I have the same experience with CJ SS gear, and recently commissioned Jim Nicholls to make a tube amplifier with enough juice to push my Dali 400's. The amp weighs 80 lbs., has 8 output tubes, and can handle el34/6ca7 as well as KT88/6550's. I currently have Electro-Harmonix 6ca7's doing the job, and the amp sounds fantastic. The grain is totally gone, the soundstaging is superior, almost 3D holographic, and the mid-range is to die for. Also, bass is strong and tight. What's not to like? Jim modestly rates the amp at 80 to 90 watts per channel, but his teacher, Lance Cochrane, thinks the output is well over 100 watts per channel. in any event, with the increased sensitivity of this particular amp, I can play music at loud levels and still not strain my CJ PV-15 pre-amp. The amp is also auto-bias, plug and play. It only set me back $1500, and the amp is clearly competitive with more well-known brands costing 3 or 4 times as much. I would suggest getting in touch with Jim and asking him to build you an amp. His webpage is called "Glass with Class", and there is a review of his amps on Dick Olsher's review page. Just google "Jim Nicholls tube amps".
What are some good tube amps that rock? KT88's?
Hi there, I am currently using an all older CJ SS setup. I fell I need a tube amp to get rid of the grit in my system. I thought upgrading my DAC would do it but it remains.
Its really important to me to be able to play loud, I have been told I would do best with a KT88/6550 based amp. I owned a CJ Premier 11A and loved (Sold it due to budget back in the day). I listen to everything but I play rap,reggae, and rock mostly when I play loud. Im going to be crossing over my speakers at around 60-80HZ
My speakers are B&W Matrix 804's which want a decent amount of current despite their small appearance.
Tanks a million
Toby
Its really important to me to be able to play loud, I have been told I would do best with a KT88/6550 based amp. I owned a CJ Premier 11A and loved (Sold it due to budget back in the day). I listen to everything but I play rap,reggae, and rock mostly when I play loud. Im going to be crossing over my speakers at around 60-80HZ
My speakers are B&W Matrix 804's which want a decent amount of current despite their small appearance.
Tanks a million
Toby
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- 24 posts total
The new Ayon Triton has a hot rod version MK 2 Bigger power supplies transformers are S E Lundahl transformers And 3 different hiend capacitors being used $ 9750 this will be my new Xmas presentand th preamp section and the short signal path is Outstanding you hear sounds missing in even many good separates, Also you save monies not needing extra interconnects , and power cords Try it you will love it ,also the MK 2 is Totally self biasing !! |
KT-88s and 6550s are supposed to be a little different. The 'KT' part stands for 'kinkless tetrode' as there was supposed to be no 'kink' in the linearity curve. These days though, KT-88s and 6550s are pretty much the same thing. The B&W is a Voltage Paradigm device, see: http://www.atma-sphere.com/Resources/Paradigms_in_Amplifier_Design.php for more info. What this means is that the amplifier you use will need some feedback in order to work. The Wolcott is going to be the epitome of this- it behaves as a true voltage source using Voltage Paradigm rules. |
- 24 posts total