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Tubes Asylum Questions about tubes and gear that glows. FAQ |
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Tubes Asylum Questions about tubes and gear that glows. FAQ |
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In Reply to: Thinking of trying tubes- Suggestions please posted by www.records on June 7, 2005 at 20:20:30:
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstube&1123464736A pair of amps like this would be better. They would not break the bank. Your 100dB efficient drivers can sing with a lowly 1.8 wpc pair of 45 mono blocks like I own. I can easily use my pair to power my two way 6' tall horn speakers with twin jbl 15" woofer bass bins, and tad td-4001 drivers for HF. The bass is actually quite good with the small 1.8 wpc mono blocks. You really do not even need the 7 wpc (triode strapped 14 wpc tube amp = 7 wpc in triode mode) Eico HF14. I only put it here as another option for you. I highly suggest you spend a little bit more than $250. Another option is to visit Jim McShane's site and read up on the HK Citation 11 little brother, the HK Citation V. This is a very sweet sounding sleeper of an tube amplifier that can be found for around $500 used. Why not just enjoy your new speakers with your vintage ss receiver until you can save a little more so your first attempt with tube amps will not leave a sour taste in your mouth. Tube amplifiers are as addictive as any drug! I own 45, 300b, el34 and kt88 mono blocks. I like both and the tubes are different sounding to my ears. I also own some decent push pull amps like my klimo kent el34, and my Dyna Mk 111 tube mono blocks. For stereo amps my highly modified Dynaco ST-70 is nice, as is my HK Citation 11, and a few others.. I picked up an inexpensive daily driver magnavox 6v6 11 wpc tube amp on epay for $499. It is tricked up in a custom made two tier chrome chassis. The seller told me it went toe to toe with 300b amps as the mid-range is superb. I agree but it comes at a price with a reduced bass in the lowest regions. I would highly suggest a ST-70 that you can modify and add the SDS cap board available from Uncle Ned at Triode Electronics. My ST-70 has the Kennedy circuit which gives it a triode front end. The new driver tubes are a pair of 12ax7 and a 12au7. After the mods Kevin hooked it up to his test equipment on his repair bench in his shop. The amplifier produced an honest measured 19 wpc wired in triode. The clipping happened just after 19wpc. The measured THD was less than 1% at 19 wpc. To better the specs of this amplifier Kevin told me I would have to spend over $2,000 on a new tube amplifier. The iron is quite good in these Dynaco amps as we proved on his bench with the great specs. So perhaps you can find, or scrounge a vintage amplifier that was restored, or find a friend to help you do it. Just try to find a decent tube amplifier so your new Altec speakers will make you grin from ear to ear when you listen to them. Of course you will need a tube preamplifier, tube tuner, and... It gets ugly when you get hooked on tubes. Good luck! John C.
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Follow Ups
- Re: Thinking of trying tubes- Suggestions please - jpchleapas 06/8/0520:59:20 06/8/05 (0)
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