What's best in tube-friendly loudspeakers?

[KeithR]

I wouldn't use SET amps on speakers where they couldn't drive the bass. The SETs are way more nuanced on tone and inflections than high powered tube amps. Where they lacked bass, I would either change the speaker, or get in good SS amps.

I didn't - I used them on 101db Zu. I much preferred P/P amps- even 12W Quad ii Jubilees- in the bass.

For the Devore Orangutan, I would most definitely use P/P knowing John's bass design characteristics (the O is looser than the Gibbon X). But we each value different things. In fact, the reason I reached for an ARC (and was shocked how good they sound now) is because of Devore long-throw woofer bass.

 

[bonzo75]

What does Phil use on Zus?

If you are listening to more rock than classical, yes I would take push pull

 

[morricab]

Yes, but reasonable impedance is too subjective, specially because most time people ignore the phase effects.

Reasonable impedance and moderate phase shift go hand in hand.

 

[morricab]

Only because of heat and tube replacement. IMHO, powerful tube amplifiers, such as VTL 750 or Siegfrieds, ARC REF250 or 750 or conrad Johnson LP275s or ART can sound really great.

I have yet to be convinced by either a big PP tube amp or SS amp. Too complex and too much feedback = damaged Sonics.

 

[morricab]

For 26 years I have had low-watt parallel push-pull triode mono blocks (15 W/ch), which I loved.

A year ago I have switched to a 100 W/ch amp with KT150 tubes and I prefer it -- it sounds more natural, next to sounding faster and even more dynamic.

In other words, I don't see your point.

Octave sounding natural?? Get a good SET on your Ref3as and recalibrate...

 

[morricab]

They sound too slow and sluggish. As compared to running quality low powered amps on speakers those amps work with or high powered SS amps on speakers those work with.

First part sounds good...it’s that part about high powered SS working that’s the rub...

Btw. Your 50watts thing on tubes is nonsense...it’s the quality of the design that matters and that doesn’t include multi-tube Class AB PP with feedback and undersized OPTs. I have heard one good example of this kind of design and it was the Jadis Defy 7 mkiii. There is one really good Class A PP Tibe amp that I have heard...CAT JL2 sig. both of these amps are 100 watts...both are inferior to a good middle to high power SET even on a 90+ dB speaker. The worst tube amps we have tried in recent memory were the Octave MRE 130 monos with SBB. Hard, glassy sound and very analytical.

 

[Al M.]

Octave sounding natural?? Get a good SET on your Ref3as and recalibrate...

You are funny, Brad. But hey, I forgot, you are always the expert -- even on my own system that you haven't heard.

 

[morricab]

I'm quite the opposite- I prefer my KT150-based Ref75SE to all of the 211, 845, 300B amps I've owned. But I am no SET fan, particularly in the bass.

I share similar thoughts on tetrode amps with a zillion tubes.

Then you haven’t heard a good SET yet with the power for your speakers. The Ref 75 is no bass champ...

 

[Al M.]

The worst tube amps we have tried in recent memory were the Octave MRE 130 monos with SBB. Hard, glassy sound and very analytical.

My amp sounded a bit like that until it was broken in, took quite a while. Fortunately I knew what to expect from the dealer's demo unit that I tried at home.

 

[morricab]

You are funny, Brad. But hey, I forgot, you are always the expert -- even on my own system that you haven't heard.

You forget , I have extensive experience with both your speaker brand and amp brand...

 

[morricab]

My amp sounded a bit like that until it was broken in, took quite a while.

My business partner had them for three years...they were broken in alright...

 

[DaveyF]

I am sure you will find more such examples. That doesn't change the point that there are SS amps and speaker matches that sound much better than KT 150 and associated speakers

That statement should end with a statement that I frequently utilize....IMHO or in my humble opinion.Simply because all that you post is precisely that, in your humble opinion...an opinion that may or may not be shared with others here. Therefore, in other words, there is no ‘point’, it’s just in your opinion.
Your love of low powered SET amps on horns is getting pretty well documented, just as mine is on the dislike for the same colored and cupped hands sound that you and others obviously prefer. All IMHO.

 

[bonzo75]

First part sounds good...it’s that part about high powered SS working that’s the rub...

Btw. Your 50watts thing on tubes is nonsense...it’s the quality of the design that matters and that doesn’t include multi-tube Class AB PP with feedback and undersized OPTs. I have heard one good example of this kind of design and it was the Jadis Defy 7 mkiii. There is one really good Class A PP Tibe amp that I have heard...CAT JL2 sig. both of these amps are 100 watts...both are inferior to a good middle to high power SET even on a 90+ dB speaker. The worst tube amps we have tried in recent memory were the Octave MRE 130 monos with SBB. Hard, glassy sound and very analytical.

No you should read the whole series of posts. No one is saying in the absence of design it is true or that there are no exceptions.

 

[Al M.]

You forget , I have extensive experience with both your speaker brand and amp brand...

Well, then with 'your extensive experience' you would be shocked about the quality of sound of my system. You're more than welcome to hear it if you ever hop across the big pond.

 

[bonzo75]

That statement should end with a statement that I frequently utilize....IMHO or in my humble opinion.Simply because all that you post is precisely that, in your humble opinion...an opinion that may or may not be shared with others here. Therefore, in other words, there is no ‘point’, it’s just in your opinion.
Your love of low powered SET amps on horns is getting pretty we’ll documented, just as mine is on the dislike for the same colored and cupped hands sound that you and others obviously prefer. All IMHO.

Surely my comments cannot be in your O

 

[bonzo75]

Well, then with 'your extensive experience' you would be shocked about the quality of sound of my system.

You will be too if you tried many SET amps on them

 

[DaveyF]

You forget , I have extensive experience with both your speaker brand and amp brand...

Question, did the manufacturer of Octave happen to have some kind of disagreement with you, or other fall out, that led them to stop allowing you to be one of their dealers? I ask this, as your vitriol towards them would seem to indicate more than just a dislike for their sound.

 

[Al M.]

You will be too if you tried many SET amps on them

Says another self-proclaimed expert who hasn't heard my system. You just gotta love this.

 

[morricab]

And which SETs have you heard them with? I would like to hear with a hybrid Luke KR 200, but they totally failed with Nagra and Trulife 70w. Bill's set up with analog domain was much better. In the end they sounded much better when sold and replaced with speakers that can run on low powered SETs

KR audio on a pair of Grande Utopia BE EMs. Destroyed a big pair of Electrocompaniet monos (really big ones ...big SS...LOL what a joke).

 

[DaveyF]

Surely my comments cannot be in your O

Maybe you miss my point, your comments need to be in your opinion..and in your opinion only. That is my opinion, lol,