Tubes?


I have Revel Salon 2 speakers. Sensitivity is about 85 db. and 4 ohms. They are power hungry speakers. Currently, I am driving them with McIntosh 601's and a McIntosh solid state preamp. I was look looking at a pair of McIntosh MC2301. They are tube amps rated at 300 watts into 2 - 8 ohm loads. I listen to all types of music (sometimes at very high levels). I never run out of power with the 601's, but I am very intrigued with tubes. This may be a misconception, but I remember some friends who played guitar saying, tube watts were louder than solid state? Perhaps this is not really true or not true regarding home stereo. Perhaps the best idea is to keep the 601's and get a good tube preamp?                          Thanks, Dave 
128x128tobor007

I am partial to tube amplifiers and particularly SET amplifiers (With suitable speakers).
However I have to agree with clearthinker and say that a SET even utilizing a high power output tube such as the 833 wouldn't be the best direction to take with this type of speaker.


Very high power push pull tube amps may be a viable alternate but keep in mind these amps have 'multiple' numbers of tubes to deal with. All things considered I believe using  a tube preamp is a very reasonable approach with the current speakers and SS amplifier (Both of which the OP likes).  A tube preamp using the 6SN7 is a good recommendation in my opinion.

Charles


daj
9 posts
08-24-2020 9:18pm
@jjss49 

The heavy handed advice does hit on the conflict in terms of the concern expressed in the post and the speaker OP owns, though it's easy to see how this might be overlooked due to the rather obnoxious style in which said advice is habitually delivered.


My oh my... aren't we in a bit of a tiff. You ain't seen nothin' yet.. Hang around.. If this is bothering you, you're not gonna make it. Mr. Obnoxious really hasn't visited this form yet.. HE's been on vacation, for a while.. 
Now you've stirred the pot and I bet he shows up. IT'S on you...

That's a freebie, the rest I'll let you learn on your own..
Wait to when the REAL pricks show up, and I'm being nice, and serious too. They pile on, all at once, like DOGS.. Give me and daj a break, OK.

It's being a little obnoxious callin' folks obnoxious, isn't it?

Sick um!!

Regards

I'm in complete agreement with @charles1dad.  With the OP's speakers the tube pre and SS amp makes the most sense and is the path of least resistance to a nice sound.  

And all things equal I have no idea why folks who love tube amps wouldn't want to create a system based around SET tube amp of reasonable power (~22 watts and higher ) paired with easy to drive speakers.  I fear that all the fist pounding exerted by @millercarbon to bully people into buying some KT88 Raven amp are going to distract some from missing the magic of a large bottle SET circuit with carefully selected speakers.  The experience just can't be replicated from some push-pull design IMO and is worthy of experiencing.  
It all comes down to what sounds best to the listener (buyer). I had a Constellation amp/preamp and switched to tubes after hearing a setup at RMAF in 2016. I ended up buying the Voxativ 9.87 speakers and their integrated 211 tube amp, rated at 24 watts. The speaker drivers are very efficient, I believe 98db, and play at very loud levels. They also have 2 dedicated woofers that each have 250 watt A/B amplifiers. I get plenty of tight bass and the magic of a single driver with no crossovers. I know somebody said don’t trust anyone that mentions a specific brand but I have no affiliation. I just listened to everything I could find at RMAF for 3 days and nothing sounded better in my opinion. Point of my comment is to suggest a somewhat unique solution that has satisfied all my needs. I like listening to all types of music from Madeline Peyroux to Tool and find my setup very satisfying.
+1 MC, wrong loudspeakers. As I went up the efficiency ladder,  I went from clipping high powered SS amps on Mirage M1’s to barely cracking 5 watts on OB’s at 96 dB, 1watt, savoring the colors and hues over the wind blowing in my face.