New Monitor Audio Silver 6 - Tubes or SS

[ScooterMcTav]

Interesting Bob.

I actually stuck the MF in yesterday, and it affirmed all of my preconceptions. It certainly took control of the speakers, but moved the system along the spectrum from engaging to clinical.

Always a struggle for me to find the sweet zone where I get detail, but am not left cold by what I am hearing. Also shows the value of system matching. The MF sounds completely different with the MAs than it does with a set of Wharfedales I have.

I think the Silver 6 will be staying on the tubes.

 

[LoStrings]

Musical Fidelity.

 

[cantorgale]

First congrats on the Silver 6's. My brother is looking at Silver 8's and I hope he finally pulls the trigger as they are excellent speakers.

I have a Musical Concepts PAS Pro customized tube preamp and a restored (tricked out) Hafler DH 220 power amp and a Jolida 502 integrated amp that I sometimes substitute (in bypass mode) as a power amp. I love the tube pre and the SS power amp combo with my new Acoustic Zen speakers. I am getting ready to try the Jolida Power amp with these speakers, maybe I'll try them tonight in fact!

I cannot recall which power amp I like better with my old speakers. I liked them both, maybe the Hafler had better bass and was better overall --- but the Jolida has the nice tooby sound and was enjoyable. I have KT 120's in my Jolida amp and they provided much better bass than the stock 6550's ever did. The Jolida pre-amp portion of the integrated 502 cannot keep up with my separate Pas Pro pre amp but the power amp section is nice. If your model 302 allows you to separate the two stages I would try the Proton preamp with the Jolida power amp stage.

You're lucky to have both so the best advice is to try them and compare them. Whichever you play first is irrelevant but I might start with the tubes for whatever reason. As @Mister Pig said, your speakers will be breaking in anyway so keep that in mind.

enjoy, Bob

Interesting thread.

@bobins08 I am very interested in your reply. I too have a Hafler DH220 as well as a DH110 pre - both recently "tricked out" by John Hillig with his newest/top mods. (PA-6 Elite Ulra and LXll Elite Ultra mods. Have had my babies since the mid '80's. This recent upgrade is astoundingly good. I run Harbeth 30.1s, dual HSU subs and Modwright tube modded OPPO Sonica DAC. Mostly stream via Fidelizer Nimitra streamer/Nikola PSU.

Still though - intrigued about the idea of tubes. John is sending me a PasPro1 loaner to listen to. (I talked with him about updating the DH110 with MC3 circuit board and dual-mono outboard PSU. Instead, John suggested giving the PasPro1 a listen.

Assuming I will like it, I have a dilemma. I have the opportunity to pick up nearly unused customer return Modwright Ambrose a30 tube mono-blocks for 50 cents on the dollar. Still way expensive, but an opportunity to grab SOTA at huge discount (retail $16K). I would also add Dan's SWL 9.0 Anniversary Addition pre if I go that way.

Any thoughts? I've not run into many on these boards who really understand the bang-for-the buck and truly audiophile quality of MC mods.

 

[bobins08]

Interesting thread.

@bobins08 I am very interested in your reply. I too have a Hafler DH220 as well as a DH110 pre - both recently "tricked out" by John Hillig with his newest/top mods. (PA-6 Elite Ulra and LXll Elite Ultra mods. Have had my babies since the mid '80's. This recent upgrade is astoundingly good. I run Harbeth 30.1s, dual HSU subs and Modwright tube modded OPPO Sonica DAC. Mostly stream via Fidelizer Nimitra streamer/Nikola PSU.

Still though - intrigued about the idea of tubes. John is sending me a PasPro1 loaner to listen to. (I talked with him about updating the DH110 with MC3 circuit board and dual-mono outboard PSU. Instead, John suggested giving the PasPro1 a listen.

Assuming I will like it, I have a dilemma. I have the opportunity to pick up nearly unused customer return Modwright Ambrose a30 tube mono-blocks for 50 cents on the dollar. Still way expensive, but an opportunity to grab SOTA at huge discount (retail $16K). I would also add Dan's SWL 9.0 Anniversary Addition pre if I go that way.

Any thoughts? I've not run into many on these boards who really understand the bang-for-the buck and truly audiophile quality of MC mods.

Are in the St Louis area. If so we should get together some day.

I would be interested in your thoughts on the PasPro. Johns sells it with some ok Russian tubes but I have since rolled in some nos Amperex 7308’s that are game changers. I also upgraded the Alps pot to a TKD.

I am not familiar with any of the gear in your second last paragraph.

I did hear some Harbeths bookshelf speakers a few times and really liked them.

Keep me posted.