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Ultralinear vs. Triode

I posted this on AA, but since I find both that site and this to be such a great complemtn to each other, I'm posting this here:

From what I read most people seem to prefer triode, however, my experience with Rogue Magnum M120's (Teslovak controllers, EH6550 power, decicated power lines, look in Inmate System for rest) was different.
In triode, the intruments and voices did have a fuller, more 'there' sense, but the actual sound was seriously lacking in punch.
In ultralinear, drums and 'claves' hit right in the chest.
The sound seemed _much_ slower in triode mode, giving the sound a fuzzy sense.

I've listened to the amps, one weekend in each mode and this weekend switched modes on Sat. from ultra to triode. What we thought we heard the first time around was clearly there.This is particularly noticeable in rock tunes (I am the walrus, barracuda, zeppelin).

Now, these tubes are fairly new, less than 200 hours on them, same as the amps.

Any comments? Would different tubes help? I need to get an extra set anyway...

KP
killerpiglet
ultrakaz
187 posts
 

I think the above posts tell all; it depends on your speakers sensitivity and impedence.

Since running the amp in triode reduces the wattage by 50%, most of what you are hearing is a result of decreased power. And since we're talking about sound quality and not watts per dollar, a much more fair comparison would be to compare triode mode that has the same wattage as the ultralinear mode.

I tried a Rogue 88 in both triode and ultralinear on some very efficient and high impedence speakers (97db, 14ohm- 30 or 60 watts do not make a difference) and it was no contest as the triode mode beat up the ultralinear mode in all areas. To be sure, if I were using "normal" speakers with 8 ohms and 88db sensitivity my findings would be completely different.
oneprof
148 posts
 
Hi killerpiglet, I posted this on AA too, but since you're here as well....
I think the key thing is the type of music you listen to and what you want to get out of it. I have a Mesa Baron (although I'm not using it now). It can switch from full triode @55 watts to full pentode @150 watts, with stops at 1/3 triode and 2/3 triode. Over Christmas, my best friend, who is a professional guitar player, came over. He has formal training in classical and jazz as well as 'rock', and currenlty performs solo acoustic "new age" instrumentals. He's seen LOTS of the great guitar players live, in clubs and theaters, not stadiums. I have live CD's of many of these guitarists. As soon as I dialed in any triode at all, he said "That's NOT their live sound". Full pentode was it, even for his own CD, which was all acoustic guitar (I really thought he'd pick triode for that one). Full pentode in the Baron is a very aggressive and in your face sound with lots of 'slam'. For rock (using the term loosely) that's what you want. For an acoustic jazz trio, probably not.
I don't think that it's JUST a power difference. The Baron in 2/3 triode still puts out 120 watts I think, and that didn't cut it for the 'live sound'.
killerpiglet OP
374 posts
 
Agreed, it is not a power difference,. It is noticeable at low volumes. I was not running out of power in triode. It simply sounded like a wet noodle. Talk about no PRAT? That's waht it was. And not just for rock.

KP
buckingham
333 posts
 
I just switched my new Magnum M120's to triode and I immediately missed the power of UL... Yes triode is a little smoother, but the bass slam and imaging gets a little sloppy.
samzx12
1,232 posts
 
I just listened to my Rogue Tempest II in triode last week for the 1st time. Not sure if I liked it over Ultralinear. In some ways it sounded better but the dynamics and slam were not there and the soundstage was set futher back. I think UL is overall much more of an accurate live sound.
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