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Tube Amp with new speakers

Blue-Triumph

Blue-Triumph

New Member
There is probably a thread for this, but not sure how to find.

i’m currently using mid 70’s to early 80’s Pioneer and Kenwood equipment. Recently replaced some old Klipsch bookshelf speakers with new Klipsch RP-6000F speakers. I’m using a Pioneer SX-780 receiver. The new speakers are very nice.
I’ve been thinking about adding a tube amp. Are modern Klipsch speakers compatible with vintage and/or new tube amps? My son saw an article suggesting there can be compatibility issues. Thanks very much.
 
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They are 97dB efficient, so they will probably sound ok with tube gear. Bass at lower power levels is going to be questionable though.
 
I built a DCG-1 magnavox clone for my youngest daughter. 2 or 3 watt SE amp. After a while with some old Tannoy I5AW’s I ordered a pair of factory refurbed Klipsch R-15m’s. They play very well together. The sound is very full, and they image well. Plenty enough bass at all volumes, though it is a small room, and not the least bit bright.
 
I haven't had any bass problems using more modern speakers with tube gear. I've only had one pair of speakers that didn't sound right with tubes.
I just recapped a pair of 80's Ditton's that were modeled using frigg'n laser beams and computers. They sound just fine with tubes. All the speakers I have at the moment were made in the mid 70's and beyond. They all probably would have been modeled using SS equipment. Back when tubes were all there was, a big amplifier would have been 30 to 60 or 70wpc.
If your speakers are rated at 97db, your not going to need a huge tube power amp. My 17wpc amp pushes a pair of 93db speakers I have pretty loud.
<edit> I've also built a few modern designed speaker kits that sound just fine with tubes. One set has aluminum bass drivers that sound very nice with tubes. The other set has poly cones.
 
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My speakers are 95dB sensitive and I have no trouble with 8 watt per channel SET amps.

Modern or vintage should not matter at all - most tube amps today are often older designs but with modern parts. As with many of these things - an 8 watt amp can sound dull and lifeless and "weak" and another can blow you into next week - entire movie theaters were powered with 8 watt amps back in the day so it all depends on the quality of the amp, the efficiency and sensitivity of the speaker - the size of the room and what you are playing.

My experience is to always try for a SIngle Ended Triode first. IMO and IME they sound the best - but they lack power - BUT if they have enough power they sound the best. They also, unfortunately, tend to be more expensive - most all companies that make Push Pull tube amplifiers AND who also make SET amplifiers - the SET amplifiers are their flagship amps and cost the most. Cheap SET amps tend sound pretty bad because they rely heavily on the output transformers to sound any good and cheap amps have cheap transformers and the transformer is everything to a SET amp.
 
It's really an antinomy :-)

Let me say, I love tube amps,
happen to have more tube amps today but a​
lso love SS amps. Like many of you I have also owned and own all types of speakers, and based on what I can afford, my experience suggests that my money is better spent on "vintage" speakers.

It can, and has been argued Ad nauseam, but Hoffmans Iron Law reference speaker design/production always has some impact on the product.

My simple restatement Hoffman said you can have 2 but not all 3....

Deep satisfying bass
High sensitivity
Small enclosure size


One thing to consider is, and this is sometimes impossible, how did the speaker manufacturer test and publish sensitivity, sometimes called efficiency?

Was the published sensitivity an average of the entire spectrum for each component of the speaker as a system, tweeter, midrange, bass?

Personally have some very efficient speakers and some of low or dubious efficiency, and they each happen to top the list of my favorite speakers.

Here's an interesting article on testing Dyanco a25s

https://www.stereophile.com/content/dynaco-25-loudspeaker


Regards,
Andy
 
Thanks for the info and ideas. The speakers require very little power from the Pioneer, so I’m thinking a smaller tube amp and I can set up some type of switch box so I don’t have to hassle with switching cables.

I like the appearance of the Macintosch, plus Bosch uses one on TV.
 
Just an update. I'm very pleased with the Klipsch RP-6000F speakers with the old gear. Even though my ears are getting old, I hear sounds and effects I had not heard before on recordings I have been listening to for 50 years. And as many have mentioned, it takes very little to power these speakers. I have a separate listening area in my finished basement which is about 15 ft X 30 ft and my listening couch is about 13ft from the speakers and with the SX-780 at about 1/4 volume it is quite loud.
I hope to pick up a tube amp or receiver as I am curious to find out if I am able to distinguish a difference and if I prefer one over the other. As a side note, I am primarily a rock music guy, but my sister loaned me some jazz albums and I am enjoying that genre now as well. I think the better definition makes it more interesting.
 
I don't know how much you want to spend but Dynao's tube amps are probably the place where most tube-o-philes got started. They are kind of like the Steatman PT-17 of the audio world. But like the Stearman, they are classics and one could do much worse than keeping one (or two, or three, or...) in the hanger. A tube Fisher would be a good choice too.
 
quadaptor said:
I don't know how much you want to spend but Dynao's tube amps are probably the place where most tube-o-philes got started. They are kind of like the Steatman PT-17 of the audio world. But like the Stearman, they are classics and one could do much worse than keeping one (or two, or three, or...) in the hanger. A tube Fisher would be a good choice too.
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Thanks much for suggestion.
 
adnick said:
It's really an antinomy :)

One thing to consider is, and this is sometimes impossible, how did the speaker manufacturer test and publish sensitivity, sometimes called efficiency?

Was the published sensitivity an average of the entire spectrum for each component of the speaker as a system, tweeter, midrange, bass?

Personally have some very efficient speakers and some of low or dubious efficiency, and they each happen to top the list of my favorite speakers.

Here's an interesting article on testing Dyanco a25s

https://www.stereophile.com/content/dynaco-25-loudspeaker


Regards,
Andy
Click to expand...

When Stereophile magazine tested the RP-600 they measured them at only 89db sensitivity
 
Blue-Triumph - you are most welcome. If you want to go integrated then you could start with a Dynaco SCA-35 or spend a little more for something in the Fisher 400, 500 or 800 series. I bought a well used Fisher 800B back in 1986 and on top of being a great unit it is indestructible. It will get refurbished sometime soon and when it does its going to go back into partnership with my Cornwalls. And as far as I'm concerned, things don't get much sweeter than that union of pure audio delight.
 
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I love my restored Scott LK-72B but I second the suggestion for Fisher. Definitely some great sounds with my 17 watt integrated when playing through my Advents.
 
petercapo said:
Shouldn't be a problem, but it would be interesting to see the article if you can post the link?


The original Dynacos are where many got started and where many stayed. I'll second the Dynacos, in this case I'd think the original Dynaco circuit designs should go well with Klipsch.


My best suggestion would be to take your time. Read-up on as much as you can from different sources; I wouldn't focus on any one area, or source, of information.

Remember also that if you are talking about getting a tube power amp, then you'll need a preamp, too, unless you already have a preamp available, possibly even PRE-OUT from a receiver. Here are some excellent tube power amps - try scrolling down on the following webpage: https://www.dynakitparts.com/product-category/dynakit-products/amplifier-kits/

Otherwise, an integrated tube amp would be simpler and would not require a separate preamp. Jolida has made value-priced models. I believe they are rebranding to "Black Ice Audio:" https://www.underwoodhifi.com/products/black-ice-audio

Here also is another good choice in a tube integrated, and there's even a money-back guarantee: https://www.musicdirect.com/integrated-amp/icon-audio-stereo-20-pp-tube-integrated-amp
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Sorry, just saw request for article my son found, I'll ask him the source. Thanks very much for info. I have older Halfer preamp and tuner in the closet, but--and I know this shouldn't mater--they are not attractive to my eye. At this stage of life, I am not much of a DIY. Did so for many years with motorcycles and the house and with audio just want to enjoy the sound. I do see correlations between vintage bikes and vintage gear. Classic vintage British bikes have become difficult to source parts and making mistakes can become very costly. Of course getting stranded on a road a few hundred miles from home is a bit more serious than the left channel dropping during "Can't You Hear Me Knocking." :)
 
grindfix said:
They are 97dB efficient, so they will probably sound ok with tube gear. Bass at lower power levels is going to be questionable though.
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The speakers seem to fine bass wise with the Pioneer. Currently I have the bass and treble both set at the zero settings, so neither plus or minus. If I'm sitting, the bass sounds good. Sometimes I'll flip the loudness switch on some recordings. I don't fuss with the individual treble/bass controls too much. So for my ears, the Klipsch bass is good. I'm not a fan of a ton of bass.
 
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