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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
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.
exlibris OP
438 posts
 
Gregm, thanks for the help. I've actually never bi-amped before so I'm a total rookie here. I can clearly see the advantage of actively bi-amping with an electronic crossover but I no longer believe that there is much to be gained by passively bi-amping (using only the passive crossover in the speaker). In this configuration, if I understand correctly, attaching a tube amp to the high/mid section and a big amp to the woofer section will not take any stress off the tube amp since it is still trying to amplify the entire frequency range.
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