Hogio: I have no experience with the speakers you bought, and don't know anything about how difficult they are in the bass with tubes. However, I have owned both the CJ MV55 and VTL MB-185 amps. As you would expect, the more powerful monoblock VTLs reveal more detail and have more bass control. But if your room isn't large, the little MV55 can be a very nice sounding amp. To me the first thing you should do is live with the combination you have for a while, both until the speakers are broken in and until you have experimented with speaker positioning and gotten acclimated to their sound in your room with your current amp. I'd say give at least 1-2 months before making any new moves about amps. Also, if your MV55 is fitted with the stock Sovtek tubes and/or they could use replacement now, I would recommend using SED EL34 output tubes, Shuguang 6SN7 driver tubes, and EI 12AX7 input tubes (matched and selected for low noise/microphonics), unless you use NOS. In any case, don't expect what you heard of the bass at your dealer's to necessarily translate directly to what you'll hear in your own room -- bass response is too influenced by the room and speaker setup (and even speaker cables) to under different circumstances simply assign various characteristics to partnering amps or tube types in isolation. Enjoy your new speakers!
Tube amps to control VR-4jr bass?
Hi,
I recently bought a pair of VR-4jr (I think it's MK 1) from a local shop in Indonesia. They should be delivered to my house within couple days.
Does anyone know what amps were used during the design stage to voice this speakers?
Currently my power amp is Conrad Johnson MV-55 50W EL34. I do not know if this amp would work well with VR-4jr since I could not do a home audition. I bought the speakers because the soundstaging and image focus was excellent and the speakers overall sound very dynamic although I had problems with bass during audition.
During audition at the dealer yesterday, I paired the speakers with the following amps; all configured with Cary SLP-98 preamp, speaker cable is single wiring and source was Cary 303 CD. No lead shot and spikes were used :
- Cary V12 EL34 set to 100W ultralinear. The bass is very thin and not enough amplitude.
- Rogue Audio Stereo amp 90W KT88. Bass was very boomy.
- Genesis Integrated with KT88 60w. Bass was not boomy but not enough punch
- Cary Cinema 2 200W stereo
I also tried bi-amping Cary V12 for the upper part and Cary Cinema 2 for the bass. The bass was still boomy but not as bad as with the Rogue Audio and I prefer not doing bi-amping to keep things simpler. I also heard other speakers to compare in the same room with similar setup. Vienna Acoustics Mahler: Bass was big but maybe too much. Vienna Acoustics Baby Beethoven Grand: Bass was good but soundstage sound small. Room size was 4.5m x 5.5m x 2.7m (15 x 18 x 9 ft).
Can you suggest several potentially good amp to match the speakers? My concern would be with controlling boomy bass I heard during audition. I don't hear very loud music. Mostly female vocals, jazz and classical orchestra. No deafening heavy music. Would a 90-100W tube be enough since I have problems with both the Cary and Rogue audio, both of which have power rating around 100w? I prefer tubes, but am open to SS amps if necessary.
I am interested in VTL MB125 monoblock with 4 EL34 130W ultra linear at 4 Ohm ot 100W at 8 Ohm or VTL ST150. My other alternative would be VTL MB185 monoblock with 6 6550 230W ultra linear at 4 Ohm or 165W at 8 Ohm. I cannot do a home audition since most dealears are located 600 miles from where I live.
Thanks in advance.
Best Regards,
Hogio Setiawan
I recently bought a pair of VR-4jr (I think it's MK 1) from a local shop in Indonesia. They should be delivered to my house within couple days.
Does anyone know what amps were used during the design stage to voice this speakers?
Currently my power amp is Conrad Johnson MV-55 50W EL34. I do not know if this amp would work well with VR-4jr since I could not do a home audition. I bought the speakers because the soundstaging and image focus was excellent and the speakers overall sound very dynamic although I had problems with bass during audition.
During audition at the dealer yesterday, I paired the speakers with the following amps; all configured with Cary SLP-98 preamp, speaker cable is single wiring and source was Cary 303 CD. No lead shot and spikes were used :
- Cary V12 EL34 set to 100W ultralinear. The bass is very thin and not enough amplitude.
- Rogue Audio Stereo amp 90W KT88. Bass was very boomy.
- Genesis Integrated with KT88 60w. Bass was not boomy but not enough punch
- Cary Cinema 2 200W stereo
I also tried bi-amping Cary V12 for the upper part and Cary Cinema 2 for the bass. The bass was still boomy but not as bad as with the Rogue Audio and I prefer not doing bi-amping to keep things simpler. I also heard other speakers to compare in the same room with similar setup. Vienna Acoustics Mahler: Bass was big but maybe too much. Vienna Acoustics Baby Beethoven Grand: Bass was good but soundstage sound small. Room size was 4.5m x 5.5m x 2.7m (15 x 18 x 9 ft).
Can you suggest several potentially good amp to match the speakers? My concern would be with controlling boomy bass I heard during audition. I don't hear very loud music. Mostly female vocals, jazz and classical orchestra. No deafening heavy music. Would a 90-100W tube be enough since I have problems with both the Cary and Rogue audio, both of which have power rating around 100w? I prefer tubes, but am open to SS amps if necessary.
I am interested in VTL MB125 monoblock with 4 EL34 130W ultra linear at 4 Ohm ot 100W at 8 Ohm or VTL ST150. My other alternative would be VTL MB185 monoblock with 6 6550 230W ultra linear at 4 Ohm or 165W at 8 Ohm. I cannot do a home audition since most dealears are located 600 miles from where I live.
Thanks in advance.
Best Regards,
Hogio Setiawan
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- 5 posts total
- 5 posts total