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Tubes for Magnepan’s.

I think next up on my acquisition list is a tube amplifier. I'm not looking for the be all end all, cause I don’t think there is a definitive "Best", so am looking for as good as I can get for $3-4k.


Because tubes drive speakers so much more efficiently than solid state I am only looking for 40-50 watts to drive my modded Maggie’s, 1.7i's. (Or what you have when you add a new crossover and planer tweeters to 1.7i's.) Maybe 2.7x? I haven’t settled on that yet. And I have some Zu Dirty Weekend's upgraded to the max coming in in 2 months to replace my KEF's.

Anyway, I haven’t had a tube device since my Halicrafter short wave radio, and reviews are not the same as advice from people that own something. There is a Rouge Audio dealer in my area, last I looked, (opps, they no longer carry them), so I may have to go to another market to hear something, or get a try before you buy from a manufacturer or dealer.

You folks have taught me a lot, and I think asking users is the right thing to do on this change in direction.

Thanks in advance.
128x128william53b
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,834 posts
 
why ,because they take a lot of current to drive then
tube donot have the current on demand that good solid state brings , when you have a speaker going
Power (watts) is equal to voltage times current. If the amp can make the power then it also has the current. You can't have current without voltage- that's the laws of physics. Obviously the above statement is false.


If you want to use tubes and get the bass right on Maggies, first, use a tube amp that has good low frequency bandwidth. Second, use monoblocks so you can keep your cables short, and by that I mean maybe about 1/2 foot. Back the amp up to the speaker and use that short connection- which should also be fairly heavy. We have a lot of customers with Maggies because Magnaplanar is here in town and people want to put our amps on their speakers- both are known for transparency. So I've done this a lot- it works. The usual YMMV due to standing waves in rooms but that has little to do with tubes.
william53b's avatar
william53b OP
211 posts
 
@atmasphere 

Thank you for the information. There are so many tube amps I have never heard of. Fortunately many posters here have been providing new ones for exploration.

 It seems the only way to start to be informed is to attend the major audio shows. There are two stereo stores here in Jax, and I am sort of between Atlanta and Miami, and while there are a number of stores available to visit within a days one way drive, they do not come close to representing the products available to the consumer.

Is there a national show that highlights valve amps?

I hope the big shows return this year so I can attend one.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,834 posts
 
Is there a national show that highlights valve amps?
No. Seems to me in the US, AXPONA and the RMAF as your best shots.
ieales's avatar
ieales
1,201 posts
 
I hope the big shows return this year so I can attend one.
Be sure to take along the rest of your system.
fstary's avatar
fstary
18 posts
 
My Berning EA 230 sounds a little better than my McIntosh 2105, even with a pair of Velodyne subs. The Mac does play a little louder, though. It is too much work to switch back to the Bernings.
I am referring to Magnepan 1.7i speakers. Frank
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