Ron's Speaker, Turntable, Power and Room Treatment Upgrades

GMKF · Nov 26, 2017

Ron Resnick said:
View attachment 37479

I was about to eliminate the Wavac 833 on the basis that its +9dB bass boost from 80Hz to 160Hz is just too absurd, and reflects engineering far too sloppy, to get involved with -- but then I remembered that the Pendragon ribbon panel exhibits very little load below 200 Hz.

Wavac powering Gryphon 4 Tower speakers

I also assume that this model has a crossover at 200HZ. That gets around the bass problem.

Al M. · Nov 26, 2017

Ron Resnick said:
(The most notable omission is the Atma-Sphere MA-2 Mk. 3.3, for which I have enormous respect, and here I simply remain concerned about missing the warmth (or coloration, to Ralph and to many others) I am accustomed to from transformer-coupled tube amplifiers.)

Ron, are your speakers adjustable for treble energy? If not, adjustment of room acoustics is always a powerful option. Wool carpets can help, and/or playing with absorptive/reflective side of ASC tube traps (the number of which to put in the room is to be determined). Of course, you do not want to overdamp the room, but before you reach that point you may have a lot of adjustment choices.

Ron Resnick · Nov 26, 2017

DaveyF said:
Ron, amps tend to work differently with different speakers. Because one particular speaker works best with tubes doesn’t mean another will work well with tubes. SS is the correct solution for many speakers out there....maybe even for your new ones.
Unless you try, you would not necessarily know what drives the speakers better. While I agree with you that tube amps do bring something that ss does not, that doesn’t eliminate ss for me...it depends on the synergy with the particular speaker I am using at the time. Synergy...or as another experienced poster put it on another forum....the marriage, is what it’s all about.
SS or tubes...not that important...it’s the marriage.

I agree completely! I modified my post #737. Thank you!

sbo6 · Nov 26, 2017

Ron Resnick said:
No like-y solid-statey (for my speakers).

Actually on Magico M3 I preferred Vitus over Kondo Kagura (which I found a little too soft and a little too fuzzy).

Understood. Do you have the Pendragons? Also, just curious (again) if you'd consider SS amps coupled with a tube preamp? Some think it's a best of both worlds setup (like me)

Ron Resnick · Nov 26, 2017

GMKF said:
View attachment 37481

Wavac powering Gryphon 4 Tower speakers I also assume that this model has a crossover at 200HZ. That gets around the bass problem.

Thank you for finding and for posting this photo! This certainly suggests proof of concept!

Ron Resnick · Nov 26, 2017

GMKF said:
Price. I find the Jadis JA200 Mk. II are better value for money than the VAC's. And they leave room for options, like buying a second pair of amps.
And you were also commenting on the Wavacs price, thats why I left them out.
And I have never heard the Berning Quadrature-Z or seen measurments. Thats why I left them out.

I understand. That all makes sense! Thank you.

Ron Resnick · Nov 26, 2017

Al M. said:
Ron, are your speakers adjustable for treble energy? If not, adjustment of room acoustics is always a powerful option. Wool carpets can help, and/or playing with absorptive/reflective side of ASC tube traps (the number of which to put in the room is to be determined). Of course, you do not want to overdamp the room, but before you reach that point you may have a lot of adjustment choices.

There is a +1dB/flat/-1dB toggle switch for the air motion tweeter array, but that is not an adjustment for broad treble energy. But even if I had a tone control it would not have the effect of sonically putting more "meat on the bones" of the sonic presentation. In other words I don't consider my point here about OTL amps to be merely a function of tonal balance.

Ron Resnick · Nov 26, 2017

sbo6 said:
Understood. Do you have the Pendragons? Also, just curious (again) if you'd consider SS amps coupled with a tube preamp? Some think it's a best of both worlds setup (like me)

The Pendragons are in hibernation in storage.

Many people like tube preamp with solid-state power amp (e.g., Marty, sometimes bonzo75). The furthest I would go would be a hybrid (e.g., Aesthetix, Lamm) or "reverse hybrid" (KR Audio) power amplifier.

Woofer and Tweet · Nov 27, 2017

Ron waits patiently for his construction to be completed

Ron Resnick said:
The Pendragons are in hibernation in storage.

Ron: I'm sure you've taken up some new hobbies while waiting (patiently) for your room's completion.

Ron Resnick · Nov 27, 2017

I sure have!

Hahahahah! This is great! Thank you so much, Jim, for this cartoon!

rockitman · Nov 27, 2017

Ron Resnick said:
No like-y solid-statey (for my speakers).

Actually on Magico M3 I preferred Vitus over Kondo Kagura (which I found a little too soft and a little too fuzzy).

I’m a bit late for the power amp drama. No Lamm in the mix ?

jeff1225 · Nov 27, 2017

rockitman said:
I’m a bit late for the power amp drama. No Lamm in the mix ?

The LAMM Hybrids are an obvious choice but Ron's being stubborn about the amps having to be 100% tube.

Ron Resnick · Nov 27, 2017

Yes, indeed. Thank you, Jeff.

But I will be excited to try your Lamm hybrids on the speakers!

I think JackD is in a great position to compare for us the Lamm hybrid to the KR Audio Kronzilla DX or DXL reverse hybrid.

Ron Resnick · Jan 13, 2018

After seeing and hearing the Alieno Ltd. 250 OTL at Jeroen's house I am officially adding this amplifier to the contender list.

microstrip · Jan 13, 2018

Ron Resnick said:
After seeing and hearing the Alieno Ltd. 250 OTL at Jeroen's house I am officially adding this amplifier to the contender list.

Did you get any new technical information about its circuit?

Ron Resnick · Jan 13, 2018

Ron Resnick · Jan 16, 2018

I decided to "fir out" the entire front wall to match the 4" protruding section on the left side of the front wall.

Ron Resnick · Jan 16, 2018

I decided to "fir out" the entire front wall to match the 4" protruding section on the left side of the front wall.

View attachment 38276

The wood framing will be filled in with blue jeans insulation and then covered with common 5/8" drywall.

andromedaaudio · Jan 16, 2018

NIce , looks like a pretty high ceiling to if im not mistaken

jeff1225 · Jan 16, 2018

Looking good Ron, I can't wait to see it completed!

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