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Reproduction of acoustic instruments with tube amp

I'm a "SS guy" looking to get a tube amp to play with. My biggest complaint with the tube amps that I have heard is that acoustic instruments don't sound real to me. Is this a common perception or have I just not heard a good tube amp? What design and/or type of output tubes should I look for if I want good reproduction of acoustic instruments? Any links to some docs on this topic would be appreciated as well. My budget is under $2k, speakers are 4ohm, 87dB but I don't need a lot of power (apartment). Thanks.
dburdick
czbbcl's avatar
czbbcl
1,752 posts
 
I agree with all of the posts here. I have found more realisim in all aspects of recorded music with tube versus ss. I changed from a cj 11a to mf2500 and lost IMO some inner detail but did gain some bass extention. My speakers are Thiel 3.6's and are relatively inefficient so I am sure the additional power of the mf2500 helped. I was amazed,however; at how well the 11a drove my Thiels. When I discussed this fact with cj (knut) he stated that tube amps produce about twice the power of ss; something about plate voltage. In other words the 11a at 70wpc is pretty close to 140wpc ss. This helped explain why the 11a drove my Thiels relatively well.
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
I would certainly aim for used BAT VK60 the regular stereo version. I believe that no better one can be offered to you in that price range if you are OK with used.
piezo
304 posts
 
Dburdick, i don't know if the ST 85 can operate in Triode mode but i'm using VTL 185 monos with the 5.5 sig preamp and in triode small scale acoustic music is pretty much like being in the room with the musicians. seperation and definition is not a problem. in my comparisons with ss and tubes the ss amps won't touch the tubes for midrange wich is where the acoustic instruments dominate My guess is the VTL you were using didn't have enough juice to handle your speakers.
nti75
29 posts
 
I agree with Marakanetz. A used BAT VK60 on this site should be in your price range. Most of the music I listen to is chamber music or acoustic guitar, and they both sound great with the VK60. I don't think you can go wrong.
zaikesman
3,017 posts
 
I too find Dburdick's findings surprising. The VTL ST-85 should be able to drive the Sparks no problem. I haven't heard the combo myself, but when I recently auditioned the new Thiel 1.6's with both my own c-j MV-55 and the store's VTL ST-85, I thought the latter was outstanding for acoustic (and electric) music, with a vast soundstage and very 3-D imaging. It did strike me as possibly a touch overripe through the midrange, but not excessively colored for enjoyment, and still quite transparent for the money. In that system (with Transparent wire), it frankly made my c-j sound small and pinched. Fortunately, the MV-55 sounds better at my place (Thiel 2.2's, Cardas Cross) - full, spacious, and neutral (and it far outshines my previous SS amps, especially with acoustic material). If in Dburdick's system the VTL didn't offer separation and definition with acoustic music, I would suspect a wire mis-match and/or poor tubes as possible culprits.
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