Home Amp/Preamp Asylum

Looking for a new Amp or Preamp? If you're after tubes, post over here.

Re: What about Tenor or Lamm hybrid amps for alternative rock ?

Thom,

As always, my comments are based solely on MY tastes, on MY system, MY experiences and room and, as such, your experiences or opinions may differ.

I have owned the Lamm M1.1s and enjoyed them very much for 4 years as my reference amplifiers. I cannot say anything bad about them and they have been favorably reviewed by everyone.

I also have owned the Tenor 75Wp and now own the Tenor 300HP hybrids.
For reference, I also own the EMM Labs digital front end and preamp and the Kharma Exquisites with the diamond tweeter.

I listen to a WIDE variety of music including Tower of Power and other funky hard driving funk/rock/jazz bands as well as your mentioned artists Wilco, Beck, Aimee Mann, Lucinda Williams and REM. I also listen to older classic rock like the Doobie Brothers, other new stuff like John Mayer, Duncan Shiek, Ben Harper, String Cheese Incident, Keller Willimas, Trey Anastasio - you get the point. I also listen to large scale orchestral.

IMHO, the Tenor 300s give me what the promise of a HYBRID always promised before but never delivered - GREAT bass control and harmonic structure, rich detailed midrange without being syrupy and fabulous extended treble extension without glare or etch.

As much as I loved my Lamms, the Tenors are simply a cut above in all areas. The Lamms, as great they are, still sound like solid state as the Lamms only have 1 tube (6922). The Tenor 300s have the same 6 tube gain stage as the Tenor all tubed 75 W OTLs. As such, they do have those attributes of tubes people love but still maintian the iron fisted grip in the bass like soild state usually does. I must also, to be fair to Lamm, note that I had the M1.1s which I now understand have been revised and upgraded (still only 1 tube) which I have not heard in my system.

Finally, I know there has been some metion in this form and A-Gon that the Kharmas aren't dynamic enough. Well, without impugning the credibility of those posters (I at least hope they REALLY heard the Kharmas or that they knew how to set them up, match them or waited until they werer fully burned [in which takes months] - before making critical judgments), I can tell you that NOBODY has ever said that my system is lacking in dynamics (whether of not they preferred my system or not, it has never been accused of lacking dynamics). Fed right, set up right, matched with complimentary gear, the Kharmas can rock with any speaker - and I suggest they do it without sounding that typical "hi-fi" impressive with exaggerated "hiss-boom-bah" that impresses the masses (but usually wears on one after too long).

In addition, I agree that the kind of groups you mentioned (as opposed to other heavy metal type groups) will be well served by GOOD QUALITY speakers not just high QUANTITY speakers. I am not saying that only Kharmas will get you where you want to go, just that you may end up being able to listen longer term without fatigue with the Kharmas. BUT, as always, YMMV.

I hope this helps.
Frank P


This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
  Atma-Sphere Music Systems, Inc.  


Follow Ups Full Thread
Follow Ups


You can not post to an archived thread.