^^ Did you speak to Paul about it? Your experience is unusual (although much depends on the amp too).
Tube Amp for Martin Logan Speakers
Hi, I love tube sound through my Martin Logan Aerius-i fronts and Cinema-i center. I currently have a Butler 5150 which is a hybrid, but it busted on me and would cost $700 to fix. I've had china stereo tube amps that were pretty good and gave true tube sound, but not enough drive for higher volumes. I live in condo, so not like I can blast music anyways but still. I got the Butler because I wanted 5 channel tube sound for home theatre (The piercing sound from my Denon 3801 receiver was not pleasant to my ears). It appears there are only three multi-channel tube amps around, from Mcintosh, Butler 5150, and Dared DV-6C. The latter two are hybrids, and the last one was one of the worst tube amps i've ever heard. I have no clue why 6Moons gave the Dared a 2010 award, but maybe it's because it produces only 65W.
So since multichannel tube amps are hard to come by, and they tend to be hybrid, I was thinking maybe it would be best to get three true tube monoblocks to power my fronts. Thing is I wonder if they will be underpowered for my speakers, and not sure which ones are decent for the price. Maybe China made ones would suffice, and they still go for pretty expensive price. I'm wondering if anybody knows of a decent powerful tube monoblock that is affordable, because I can't pay $3000 per block. or maybe best to just repair my Butler. Thing is, I'm not confident that it is reliable. The tubes are soldered in which is weird, and i've taken it to a couple repair guys who both said that the design is not good, because it's very tight inside and more susceptible to being fried from DC voltage areas. it's too sensitive.
Any suggestions for tube monoblocks, even if china made ones? the holy grail for me would be Mcintosh tube amp, but they are hard to come by. Thanks.
So since multichannel tube amps are hard to come by, and they tend to be hybrid, I was thinking maybe it would be best to get three true tube monoblocks to power my fronts. Thing is I wonder if they will be underpowered for my speakers, and not sure which ones are decent for the price. Maybe China made ones would suffice, and they still go for pretty expensive price. I'm wondering if anybody knows of a decent powerful tube monoblock that is affordable, because I can't pay $3000 per block. or maybe best to just repair my Butler. Thing is, I'm not confident that it is reliable. The tubes are soldered in which is weird, and i've taken it to a couple repair guys who both said that the design is not good, because it's very tight inside and more susceptible to being fried from DC voltage areas. it's too sensitive.
Any suggestions for tube monoblocks, even if china made ones? the holy grail for me would be Mcintosh tube amp, but they are hard to come by. Thanks.
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- 214 posts total
Atmosphere, I did not, as there was nothing radically unusual in any of the three valve amplifier models ( two pentode PP and one Ultra Linear ) that I experimented with, the latter being right on the recommended minimum for CLX's and therefore in theory should have produced the most perceivable improvement, if any, of the three. As I say, entirely unexpected considering the due diligence before purchase! |
Ralph, take a look at the impedance curve for the CLX, shown at the bottom of this page. Could it be that Tsushima1's negative experience with the Zero was the result of the speaker's extremely high impedance at low frequencies being multiplied 2 or 3 or 4 times, resulting in the tube amplifiers he used running essentially unloaded at low frequencies? Or, at best, running into impedances at low frequencies that were non-optimal for the output taps provided on the amplifiers? Best regards, -- Al |
A simple way to hear what negative effects they have, is to put them on an amp that has no problem driving a speaker. Then you will hear what negative effects they have when they are in. In my view they are interim fix, to allow an amp that has problems driving the speaker, to make it usable with that speaker. And I use the word "usable" lightly. A owner is far better off getting the right amp for the speaker, or the right speaker for that amp to start with. Cheers George |
- 214 posts total