2. amps-preamps
  3. 1080866438

Tube Amp suggestions for VSA VR4-SE's?

Hello!

I have owned a pair of Von Schweikert Audio VR4SE's now for about six months. I currently purchased a pair of Electrocompaniet AW220 mono blocks to drive them (previously I owned a Levinson No.334) at a dealers highest recommendation. The sound is very, very good, in all definitions of "audiophile" sound (fast tight bass, highly neutral midrange, extended highs, fast, transparent, nice stage, etc.). However, the sound is just not connecting me to the music in an emotional way. All my audiophile buddies who come over and hear the system are asking what more do I want? Well, I want INVOLVEMENT! I really don't care about all those audiophile tags anymore. I simply want that connection with the music, where I can forget about listening only to the best recordings, and listen to anything, and everything.

I feel positive that the speaker is capable of delivering this involvement, WITH THE RIGHT AMP DRIVING IT! So, this time, I want tubes. In checking out some different reasonably priced possibilities, I have come across the ROGUE amps (M-150 and the Zeus), as well as the Music Reference 200, and the Quicksilver VR monos. Does anyone out there in A'gonland have any experience with these amps (with the VR4's or any other like speaker), or can you make some other suggestions regarding any others. Forget the $21,000 Lamms, actually one of my favorites, but not in my budget (I actually live in a world of home mortgage payments, car notes and tuition payments, so let's say around $6,500 or less)!

Oh, by the way, my room is 15' x 19' with a coffered 8' ceiling, and my usual listening levels are around 85 to 95 db (as measured with a Radio Shack sound level meter ('C' weighting, fast response).

In advance, thanks to all for your input!

Happy Listening,

Louis
louisl
louisl OP
183 posts
 
To 1markr,
To answer your question:
The front end is an Audio Aero MKII cd player (just wonderful) going directly into the amplifiers, no preamp. I had tried using the AA cdp with a preamp, but actually prefered bypassing the preamp all together. My cabling (both interconnect and speaker) is made by Paul Garner from VSA (my highest recommendaation). The entire system's power is supplied via a Bybee pro power purifier. The digital side of the Bybee is fed to the wall via an Electraglide fatboy, thus feeding the CDP with another fatboy. The analog side of the Bybee (used for the amps) is plugged into the wall using an Electraglide Fatman K, thus feeding each AW220 with a Cable Research Labs 'Gold' power cable (stiff as hell, but great). I will add that although Bybee himself does not recommend using his purifier for anything but front end gear, it works stupendously with the amps plugged into it (just listen and let your ears be the judge)!
Thanks for the Hurricane suggestion, I will check on that as well (by the way, which version of the hurricanes are you using)?
listener57
730 posts
 
In the realm of natural, musically involving, reproduction, don't forget the Aronov Audio amps. Simply sound real. Even the LS-960 (list $2600) is mighty impressive, in the loudness range you specified, with the LS-9100 Monoblocks (total list $6000) having an ultimate, jaw-dropping quality.
Both have a captivating, toe-tapping, quality when the music gets going, and the bass quality, and control is world class, even in comparison to fine transistor amps.
As with all tube amps, there is a way to customize the sound a bit, with tube choices, tube dampers, and supporting cones, or isolators beneath.
The main virtue, right from the factory, is a sense of everything sounding natural, the way it should be, letting one relax, and smile while feeling the presence of the performers.
tpsonic
1,092 posts
 
If you decide to go with ASL,make sure that you buy them new.There are many reports from the field, that there are quality control problems .I'm not sure that I can endorse the Aronov amps.They passed through here with very little fanfare and a friend had one,almost converted him to solidstate.He is now using the VAC 30/30 and Sophia 845 Princess monos.
1markr
594 posts
 
Louis, I have the latest version of the Hurricanes, which have the triode switch, stiffened chassis, the green PIO caps, and the enhanced bias system, where there are 4 bias pots on either side of the chassis. I rolled in EH KT88s and have been playing with 6SN7s on the input and driver stages. So far, I'm getting great sound from EH 6SN7s and Brimar CV1988s.

The only problem I had was with a resistor blowing out due to a bad tube, which I guess could happen with any tube amp, and it was a cheap fix. That was when the amps were brand new, about 6 mos. ago. Nothing but sweet music since.

I got the JC-1 amps this weekend, and my initial feelings are that it's going to be very difficult to finally decide which to keep. Decisions, decisions....Can't I keep both, honey?? You probably know her answer....

Good luck with your quest!
listener57
730 posts
 
Although Tpsonic has given very excellent advice to me over the telephone, I must disagree with the master, about the Aronov amps. While there is no disagreeing with each person's knowing what he or she likes best, Aronov is not accurately portrayed when it is said to propel its listeners to the transistor dark side of our hobby.
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