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Low level res more inherent in tubes?

A post re: what sound level do you listen at got me thinking. I noticed a high percentage responding they listen in the 80-85 db range. I checked my system and room with a variety of music and rarely found a need to go beyond 70db to achieve a satisfying sound, unless a few adult beverages were consumed, then it went a bit higher.

This is with a current integrated tube setup- I thought back to some previous SS amps and remembered a tendency (or a need) to play the music louder, sometimes much louder to achieve a certain satisfaction of sound. To me, the current amp is better at conveying details at lower sound levels.

So, I guess the bottom line is- Is there such a thing as good low level res or microdynamics from SS power? How far up the SS amp food chain do you need to go to get it?

Or is it just more inherent in tube amplification?

Or- would it have more to do with the tube pre-amp within the system?

128x128rwbadley
twl
3,251 posts
 
I think it has alot to do with the speaker system that is matched with the amp.
jeffreyfranz's avatar
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jeffreyfranz
42 posts
 
Hello:
The Pass Labs Aleph amps, especially the monos, have excellent low-level resolution. In fact, so do the X-series amps. But you won't get "tube magic"--see my post below.
JeffreyTube
rwbadley's avatar
rwbadley OP
143 posts
 
Twl,

I'd love to hear a bit more on this.

I am under the impression the Dynaudio I am using tends to be 'power hungry'. This I used to agree with because I would have to crank the sunsaguns up to get decent sound. 'High current' everybody says-'that's what you need'. So I grab an amp that doubles down with high power and 120 amps peak. This amp has great control, Looking beyond that tho, this amp just had to be played loud. Low volume rather stunk, and I would guess it not to matter which speaker it was hooked up to.

Installing this wimpy tube thing showed the speakers could indeed sing with low wattage. High current? really doubtful, I bet the amp struggles to pump 35 watts into a 4 ohm load.

Sorry guys, I guess I am just struggling to understand what all of you seem to already know- system and room synergy along with your own musical taste play a huge role in preference. The thing that confuses the hell out of me is how to combine certain attributes without giving up others desired within the system.

reubent
7,051 posts
 
RW,

If I recall correctly, your integrated amp. does not have a tubed pre-amp section, it is a passive pre-amp containing only the volume control and input switching. All of the tubes are in the amplifier section to the best of my knowledge.

Check with Paul for details, but I'm fairly certain about this. Matter-o-fact, I think Paul told me to turn the volume up to 100% if I have a pre-amp or other means of volume control. The 100% volume level would basically take the volume control out the circuit.

Anyway, nothing at all to do with the main point of your post, but you mentioned tubed pre-amp and I thought I would chime in......

Enjoy,

TIC
reubent
7,051 posts
 
All,

Could someone chime in with a few definitions/examples/differences between these:

Low-Level definition
Inner detail
macro dynamics
micro dynamics

Just curious as I want to write a review of my new Channel Islands VMB-1 amps and I want to know how to articulate what I am hearing. These amps have an incredible ability to let me follow bass lines that were smeared via other amps and I can easily follow some background vocals and conversations in some recordings where I was previously unable to do so.

Thanks and Enjoy,

TIC
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