’re talking about the 355 and 208 I traded him a while back. Tech is in Kelso/Longview I bet? Sonically they should be more or less the same as my LK-72 which is smooth like butter. I only got to listen to them briefly before I traded and I’m certain that he’ll address the issues they were having. You could arguably get the same sonics for less money but the 355 is a very beautiful and collectible piece and the cosmetics on that one were outstanding. I asked him to give me first dibs if he sold them but considering I don’t have $1500 I think you should certainly consider it. He does good work and both of those pieces have superb cosmetics.
 
My only experiences with tube amps have been a Dynaco ST-70, the Scott 208, and my current Lk-72. While I thought the ST-70 sounded great I felt it was more obviously ‘tubey’ and it seemed I was listening to the amp as much as the music. The Scott gear seems to be more accurate while still being incredibly sweet without being overly lush. It gets out of the way and the music just sounds right.
 
y2keglide said:
So I often see the debate about tubes VS solid state but that's not my question.

I've read tubes are warmer and have better sound quality (debatable for some) but high power solid state really cranks at higher volumes.

I listen a wide variety of genres of music which got me to thinking. I might want to hear tubes for something like Satchmo and Ella doing Summertime or Lady day doing Fine and mellow one day and later on I might be in a rocking mood and want to really blast Get you Wings from Aerosmith or some Led Zep or SRV etc.

So I got to thinking "why not set up some switching and have both?"

I'm looking at a few different pieces including a new The Dynaco ST-70 Series 3 rated 35wpc and a used Phase Linear I have a line on rated 250wpc.

I also have a Kenwood Eleven G receiver 125wpc and a Marantz 2240 currently.

Anyone else doing this? Am I all wrong headed? Your thoughts?
Click to expand...

You’re not wrong headed man...
that’s exactly what I do, and many others.
Best of 16 worlds, tailor to suit.

After a bit with your different systems, you get to know them. Then when you pull out a recording, you say to yourself “I’m going to put it on the xxx system”.
 
ScottFan355 said:
Ha you’re in WA so I’m pretty sure you’re talking about the 355 and 208 I traded him a while back. Tech is in Kelso/Longview I bet? Sonically they should be more or less the same as my LK-72 which is smooth like butter. I only got to listen to them briefly before I traded and I’m certain that he’ll address the issues they were having. You could arguably get the same sonics for less money but the 355 is a very beautiful and collectible piece and the cosmetics on that one were outstanding. I asked him to give me first dibs if he sold them but considering I don’t have $1500 I think you should certainly consider it. He does good work and both of those pieces have superb cosmetics.
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Yup that's the guy and I'm seriously considering that set.
 
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