Hoping to someday acquire the 96db Devore O/96. I’m using a 100db Volti Rival for its efficiency and neutrality to check out low watt tube amps, and comparing between the musical O/96 vs Rival seems like great sonic fun
Loudspeaker designer/manufacturer John DeVore shows reviewer Ken Micallef his system.
And quite a system in it is!
At one point John tells Ken that he searched for the best amplifier of each "type" he could find, to use in the development of his various model loudspeakers. John explains in great detail how his speakers interact with different types of amplifiers.
Amongst the rare, unique, rather expensive, and/or otherwise unusual amps he chose, two more common and affordable models stick out: The Parasound A21, and for medium-power push/pull tube amps the Music Reference RM-10. John didn’t call it out by model number, but as he described it as a push/pull design using EL84 tubes it can only be the RM-10 (the only amp matching that description that Roger Modjeski ever marketed).
Modjeski marketed three push/pull amps: the first was the general purpose RM-9 (four EL34’s for 125w/ch)---a favorite of former Stereophile reviewer Dick Olsher, the second the RM-200 (a single pair of KT88’s for 125w/ch), designed to work unusually well with low impedance loudspeakers---Michael Fremer’s reference "affordable" tube amp for many years, and lastly the cute little RM-10 (a pair of EL84’s for 35w/ch). Modjeski said the sound of the RM-10 was his favorite of the three.
https://youtu.be/i9WYbi7afGQ?si=qkf8AiUCF_9_z2cl
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@bdp24 thanks for posting. this. Not sure how I missed it but nice to know John DeVore liked the RM-10 with his speakers. There were two keys to enabling that amp to get 35 watts out of a pair of EL-84s. One was using a voltage doubler to put 700V on the plates. Roger always liked to write his own applications for tubes and not solely rely on the applications presented in the tube manuals. Also prior to his death Roger redesigned the RM-10 to more closely match the original circuit. As of today, the first RM-10 MkIII is built and being tested in my system. One new twist is that bias can now be safely set to 350mV, so just slightly more power than the original without stressing the tubes. We hope to have new production going soon. Roger also wanted this to be offered in kit form as well so we are working on those details as well. |
Love Devore speakers! Also, I am using RAM’s “ Super low noise” 5751 input tubes for my CJ premiere 12s And they are incredible. Definitely the cleanest signal I have heard from the amplifiers. I also really wanted to try the RAM Super low noise 6922 tubes In my premier 16 LS2 Preamp, But they are incredibly expensive now (And even more, so since the tariffs, no doubt) |
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