sfmorris
Nice score! Those Sony SS AR1 are killer speakers with not many fortunate owners. When Sony wants to make a state of the art product- it delivers!
Keep us posted on the system you choose to build.
Happy Listening!
Thoughts on Tube vs SS amplification for Sony SS AR1s
Hi all~
Was hoping someone with more knowledge than me may be able to help clear up some confusion I’ve been having.
I recently was able to acquire my ‘unicorn’ speakers, the SS AR1s. 4 ohms, 88 dB, 28hz-60khz.
i have an integrated tube amp, the Luxman LX-380, which on paper doesnt seem to deliver a lot of power for these speakers (14 w into 4 ohms), but i have been really surprised by how full/robust everything sounds with the Luxman in place. I had been advised that a more powerful SS amp (‘at least 200 w per channel!’) would be needed to get the most out of the SS AR1s (and i have had a lot of SS amps in the past), but To be honest I’m pretty impressed with how it sounds already - So, i was just hoping someone with more experience here could weigh in? Is it necessarily true that tubes just aren’t a good match for a speaker of this sensitivity? Would a more powerful amp like the luxman mQ-88uc (25 w into 4 ohms) be worth looking into? Would a powerful SS amp really make these speaker sing (and i just dont know what I’m missing)? I want to take advantage of the low-end of these new speakers (which is the main difference from my previous pair), so looking for some guidance re tube amps and exerting control over speakers like these.
thanks much!
Was hoping someone with more knowledge than me may be able to help clear up some confusion I’ve been having.
I recently was able to acquire my ‘unicorn’ speakers, the SS AR1s. 4 ohms, 88 dB, 28hz-60khz.
i have an integrated tube amp, the Luxman LX-380, which on paper doesnt seem to deliver a lot of power for these speakers (14 w into 4 ohms), but i have been really surprised by how full/robust everything sounds with the Luxman in place. I had been advised that a more powerful SS amp (‘at least 200 w per channel!’) would be needed to get the most out of the SS AR1s (and i have had a lot of SS amps in the past), but To be honest I’m pretty impressed with how it sounds already - So, i was just hoping someone with more experience here could weigh in? Is it necessarily true that tubes just aren’t a good match for a speaker of this sensitivity? Would a more powerful amp like the luxman mQ-88uc (25 w into 4 ohms) be worth looking into? Would a powerful SS amp really make these speaker sing (and i just dont know what I’m missing)? I want to take advantage of the low-end of these new speakers (which is the main difference from my previous pair), so looking for some guidance re tube amps and exerting control over speakers like these.
thanks much!
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- 47 posts total
When Sony wants to make a state of the art product- it delivers! Yeah you got right, here’s their 3 way ESL’s they made way back 110kg each, I heard the Emperor of Japan had a pair. http://www.thevintageknob.org/sony-SS-R10.html Cheers George |
George, Again from a pure technical analysis you are absolutely right in referring to the Sony speaker as a "pig of a speaker" given its extremely demanding need for current delivery. How in the world does the low watt tube Luxman produce wonderful sound paired with this very difficult speaker load? Can it be explained by the assumption that the Luxman has superb quality output transformers and power supply section or is it more complex than that? Really intriguing how this is pulled off. Charles |
I think the OP is getting good advice from everyone. If it sounds good to him, then why change anything. At the same time, he really doesn't know what he has not heard. If he tried the Sony with a high current solid state amp who's to say he wouldn't say his system is positively transformed? Both of these lines of thought can be right at the same time. |
Hi all - again, I cant tell everyone how much i appreciate the advice (extremely helpful). As Charles pointed out, this is indeed a head scratcher - either the luxman has qualities that the spec sheet alone doesn’t account for, or I am in for a revelation if i can get my hands on a good SS amp (because this is already the best my setup has ever sounded, and the first thing my wife said was ‘everything sounds so balanced and full’ from the lows to the highs - this seems to go against what the measurements would predict when using the luxman). I’ll definitely keep people posted. I had had my eye on a few options (in keeping with the Japanese hi-fi theme of the speakers - i have a soft spot for these brands) - accuphase e650 - marantz ma9s2 - Yamaha a s3000 Aesthetically, i have to admit I’m a fan of the Yamaha, but i know on paper it’s probably not the best of the three. The marantz monoblocks and preamp seem very highly regarded, but going from the single box LX380, those giant champagne boxes are going to look a bit ostentatious. I had a chance to pick up a rare sony TA-DR1a , but could find very little info on it. I’ll see if i can find someone local who perhaps has something that would fit and be willing to try it out here~ (if anyone has any strong opinion about the Yamaha, would be glad to hear your thoughts~) thanks! |
- 47 posts total