Tube Sound from A Solid State Mac Amp?

[62caddy]

According to Julian Hirsch in the test report of the AR9 in Stereo Review July 1978,

"The impedance curve of the [AR9] shows evidence of the 'tailoring' action of the crossover network. The maximum impedance values of 8 and 10 ohms were reached at 27 and 750 Hz respectively. Elsewhere the measured impedance was between 3 and 5 ohms, the former value being the d. c. resistance of the speaker as seen at the terminals. Incidentally, this points up the general futility of using amplifiers with extra-high damping factors to improve the sound of a speaker system. With an amplifier damping factor of infinity (and speaker cables having zero resistance) the effective damping factor of the AR9 speaker system would be approximately one!"

 

[Dave B.]

the following text copied directly from the operator's manual:

That's an interesting statement. There's nothing like that in the C22 CE manual, to my knowledge.

so if your C22 CE works with the MC2000, it should be OK with an MC452/462.

My C22 CE has been driving my MC2000 with great success for years. Compatibility with a 452/462 is good to know. Thanks for the clarification, Terry.

Dave

 

[Dave B.]

the test report of the AR9 in Stereo Review July 1978

Caddy, remember the "ACOUSTIC RESEARCH AR9 FLOORSTANDING SPEAKERS"?

This is why I always qualify mentioning my AR9s by adding "the big ones."

Dave

 

[Bill Ferris]

Here we go again ... voicing ...

How does one voice the sound of neutral?

, , ,

 

[Pio1980]

I've matured some since my crazy days when I would listen at levels comparable to an F14's afterburner. These days I keep volume levels reasonable. My current setup has the MC275 VI driving the 1Ks. I have the MC2000 working AR9s (the big ones from the late-'70s-early '80s), which is my favorite combination. I listen to classical 99% of the time, piano solo and piano with orchestra mostly, although I do love big orchestral works such as Brahms symphonies and others, plus chamber works.

The C22-MC2000-AR9 sound is wonderful. Getting back to my main question, I'm wondering what a 462 would sound like in a C22-462-AR9 setup. If, as TSmith says above, the 462 would present the sound of the C22, then I might be persuaded to try that great amp. I hardly ever experiment with mix-and-match changes. Once I get a great-sounding setup, I stick with it. My 275-1K combo works for me nicely.



I hear you, brother! That combination would ring my bell. My first system's speakers were AR3as, back in 1969. I got many years of enjoyment from them, although I was driving them with a Sony TA1120A integrated, which did a nice job. I'm an AR guy from way back. I'll bet your vinyl time with that setup is sweet!



Great use of EQ, SP! I sometimes wish we had an internal brain mechanism whereby we could think something like, "Raise mids +5 db" and our brain would modify the sound according to our thought's spec. Maybe Elon Musk is working on that right now.

Dave

I don't want Elon Musk in my brain, thankyouverymuch!, but genuinely wish there was a true hearing aid app for Android to EQ stereo output to individual hearing profiles for earphones/earbud use.

 

[62caddy]

Caddy, remember the "ACOUSTIC RESEARCH AR9 FLOORSTANDING SPEAKERS"?

This is why I always qualify mentioning my AR9s by adding "the big ones."

Dave

View attachment 1934278

Ah...I was picturing the original AR9. I believe these are larger.

 

[Pio1980]

Here we go again ... voicing ...

How does one voice the sound of neutral?

"Straight wire with gain".
Definitely not "tube sound" filtering.

 

[Dave B.]

Ah...I was picturing the original AR9. I believe these are larger.

Indeed they are larger. I assumed you were referencing the big ones.

Dave