Looking for new ideas?

[Lee Henley]

No problems Keith, always looking for ideas which is what the thread is all about, I do like the look of the SPEC amplifiers, whats the RRP on these in the UK?

This is the Korean Bakoon AMP 51 prototype,


Sorry Lee didn't mean to take your thread off course, sometimes products with a flat Fr can sound a little boring, but in time you appreciate their even handedness ,I have never been particularly fond of valves ( after a rather unfortunate introduction to the genre) and have always used fairly low powered Solid state amps with my horns, which are like your AN's pretty sensitive.
Keith.

 

[egidius]

Just a thought here but here goes: If you have an EL34 based amp right now it must be making at least 30 watts at the least. You will be hard pressed to find an SET that can make that kind of power and actually play the bass better at the same time. The physics of SET output transformers works against you when you try to get more power- it becomes progressively harder to get real bandwidth.

IMO what you actually need might be more power, but you've not commented yet on whether or not you ever clip (overload) your amplifier. If not, then its all about finesse.

Another point: if your amplifier is a stereo unit instead of a pair of monoblocks, the additional length of speaker cable could be affecting your bass. Its a lot easier to get tubes to play bass if the speaker cables are kept as short as possible. Also, check to see how tight the speaker connectors are on the back of the speakers and the amp. Finger-tight does not cut it IME- and while you don't want to over-tighten because of damage to the connectors, it is a good idea to use a tool to make sure the speaker connections are good and tight.

Funny: I just wanted to write that you should try out OTL's - and then would have mentioned Atma's products ;-) which I really admired whenever I heard them, or the Berning ZH230, that I own. Both are outstanding, not only but even more so in regards to their money input..

 

[Atmasphere]

^^ Thanks!

Most interesting...i was going to recommend monoblocking his EL34s if he can find another one. I nearly did that with my CJ MV60s years ago...big 'bang for buck' i thought at the time.

In any event, i was particularly intrigued to read about tightening the binding posts...i discovered that in an article by Martin Colloms only recently. I tried it and it worked...subtle but there. And every once in a while since then, when i feel like signal density is just a teeny bit off...i go back to check and sometimes the binding post turns just a bit...and the 'signal density' comes back.

Why is that?

This was discussed on another thread; in a nutshell the small increase in source resistance (as far as the speaker is concerned) can be audible (although apparently, not in all systems).

 

[LL21]

...i was particularly intrigued to read about tightening the binding posts...every once in a while since then, when i feel like signal density is just a teeny bit off...i go back to check and sometimes the binding post turns just a bit...and the 'signal density' comes back.

Why is that?

^^ Thanks!



This was discussed on another thread; in a nutshell the small increase in source resistance (as far as the speaker is concerned) can be audible (although apparently, not in all systems).

Thanks! Good to know...

 

[Lee Henley]

Another update as to whats been happening for me regarding changing the amplifier, I had a friend round who brought his 300B SE amplifier round, sounded ok but the soundstage was a little too flat for me, plenty of width but did nothing for the front to back image.

Last week I contacted the guys at AudioNote UK and in the New year they are going to bring up a few power amps for me to have a play with, they are also bringing with them a couple of Integrated amps. I currently use Audionote UK speakers and interconnects and have always liked how they sound at HiFi shows Ive attended in the UK so it should be interesting to hear what they have to offer when they bring them up to me in January.

The models Ive asked for are

Empress or Neiro Mono Blocks
Kassai Mono Blocks
Meishu Integrated
Otto Signature edition Integrated
Jinro Integrated

Merry Christmas and a Happy new Year

Lee

 

[Lee Henley]

Well guys the latest instalment for me was to finally have my home demo which comprised of the AN Empress Silver and the AN Conquest, to cut a long story short I've gone and purchased the Empress's, just need to sort out a Preamp, the one in my Bel Canto Dac will work for the time being