Moving away from inefficient/low impedance speaker in order to move to a Tube Amp

Folks seem to forget one very important factor when choosing an amp, tube or ss, and that is the quality and ability of the transformer. This, IMO, has more to do with the drive capability than just about anything else. The amount of watts/ch is secondary to this aspect. This is the reason that a lot of well built lower powered tube amps with great transformers can sound as loud, or louder, than a much higher output ss device with a wimpy transformer, as an example.

i suppose IF ya think of mechanical amplifiers aka compression driver / horn and cone breakup as not lossy, a bit of uniform compression ain't the devil you think it is…

For those seeking stunningly well designed and executed output transformers look no further than Gow’s MC240 or Roger Modjeski RM-9. 40 wpc and 100+ WPC….

BTW, heard an absolutely gorgeous sounding pair of Harbeth w Line Magnetic low powered amp the other day at Gig Harbor Audio….

Cast a wide net ;-)

 

 

+++ @daveyf right you are, BOTH ( or more ) transformers…power supply , output…and ? 

Ok my 2 cents ,I own Polk lsim707, 8 ohm 88 eff..The manual saids 20 to 300 watts to drive them.But everyone who has tested these speakers say ,you will need 300 to 350 watts to drive them.I had used a SS amps Adcom,Carver,and others to drive them.Then one day I hooked up my Cayin A 50 TP MK 11 tube integrated amp to drive them...I used the ultralinrar sett5at 35 wpc.and have found no problem driving them...I have a nice size livingroom 28x32 with Cathedral ceilings...ok I dont put the volume up like I'm in a concert hall,put they play loud.Every article I have read saids ,you need power to drive them...the tubes do a great job and they sound great.

fjn04 OP

1,468 posts

11-23-2021 8:32pm

Mozartfan said: If you run a single FR, any tube amp will work just fine.

Could you tell me what FR means.

 

 

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Yeah well read realworldaudio posts above, What he is saying is that xover type speakers are under 90 db sens = lots of compression = the lower db you go the more IN-Efficient = more work on the amplifier = less fidelity = crappy sound.

I’ve completely moved away from xover types.

Even if Scanspeak and Seas did make a 90++ sens drivers and Troels put something together,, still we have the xover point to deal with.

= Double flawed.

Low sens + xover point = unmusical.

The sound is stressed/compressed/attacking/just plain noisey.

FR = Full range,, The DITers want to keep it FR, not *wide banders*

 

Here is a smaple of the performance of a higher sens FR speaker in action, 95db sens.

If you go SET, the magic can only come forth witha magical speaker.

SET’s require a high fidelity speaker.;

As realworldaudio noted

 

**A high sens FR/horn that has issues will be cleanly noted in a SET amp set up...** The higher the sens, the more will any weakness be noted in the speakers performance.

 

Resonances, fq spikes, shouts, muddyiness, bloatedness,, too forward a mid range at sacrifice of bass,,,,lets not forget beaming which some Tang band suffers from.

 

I did say just about any tube amp will work ok witha FR.

But the end results are not the same.

SET amps are great for low key recordings,, for big band jazz/blues,  large band.orchestra, PP wins the Cuban Cigar.

I attempt to explain some of these things in this video.

Horns work great with SETs for that massive soundstage for extra large rooms, For a more intimate listening exp for small/mid size rooms, FR work best

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XTmQHjF0e4