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Tube amplifier suggestion for 101 dB speakers

Hello All,

I've been using the Tyler Acoustics PD30s with Classé Sigma solid state preamp and amp combination.
These speakers have two 15" woofers and a horn tweeter, 4 ohm, sensitivity 101 dB.
The above combination is not the best, especially for complex rock music, the highs start to distort, they are harsh, just bad. Never had tube gears, but after reading a bit, these speakers apparently scream for tubes. Actually somebody brought over a hobbyist-made tube amp and yes, the speakers were tamed.
I'm willing to switch to a tube amp but prefer to keep the ss preamp.
Can anybody recommend a few good tube amp matches here, for a max of 3K new or used. Room is just a good medium size. I want something that I can keep for many years if possible and being somehow flexible to tube rolling.

Thanks.
piramis
piramis's avatar
piramis OP
32 posts
 
I kind of understand now these particular types of tube amps and how should they be matched.
And more and more I think that the problematic thing here is the 4 Ω / 101 dB combination for the speakers I have.
So there is no need for high power, that's a SET amp then, class A and no need for biasing anything. Cool, but I need a stereo, preferably with XLR in. I can hardly find something used under 3K.
I thought a BAT VK-55 would be good, but that,s not a SET.
I'm telling this territory is not easy, a push-pull would be much easier to pick.

shkong78's avatar
shkong78
1,485 posts
 
Dear Op

If you are serious, then go for Line Magnetic 508 even if it means stretching your budget.

https://reverb.com/item/17478397-line-magnetic-508ia-single-ended-triode-vacuum-tube-2018-black-clas...

I am driving my 99db/W speaker (Lansche 4.1) with Silbatone 8W 300B SET and Line Magnetic 508 48W SET to get the most out of it.

http://stereotimes.com/speak112410.shtml

With Line Magnetic 508, I have more headroom than Silbatone although Silbatone is more transparent using exquisite silver foil output transformer.


After you buy it, if you replace SN7 with Sylvania 1944 Nos Vt231(around 150$ per pair in Ebay) and SL7 wih Mullard EC35(around 125$ for single tube), then it sounds excellent.

Later you can also replace 300B and 805 with new production Chinese tubes called Acme series or Shuguang Treasure .


piramis's avatar
piramis OP
32 posts
 
I’m not looking for an integrated amplifier, never liked them, need the flexibility of a preamp.
These Line Magnetics are very rare in this NA market at this point, at least what I can see. They may be good though.
 Thanks.
ieales's avatar
ieales
1,201 posts
 
As built by VTA, the M-125's were very noisy, but can be quietened quite a bit. In my case, almost 40db.

Not sure that would be enough for 101db speakers. I'd look at balanced solid state. VERY Low noise = $$$

Complete instructions:
http://ielogical.com/Audio/VTA_M-125.php
jmolsberg's avatar
jmolsberg
467 posts
 
Linear tube audio

https://www.lineartubeaudio.com/products/zotl-40-reference-amplifier
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