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Need suggestion on tube amplifier with XLR inputs

I am looking for a two channel tube amplifier (not sure of the wattage I will need as I am not 100% sure how the wattage correlates to transistor wattage so I will need a recommendation on this as well). My current set up is as follows: Emotiva DMC-1 Pre-amp/processor, Behringer cross-over, Emotiva XPA-5 (5 channel amplifier) and a Krell KSA-250 (2 channel amplifier) I have them connected via XLR cables throughout. I use the Krell to power my two JL-Audio 13W7 subs. I use the XPA-5 to run all other speakers at this time. What I would like to do is purchase a 2 channel Tube amplifier to run my center channel speakers as these are responsible for most of the mids/highs and use the 5 channel XPA-5 to run the surround speakers. My thought is that the center is responsible for most of the sound in a 5.2 system anyway so if I were to put my money on adding quality sound this would be the spot to do it. I need a two channel as I would like to run my tweeter on a separate channel then the mids so as to isolate each signal through the cross-over to have more granularities in tuning each of them. My tweeter has a speaker efficiency of 106 db and my mids are 87 db. If I run them through the same channel the tweeter will obviously overwhelm the mids and does as I have tried this already. So my question is, what 2 channel tube amp would you recommend that would drive 3 4” midrange drivers on one channel and then on the other drive 2 tweeters? I think I need something that would equal around 200 transistor type watts per channel as that is what the other surround speakers have running to them. I thank you in advance for any and all advice!

P.S. I would like to keep the cost under $3000 and am perfectly fine with purchasing used equipment. Thanks again!
ectomorph81
ectomorph81 OP
12 posts
 
Thank you all for your replies! In regards to J_bailey's suggestion I have been doing some thinking and being that the speakers that I am going with have a large difference in their efficiency would it be a better/smarter idea to go with 3 different amps for my situation? Have low power amp for the tweeter (SPL: 109 dB 1W/1m) , a more powerful amp for the mids (SPL: 86 dB 1W/1m) and then of course the ridiculously powerful Krell for my subs? Let me know your thoughts and thanks again for the replies guys!!
sounds_real_audio
1,009 posts
 
It sounds like you might be in over your head. Wouldn't a simpler system result in a better sound? That has been my experience.
sbank's avatar
sbank
3,378 posts
 
With all due respect, this sounds like a horribly overly complex setup, which would be difficult to wrap your arms around.

I recommend stepping back to see the forest from the trees. For starters, are you using this rig mostly for movies in surround, multichannel music only, or 2 channel music? IME, most 5.1,7.1 etc. has most music from front mains, and the center channel is mainly spoken dialogue. Any rig that is bi or tri-amped is going to rely on expert knowledge of crossovers etc. to get any kind of balance. You mention everything except what your speakers are. That would help.
Can we translate your question to something akin to,

"I have X speakers in a HT setup w/JL subs, driven by Krells. What amp would make sense for the other 5 channels?" Cheers,
Spencer
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,793 posts
 
If you have 3 midrange drivers in each channel I would put them in series since you have an electronic crossover- that will make them easier for a tube amp to drive.

However Jim and Spencer are both making good points- getting the system to blend and work together as a unit is likely your biggest challenge.
ectomorph81 OP
12 posts
 
I don't feel like I am in over my head here. I am just trying to put together a system that utilizes the advantages of the different amplifier technologies. I don't have $30,000.00 to spend on a tube amp that can push my subs so I have to use SS for the low frequencies. As for the mids and highs, I would like to use tubes as they produce a warmer better quality sound (according to most reviews) and since my mids and tweeters are more efficient than my subs I think that I can us a less powerful tube amp (mainly one that I can actually afford) to drive these speakers. The reason for wanting them on their own isolated channels is so that I have more granularity in tuning each of the speakers so they sound right in the room that I have them. I do agree that a simpler system more often then not sounds better then one of extreme complexity but I would like to try to put one together that does sound good as I have a severe case of audiophilia and thoroughly enjoy messing with this type of stuff for hours on end. I am actually so into it that I have built all of my speaker enclosures using various software to tune each of the different drivers. I am not sure of how or if I even can but I would like to post a picture of my sub woofer box on here and I think once you see that you will agree that I am not in over my head with this... :-) So I guess the question remains, what would be a good tube amp for each of my speakers, I have 2 Morel's 531's which are rated at SPL: 86 dB 1W/1m and I have one tweeter PylePro witch is rated at SPL: 109 dB 1W/1m. So obviously the amp for the tweeter does not need to be very powerful at all but the one for the mids will need to be somewhat powerful. Since I would like to use two different amps to drive these what would you guys recommend for each of the stated speakers? Thanks again for any and all input!

Also let me know how to post pics if that is even possible as I would like to show you all my sub enclosure....

Mello
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