Even at lower SPL's a good SS amp will sound cleaner than a tube amp. I am speaking from 40+ years experience. Plus I own a collection of tube amps and preamps - but prefer SS.
Phono Stage Amp
I have a mid-level to low end turntable. (Music Hall 11.1) and a low end decent Phono Stage Music Fidelity M1. Good tonearm and good cartridge.
I listen to JAZZ so volume isn't too much of an issue, but sometimes I just want it loud. I have Cary Audio slp-05 tube pre and the Cary Audio mono block main tube amps as drivers
I crank the volume up just past half way and there tends to be distortion. Below half way the sound is incredible. The records sound better than the corresponding CD or, of course, DAC streaming.
Would upgrading my phono-stage to one with greater boost help me? Or is that half (my whole phono system) of my system as good as it could get?
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- 79 posts total
The Cary 805's only have about 15 watts at 1% distortion before the distortion goes way up quickly - 2%, 4%, 8%, 16% ... This distortion profile is typical of single-end amps - tube and SS. No wonder the 805's sound way better when they are only putting out a watt or less! They shouldn't be asked to drive a low sensitivity speaker like the Totems loudly! |
Except for @ditusa the other posters have all provided the WRONG solution by focusing on the phono stage/cartridge instead of the amp/power requirements to drive a pair of Totem Winds! Can't be done with a 15 watt tube amp - the Cary 805's. |
- 79 posts total