The RS-II and Tube Amps

[mcdmgb]

A poster on the Tube Audio board offered this comment "Low ohm loads, and low efficiency will make most tube amps sound less than stellar." I was wondering what others have experienced in using a tube amp with RS-IIs.

Thanks

 

[opnly bafld]

Depends on the tube amp, just like ss amps, and the spl levels.
I had a pair of low impedance speakers that were driven quite well by a McAlister SE 32 pse (15 watts) and an original Blue Torii (12 watts), much better than a few ss amps I tried.

Tragically hip fan?

 

[mcdmgb]

Depends on the tube amp, just like ss amps, and the spl levels.
I had a pair of low impedance speakers that were driven quite well by a McAlister SE 32 pse (15 watts) and an original Blue Torii (12 watts), much better than a few ss amps I tried.

Tragically hip fan?

Amp in mind is a restored Citation II.

 

[opnly bafld]

Amp in mind is a restored Citation II.

Do you have the RS-IIs or thinking about buying?

 

[mcdmgb]

Do you have the RS-IIs or thinking about buying?

I have them. I have been using them with a ss amp.

 

[opnly bafld]

I have them. I have been using them with a ss amp.

Do you have the Citation II?
Just try it and see if it works for you.

That is how I found out about using the Legacy Classics (hot rodded) with just a tube amp, I had been passively bi-amping with an Eagle 2 driving the two 10" woofers and decided to just try the McAlister Audio by itself.

 

[mcdmgb]

I have the amp. I just got it back from restoration and haven't heard it. The reason for asking the question is to avoid something catastrophic happening, particularly to the amp, given the RS-IIs reputation for being hard on amps.

 

[opnly bafld]

Do you have a way to check the transformer temperatures with a "normal" pair of speakers?
If so. then just try it keeping an eye/hand on the transformer temps, it might run a little warmer but should be fine.

 

[srb02]

I run my RSII's, daily w/ the amp pictured in my signature, (https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/kt120-150-se-ul-build.734130/)
w/ a "tubes for Hi-fi" PH-14 pre amp, and an old Technics SL-D205 turntable. I just queued up Andrea Bocelli: Believe, (xmas present),
I'm sitting here in tears, simply astoundingly beautiful.
14 watts is more that enough for this.

Happy holidays,

Stu

 

[opnly bafld]

I run my RSII's, daily w/ the amp pictured in my signature,

Avatar?

 

[srb02]

yup, you got me

 

[opnly bafld]

yup, you got me

I looked at your signature first, kind of ignoring the word "pictured" and was trying to figure out (by wattage) which amp you were referring to.

 

[Bkphoto]

There was one Canadian study and since then these speakers have this reputation...I don’t get it, they are not anything like kappa 9’s...I run mine with a single SS amp, no issues...

 

[mcdmgb]

There was one Canadian study and since then these speakers have this reputation...I don’t get it, they are not anything like kappa 9’s...I run mine with a single SS amp, no issues...

Yes I am aware of the study and the discussions on this site where people have indicated no problem. Also, I don't intend to push them since my listening area isn't particularly large. It just that they are suspected as having contributed to putting my McIntosh 4100 into protection. Not indicted, just an interesting coincidence, shall we say, based on the Infinity's reputation.

 

[opnly bafld]

The McIntosh 4100 and most tube amplifiers are not created equal.

 

[mcdmgb]

The McIntosh 4100 and most tube amplifiers are not created equal.

Consensus here at the time was that the McIntosh should be able to handle the RS-II's fine. Just sayin', as they say. There's always the chance that the McIntosh was due, regardless.

 

[Bkphoto]

I bet the newer Carver stuff might work well....