2. amps-preamps
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Need help choosing...

Hi:

I am modifying my system, one step at a time, and I need a little input (so to speak):

My front end consists of an EAD 2000 CD player, a tuner and a CJ PV10AL preamp.

I have a pair of PS Audio Delta250 mono amps, which I am going to replace, connected via 6-meter Audioquest Rubys.

My speakers are NHT 3.3s (which I just purchased and have not installed yet. I also have two suwoofers (I can use either/or, or none) - an older, powered Velodyne 12", and a new NHT Sub Two powered dual 10". If I use one of the subs, I need input on cabling, too. Maybe I'll use my AQ Rubys, and get new cables for the mains.

My room is large, app. 25 ft x 40 ft with a pitched ceiling rising from 12 ft to 20 ft, one wall of all glass, carpeted floors.

I am in the music business, and for my critical listening, listen primarily to rock and pop music, VERY loudly.

My questions are these-

1) I LOVE the sound and feel of tubes, and would love to use mono tube amps in my system, but I am concerned about power, and about lack of bass extension/control/slam. Which used amps do you recommend? I have been looking at VTL (225t or 250s), Manley (Ref 350s), Melos (400 watt triodes), Sonic Frontiers (Power 2 or 3s), etc.

2) Should I go Solid State, and stick with Krells, MLs, Brystons or the like?

3) Should I biamp, and then get an external x-over, tube amps for the high end and use my PS Audios for the woofers? Or use one of the powered subwoofers?

Any thoughts??

Thanks - Jeff
jeffj
ferrari
617 posts
 
WOW-Big room. Your right on needing more amp power.The PS mono blocks will run out of steam when pushed to those levels. I would recommend trying to find some Threshold Class A mono blocks such as the S 1000 that is 500 Watts Class A,but do not use a tube pre amp with the Thresholds.Check out the websites listed below for Threshold,the applications you need seem to call for Threshold Powerhttp://www.rsvlonline.net/vintageamp/default.htm

http://www.rsvlonline.net/vintageamp/archiveamps.htm
travis's avatar
travis
239 posts
 
Oh, well. Too bad nobody (except me) thinks you can get the SPLs you apparently need from toobs. I guess I'm thinking if you can't get enough SPLs from 2-3 hundred watts a channel (Sonic Frontiers) of toob power, well, maybe you need a slightly more efficient loudspeaker. Good luck. Sure hope those NHTs sound good with whatever you feed them.
tpsonic
1,092 posts
 
Jeff If you don't need monos-how about an Edge amp,I've heard nothing put praise for them.Innersound amps can be mono'd to 600w.I had a pair before I switched to the Lamm M1.1s.The Inners might actually be a good match sonically with the CJ preamp.Did you ever think about doing a cable shoot out in your system thru T. Cable Co.,if you are going to upgrade the system,make sure your cables won't be a limiting factor.These things seem to go hand-in-hand.Hope this is helpful.Tom
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