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Tube preamp topologies and music

I am searching for a tube power amplifier. I know very little (nothing) about what the pros and cons of tube topologies as they relate to certain types of music.

as an example, let’s take hard rock/heavy metal. It seems to be the consensus that say 300b single ended amps would be the wrong choice even if you had 100+db efficient speakers. Why is this?

Also, tube compliment. 211? EL84? 300B? I understand that they have power output differences, but what else?

 

I welcome everyone’s input.

gochurchgo
ditusa's avatar
ditusa
1,795 posts
 

@jasonbourne71, spot on. OP I would look at Quicksilver Audio see here.

Mike

gochurchgo OP
898 posts
 

Thanks all for tons of info! 
 

I’m trying to parse things as best I can so I wanted to use an example:

Air Tight ATM-2: KT88 push/pull

Air Tight ATM-1: EL34 also push/pull

driving 99db Klipsch heresy 4 nor make listening volume at 80db

immatthewj
1,525 posts
 

@ghdprentice 

I would have thought your comment on a SET amp being a poor choice for for a head banger about as safe and uncontroversial as possible… hmm, I guess everything can be challenged. 

thinking about it, I am pretty sure I was using the term "metal-head" in that discussion I alluded to in which I was corrected, not "head banger."  I better correct my misquote that I made in case there is an important distinction between the two.  Regardless, I was told (in no uncertain terms) that 4 wpc of SET can make the right speakers scream.  I have no experience whatsoever with ANY watts of SET, so on that subject I can only relate what I was told.  

dogearedaudio
37 posts
 

If you're saying you have Heresy 4's, you have a lot of options.  The Airtight amps would be a good bet.  Personally I would choose the ATM1.  You don't need more power than that, and IMO the EL34 is a very sweet tube.  Really, 15-30 wpc would be PLENTY of power.  

gochurchgo OP
898 posts
 

@dogearedaudio  thanks. I run a pair of subs off the speaker taps which I assume I could still do. I’m a fan of high efficiency speakers and would like some La Scalas at some point. I am trying to wrap my head around tubes to see where I may land. I have only run solid state so far with zero complaints. In fact I was looking to upgrade to the Coda S5.5 until again researching tubes.

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