2. amps-preamps
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What SS amp do you use with your SF Line 3?

I tried everything from Pass X-350 to Rowland 8TiHC, but none of them sounded good with my SF Line 3SE. I know impedance matching is critical when mating tube pre with SS power, but SF Line 3 has very low output impedance and should be easy on amp choices. I was getting thin midrange and flat sound, not very musical at all regardless the speakers I hook them up to. In comparison to ARC LS-15 which I used to own, it always sounded musical regardless what amp I used and ARC had much higher output impedance!

So short of getting a SF power amp which will guarantee matching, what do you guys use? My speakers are Sonus Faber Amati Homage which will need some power to drive, but will sound fine if tube amp is able to handle 4 ohm load. I don't play loud and I listen to mainly classical and jazz, so absolute bass control is not as critical. I will prefer SS over tube because of room arrangement, I also do not want my kids to get burned. Last thing is I much prefer having XLR input so I can continue using my AQ Diamond interconnect.

Thanks,

David
semi
semi OP
649 posts
 
As some of you pointed out, replacing tubes will make a big difference. My Line 3SE came with Siemen NOS which should be million times better than Russian tubes, but I found the sound to be dry and thin at best. I put in some $8 Jan Philip 6922 and it instantly became warmer and fuller, but I had loud popping noise when I switch to mute and forced me to go back to Siemen. But my pre amp only has 30 hours of usage so far, maybe even less, so I am not sure if I am jumping the conclusion too early. It may have 200 hours of standby time, but I don't think standby current is enough to burn in the tubes.

So this Bel Canto thing is that good?
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
Usually if the unit doesn't sound OK with stock tubes and "needs" NOS it is poorly engineered unit. It's the same thing as I could say that I can play soccer good in Adidas boots but cannot play with Nike.

Stand-by current is good enough for tubes. On the new tubes it is essential to idle the amps even overnight and than start listening. Further-on idle the small signal tubes for 10...20 minutes before passing any signal and before every listening.

Aso try to damp your tubes with the tube dampers to see the result. Placement of your tube preamp maybe essential as well. Make sure it's not located above the power amplifier and mates only with small signal components.
IMO I love for the small signal SS and drive speakers with tubes. That's where you get passive-like transperency in the small signal and the signature of a tube drive.
You might also try Plinius M16 preamp with powerful tube amps such as VTL MB450, VTL MB250, Manley Reference 250 or ARC VT200 that will drive your speakers at ease.
mdomnick
332 posts
 
Not a direct answer to your question, but I also changed the rear most set of tubes (put in a pair of RCA tubes) and was very impressed with the improvement. I then changed the rest to Amprex, and really could not tell a difference. I use the Anthem Amp2, and am very happy with the sound.
fpeel
455 posts
 
In this case, Marakanetz, it's a combination of the current production, tizzy-sounding Sovtek 6922 tubes being put into equipment that was not intended to have a "tubey" sound in the first place. It is certainly not because Sonic Frontiers' products are poorly engineered.

Good suggestion on breaking in new tubes.
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
Fpeel, Sovtek 6922 tubes are currently in production. NOS equivalents may end its existance someday or more fake versions will appear within the time.

For every tube that is currently in production there can be the right place. 6922 is great for the low-input signals such as TT cartridge level and/or as a buffered input for the preamp. 6922 is not a good choice for the preamp output. NOS equivalents might sound "less tubey" but face the fact that if 6922 is tizzy-sounding why bother with 6922 design when you can use different tubes???
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