2. amps-preamps
  3. 167036-159831

Tubes for Magnepan’s.

I think next up on my acquisition list is a tube amplifier. I'm not looking for the be all end all, cause I don’t think there is a definitive "Best", so am looking for as good as I can get for $3-4k.


Because tubes drive speakers so much more efficiently than solid state I am only looking for 40-50 watts to drive my modded Maggie’s, 1.7i's. (Or what you have when you add a new crossover and planer tweeters to 1.7i's.) Maybe 2.7x? I haven’t settled on that yet. And I have some Zu Dirty Weekend's upgraded to the max coming in in 2 months to replace my KEF's.

Anyway, I haven’t had a tube device since my Halicrafter short wave radio, and reviews are not the same as advice from people that own something. There is a Rouge Audio dealer in my area, last I looked, (opps, they no longer carry them), so I may have to go to another market to hear something, or get a try before you buy from a manufacturer or dealer.

You folks have taught me a lot, and I think asking users is the right thing to do on this change in direction.

Thanks in advance.
128x128william53b
dodgetravco
3 posts
 
I have 120 watt mono tube amps with a tube preamp that power my 2.5’s and it is plenty loud and clear. I’ve had bryston McIntosh Hafler SS amps and the tube sounds best to me.
russ69's avatar
russ69
3,501 posts
 
"...A23+ is fine for the 1.7i's but an A21 if you’re planning on getting the 3.7i's. Right?..."

No, just get the A21. 
secretguy
1,695 posts
 
I just picked up a Rogue Cronus Magnum to try with my Maggies. it does fine. Good enough that I will likely sell my 225 watt/channel SS amp.
Curious about thy you would add a planar tweeter? Maybe I didn't understand what you are saying,
william53b's avatar
william53b OP
211 posts
 
@russ69

Thanks.
william53b's avatar
william53b OP
211 posts
 
This is my #1 amp.

Benchmark AHB 2. It comfortably can handle 90- 95db on it’s own with my 1.7i’s, depending on the material. It totally rocks with the KEF’s, and does very well with the bass panels, it’s the tweeters that kill it. 
It’s easy to see how two might sound since it is easy to bridge into one side. 500+ watts into 4ohms bridged.Specs below.

I bought a A23 yesterday online, store demo local, but when I called and asked when I could pick it up they told me they didn’t have one. "!?"

Wtf? 
Thanks House of Stereo! 

I’ve done better ordering online than with my brick and mortar...

I thought I’d give them another try since it looks like the previous owner is out of the picture, but they screwed me again. So far the only thing I’ve bought there that wasn’t a train wreck were my KEF’s.
Arcam? Lemon. They passed on sending back for service, even after Arcam was bought by that Canadian company and promised to resolve past QC issues for customers.


Velodyne sub cause they never did their homework and didn’t know REL existed? Then started carrying them within a year and didn’t want to do a trade?


Magnepan 1.7i? Inductor wired inline to all three elements so there was no treble? See above for customer service after the sale...


I was going to try and run my De’WooferMagnepan panels with the A23 to judge it’s output compared to my AHB 2, but obviously would have tried it in my system. If the Parasound was noticeably more engaging, sort of equal to the AHB2 power wise, then I’d think about an A21.


If anyone knows a way to get a hold of one for demoing, let me know.


AHB2 specs:


CONTINUOUS AVERAGE OUTPUT POWER

< 0.0003 % THD+N at full rated power, 20 Hz to 20 kHz

  • 100 Watts per channel into 8 Ohms, both channels driven
  • 130 Watts per channel into 6 Ohms, both channels driven
  • 190 Watts per channel into 4 Ohms, both channels driven
  • 240 Watts per channel into 3 Ohms, both channels driven
  • 200 Watts into 16 Ohms, bridged mono
  • 380 Watts into 8 Ohms, bridged mono
  • 480 Watts into 6 Ohms, bridged mono

All speakers have variations in input impedance. Select loads based on nominal impedances not minimum impedances. The AHB2 is stable into all loads. The AHB2 is conservatively rated at an output level where THD+N is < 0.0003 % instead of the more typical 1% THD+N. Power at 1% THD will be higher.

OUTPUT VOLTAGE INTO VARIOUS LOAD IMPEDANCES

< 0.0003 % THD+N at the following output voltages and load impedances, 20 Hz to 20 kHz

  • 29.03 dBV, 31.25 dBu, 28.28 Vrms into 8 Ohms, both channels driven
  • 28.92 dBV, 31.14 dBu, 27.93 Vrms into 6 Ohms, both channels driven
  • 28.81 dBV, 31.03 dBu, 27.57 Vrms into 4 Ohms, both channels driven
  • 28.57 dBV, 30.79 dBu, 26.83 Vrms into 3 Ohms, both channels driven
  • 27.14 dBV, 29.36 dBu, 22.76 Vrms into 2 Ohms, both channels driven
  • 35.05 dBV, 37.27 dBu, 56.57 Vrms into 16 Ohms, bridged mono
  • 34.83 dBV, 37.05 dBu, 55.14 Vrms into 8 Ohms, bridged mono
  • 34.59 dBV, 36.81 dBu, 53.67 Vrms into 6 Ohms, bridged mono
  • 33.16 dBV, 35.38 dBu, 45.52 Vrms into 4 Ohms, bridged mono

Use dBV to calculate the peak SPL from your speaker/amplifier combination. Use the following formula: Amplifier output voltage in dBV + speaker sensitivity at 2.83V - 9 dB. Example: (29.03 dBV at 8 Ohms) + (90 dB SPL @ 2.83V 1m) - 9 dB = 110 dB SPL at 1 meter

SNR & DYNAMIC RANGE

Rated output relative to output noise, inputs shorted

  • 132 dB A-weighted, Stereo Mode
  • 135 dB A-weighted, Mono Mode
  • 130 dB Unweighted, 20 Hz to 20 kHz, Stereo Mode
  • 133 dB Unweighted, 20 Hz to 20 kHz, Mono Mode

NOISE VOLTAGE

Output noise voltage, A-weighted, inputs shorted

  • -103 dBV, -101 dBu, 7.1 uVrms, Stereo Mode
  • -100 dBV, -98 dBu, 9.8 uVrms, Mono Mode

Use dBV to calculate the SPL of the noise produced by your speaker/amplifier combination. Use the following formula: Amplifier output noise voltage in dBV + speaker sensitivity at 2.83V - 9 dB. Example: Mono mode driving very high efficiency speakers: (-100 dBV) + (104 dB SPL @ 2.83V 1m) - 9 dB = -5 dB SPL at 1 meter. This means that the system noise will be 5 dB below the threshold of hearing when driving speakers with a very high 104 dB efficiency.

NOISE RELATIVE TO 2.83 VRMS

Output noise relative to 2.83 Vrms, A-weighted, inputs shorted

  • -112 dB, Stereo Mode
  • -109 dB, Mono Mode

THD+N

1 kHz, 80 kHz LPF, at full rated output into any rated load

  • < -118 dB (< 0.00013%), Stereo Mode
  • < -118 dB (< 0.00013%), Mono Mode

THD

1 kHz, 20 kHz LPF, at full rated output into any rated load

  • < -119 dB (< 0.00011%), Stereo Mode
  • < -120 dB (< 0.00010%), Mono Mode

CROSSTALK

  • Better than -115 dB at 1 kHz
  • Better than -92 dB at 20 kHz

FREQUENCY RESPONSE

  • Better than 0.1 Hz to 200 kHz, +0/-3 dB
  • -0.01 dB at 20 Hz, -0.17 dB at 20 kHz, 8-Ohm Load
  • -0.23 dB at 20 Hz, -0.32 dB at 20 kHz, 4-Ohm Load

DAMPING FACTOR

  • 350 at 20 Hz, 8-Ohms
  • 254 at 1 kHz, 8-Ohms
  • 34 at 20 kHz, 8-Ohms
  • 7 at 200 kHz, 8-Ohms

MAXIMUM AUDIO OUTPUT CURRENT

  • 29 A peak, per channel, both channels driven

INPUT SENSITIVITY

  • Low-Gain = 22 dBu (9.8 Vrms), Gain = 9.2 dB
  • Mid-Gain = 14.2 dBu (4 Vrms), Gain = 17.0 dB
  • High-Gain = 8.2 dBu (2 Vrms), Gain = 23 dB
  • Use Mid-Gain or High-Gain settings for unbalanced inputs
  • Unbalanced inputs require RCA to XLRM adapter cables

INPUT IMPEDANCE

  • 50 k Ohms, normal mode
  • 1 M Ohm, common mode

INPUT CMRR

  • 80 dB at 20 Hz, typical
  • 80 dB at 1 kHz, typical
  • 65 dB at 20 kHz, typical

TRIGGER I/O

  • 12 VDC 200 mA current-limited output to trigger turn-on of remote devices
  • DC input for slaving to remote devices
  • Input responds to 3.3 V logic and higher, VIL = 1.26 V, VIH = 2.7 V
  • Absolute maximum input voltage = 30 VDC
  • Absolute minimum input voltage = -0.3 VDC
  • Input Impedance = 20 k Ohms

PROTECTION CIRCUITS

  • Fully Electronic, No Relays
  • Mute Sequencing
  • Distortion Detection
  • Short Circuit Detection
  • Over Current Detection
  • Over Temperature Detection
  • SOA Detection (Output device safe operating area)

DIMENSIONS

NON-RACK-MOUNT VERSION:

  • 11.04" W x 3.88" H x 9.34 " D - Including feet and binding posts
  • 11.04" W x 3.47" H x 8.33 " D - Excluding feet and connectors
  • Faceplate height is 2RU

RACK-MOUNT VERSION:

  • 19.00" W x 3.88" H x 10.62 " D - Including binding posts, handles and removable feet
  • 19.00" W x 3.47" H x 8.33 " D - Excluding feet and connectors
  • 9.09" rack depth, including binding posts, excluding cables
  • 11" rack depth, including cables
  • Faceplate height is 2RU

WEIGHT

  • 12.5 lbs., 16 lbs. shipping - Non-rack-mount version
  • 13.5 lbs., 17 lbs. shipping - Rack-mount version

AC INPUT

  • Auto-ranging AC Input
  • 100 to 120 VAC +/- 10%, 8 Amps, 50 - 60 Hz
  • 220 to 240 VAC +/- 10%, 8 Amps, 50 - 60 Hz
  • Idle Power Consumption = 20 W
  • Standby Power Consumption < 0.5 W

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