2. amps-preamps
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Tube vs Solid State

Folks,

For past few months, I have been trying to achieve best possible sound in my rig. The focus now is clearly on a improving 2 channel sound in what started as a home theater room.  

In past couple of years, I have added N10, Modwright DAC and very recently a LS36.5 linestage . The amps are Modwright KWA150SE. I am running pair of KWA150SE's in bridge mode (450Wx1) for the mighty B&W 800D2's.  While I like the sound as is, still feel something is missing. 

I have been toying with the idea of bi-amping.  One thought is to add mono tube amps to run mid's and high's and let the KWA150SE's handle the LF's. I am pursuing that seductive, slightly warm mid-range and top end that usually comes from tube amplification.  

I don't think there is any tube amp out there by itself capable of powering up bass hungry 800's. I prefer not to use a subwoofer in 2 channel setup. I listen to mostly jazz and classical music and quite sure that 800's are capable of producing adequate bass with proper amplification. 

Any feedback would be appreciated. 

Cheers! 
128x128lalitk
lalitk's avatar
lalitk OP
5,437 posts
 
Al - 

After a day of 85db plus listening, my ears were ringing all night long with musical passages :-)

In all seriousness, yes 800's and KWA150SE performed much better in vertical bi-amping at 85db plus. And I did appreciate the separation between low bass frequencies from mid's and high's. 

As others 800's owners have suggested in this thread, a higher wattage (600W -1000W) amp would be better suited for my listening preferences.  

May be a pairing of McIntosh MC601/MC301 with a tube preamp or McIntosh MC601/MC2301 with a MEN220 in front of MC2301 would just do the trick! 

Cheers!

jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
I see that you have your Modwright KWA150SE up for sale.
Did you get a new amp already?
lalitk's avatar
lalitk OP
5,437 posts
 
Not yet, but to move forward with new set of amps this would be the first step. 
almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
OK, good luck Lalit.  Regarding the McIntosh possibilities you mentioned, be sure to keep the following potential impedance compatibility issues in mind:

The MEN220 has an input impedance of 10K, balanced or unbalanced, which will result in deep bass rolloff and possibly other sonic issues when driven by many tube preamps.  Most ARC line stages and preamps, for example, have a minimum recommended load impedance of 20K.

The MC601 and MC301 have input impedances of 22K, balanced or unbalanced.  So if they are driven by a single output stage (per channel) within a preamp or line stage that output stage will see a load impedance of 11K, which again will be too low for good results with many tube preamps.  And most preamps and line stages that provide two output connectors per channel drive both connectors from the same output stage.

Fortunately the MC601 and MC301 have the same gains, and both are very powerful, so biamping them without an electronic crossover seems like a reasonable approach.

Best regards,
-- Al
 
lalitk's avatar
lalitk OP
5,437 posts
 
Thanks again Al, I will check it out. 
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