2. amps-preamps
  3. 1122441301

New? thoughts on driving MBL 101s with tube amps

Rather than hooking up big tubed monoblocks (CAT JL3; VTL 800; ARC 300s, etc.) to these speakers, has anyone tried (or heard) them bi-amped using smaller tube amps?

My thinking is that smaller amps often sound better and that bi-amping should be a more efficient way to drive these speakers.

I'm wondering, for instance, how four Manley Neo-Classic 250 monoblocks would work?
exlibris
gregm
3,409 posts
 
Big amp for bass, small amp for mid-high. Should be good. Especially so, if you cross-over at line level rather than speaker level. I think MBL once had a client who wanted to x-over passively at line level... but can't find the reference.
exlibris OP
438 posts
 
I'm told that the mid-high section of the 101 (with the big aluminum football) is just as difficult to drive as the 12" woofer on the bottom.
gregm
3,409 posts
 
Yes, it's difficult, but ASAIK the phase is relatively benign and all you need is some extra energy -- but not that much extra energy. So a tube would do the job -- since you're looking into a small tube.
More to discover