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I need a quiet tube amp

Hey guys...I need suggestions on quiet tube amps (SET and P/P suggestions are welcome). I know some very respected makes that create quite a bit of noise with efficient speakers and am wondering what's out there that's good sounding, well built, and quiet. I've got a 300B amp from a well regarded Japanese company that gets noisy at high levels with my 87db ProAcs. I can even slightly hear the buzzing at seat position 9 ft away. I've owned other tube amps that didn't do this and am getting a 2nd amp for the system and want something as quiet as possible. Thanks in advance, Audigoners!
tomryan
philjolet's avatar
philjolet
2,306 posts
 
I find my Audio Note Soreo SE very quiet and Manley Stingray dead quiet though not quite as nice.
classic95
52 posts
 
My Music Reference RM10 is quieter through more efficient speakers than my ss setup.
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
300b with Proacs??
elevick
2,638 posts
 
I agree with Marakanetz. What are you doing making a 300b work so hard. You should be looking at something with more like 100 watts/channel. Much of your noise is from having the volume so high. I'll bet these amps are silent on a 94db speaker??????????
Borrow some high powered amps and check it out.
@87db:
1 watt = 87db
2 watts = 90db
4 watts = 93db
8 watts = 96db
16 watts = 99db
I know your amps can't put out more than this!
To get to THX levels with 87db speakers would take over 220 watts for 110db-your poor 300b's :( Wanna trade for my 120 mono's?
s23chang
620 posts
 
There are two things you need to keep in mind to match speakers and amp: sensitivity and impedance. The impedance dip are often overlooked.
x x x x x x x x x x
I prefer the Mac Mc240 driving the ProAc 2.5s. This is just my taste.
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