Tube Amps and Dynamics

Another and maybe the most contributing factor is the media itself.

Play a VERY good recording and it will amaze you on SS or tube equipment.

Everytime I play Dire Straights self titled album I get goosebumps.
 
jonw said:
Another and maybe the most contributing factor is the media itself.

Play a VERY good recording and it will amaze you on SS or tube equipment.

Everytime I play Dire Straights self titled album I get goosebumps.
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Those Warner Bros. Engineers during that era really had their **** together.:yes:
 
braxus said:
Yes I very much like to try tubes some more. Thing I like about tubes is the loss of that edgy sound- like the sweet silky high end tubes produce. Plus great voice presentation, lots of low end, and great dimensional sound with depth. If I can get some punch added to that, I would never look at SS again.

Would going to a Jolida JD1000RC get me closer to this? Or should I try that Mac MC275 the one dealer was talking to me about?
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The only Jolida amp I ever auditioned in my system was sweet, but mushy sounding. I don't think that this is exactly what you have in mind. I have had the opportunity to audition an MC275 in my system, and it was a good sounding amp. Mushy is definitely not a word that I would use to describe it. Although neither would I describe it as exceptionally sweet and lush. So I'm not sure that this is exactly what you are looking for either.

Jaymanaa had some good advice. Although IMO Stereo-70s only get sounding really good after the circuit has been completely replaced with a more modern design.
 
goldear said:
TAlthough IMO Stereo-70s only get sounding really good after the circuit has been completely replaced with a more modern design.
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Yep, I could not agree more, and there are tons of them out there, some very good.:yes: Matter of fact, Pak or Kegger (maybe both) have some pretty cool front ends for the 70. I'm sure they would share.
 
PakProtector said:
hey-Hey!!!,
I have a bi-amped tube system with horn speakers. I have yet to present it music it couldn't handle comfortably. It does most of what I want it to, and I've been learning how to create it for the past decade or so. I have also learned a bit about what makes SS 'tick' and how to apply it to greatest effect. The two can be made to work together very well I think. But I'm no salesman, and my favourite thing to do is show somebody who's interested that there is no magic; nothing behind the curtain except solid engineering and thorough design work.
cheers,
Douglas

ps. matter of fact I'd like nothing more than for y'all to abandon tubes; the price would fall and I could scoop up my lifetime supply inexpensively...:)
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You're out of luck. I will never abandon my SET amps and horns. However, if you are interested I have some very nice SS amps just waiting for you.
 
goldear said:
Although IMO Stereo-70s only get sounding really good after the circuit has been completely replaced with a more modern design.
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But he wants slam and he's using 87db/m speakers so I don't think the 70 is going to get him there.

I think he needs a tubelab inspired Millett red board with TV sweep tubes. Use some manly voltages and bias them hot and get around 250w out of a pair of tubes.

That should make his woofers jiggle a bit, if there's enough current. :scratch2:
 
Scuzzer said:
But he wants slam and he's using 87db/m speakers so I don't think the 70 is going to get him there.
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It depends on how big you make the Power-supply in the 70. With a massive power supply, these little amps can surprise you.

But as a general rule of thumb, I must admit that I do tend to prefer higher-powered tube-amps inside of my system. But I think that this has as much to do with the huge power supplies that some of these amps have as it does with the increased power output.
 
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goldear said:
It depends on how big you make the Power-supply in the 70. With a massive power supply, these little amps can surprise you.

But as a general rule of thumb, I do tend to prefer higher-powered tube-amps myself.
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You should see mine running KT90s. It has the triode beefy PT, SS rect., and makes a little over 500 volts dc. Dynaco so underated those outputs. I wish I could get closer to 700v B+ to play with, and I guess I could with a full bridge.:scratch2:
 
This desire for punch made me pull out my Quiet Riot Metal Health album last night.

Bang your head . . .
I can only take the first two songs on side one before my head hurts though.

I listened on tubes with a powered sub. :para:
 
That's a rather potent statement, moderately inappropriate too.

Elliot Thompson said:
I can see you are not familiar with loudspeakers for you cannot do that unless you have measured charts on how the loudspeaker impedance co-relates inside the cabinet enclosure.

Surely, you don't believe the loudspeaker always remains at it's nominal load?

Best Regards,
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audiodon said:
This desire for punch made me pull out my Quiet Riot Metal Health album last night.

Bang your head . . .
I can only take the first two songs on side one before my head hurts though.

I listened on tubes with a powered sub. :para:
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Well then change the music... try Skatalites (newest stuff) if CD listening and/or try Slim Harpo on LP. You can bang your head after listening to the blues... or just:smoke::smoke::smoke: (blueberry mmmmm)

Cheers,
Bob
 
Not for me. Tubeage all the way!! Once you hear good tube amps on high efficiency speaks you never go back to SS, IMHO!
 
Yeah, this is actually kind of a philosophical discussion for me.
Who says your punchy is my punchy?

If I've learned one thing, it's that how I hear and what I look for is probably different that what you hear and what you look for.

Good thing or my old gear would never sell.:yes:
 
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