2. amps-preamps
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VAC Sig Ren MK2a Headscratcher

I am thinking about adding a solid-state amp (DNA-500) to my system to drive the bass cabinets of my VR-7se's. Currently I have 1 set of balanced outs going to 2 VAC 300.1s that are each driving a VR-7se speaker full range. The other set is driving my subwoofer.

If I disconnect the sub and hook up the 500 to these balanced outputs from the pre, with the 500 speaker outputs going to the bass cabinets of the VR-7se's, will this work? Only problem I can see is that both modules of each speaker will be receiving a full range signal, but only using a portion of it depending upon the drivers. Balancing will be a snap as the volume control will control the 500, with the attentuating knobs on the VACs available to balance the rest of the speaker to the bass.

Will I be doing any damage this way? Is there a better way to do this w/o complicating things with crossovers, etc? Does what I'm proposing make sense? The 7's love power and I had the DNA-500 sitting in a closet.... Seems like this way I can get the best of both worlds, with about 750w going to each bass unit and 300 VAC tube watts (50w+/- Class A) going to each mid/tweet/super-tweet module. On paper, seems like a great idea, BUT...Before I go very far down this path, I'd really like to get some feedback and answers to these questions above.

Thanks in advance for any light you can shine in the tunnel.. :-)

BTW- just replaced noisy Dragon 6dj8 pre driver tubes with Seimens NOS 7308's - quieter(obviously), better imaging, bigger soundstage, more air and a bit tighter bass - after 1 hour!! Will only get better - more expensive but worth it IMHO. YMMV.
fplanner2010
fplanner2010 OP
283 posts
 
Hi Dev- Did you ever try the 500 in your system? If so, do you remember the speakers you were using? Just curious....

P.S. - chance to put the new tubes in yet? Mine just keep getting better, with about 12 hours on them. I'm told they will continue to do so until around 50-60 hours. Cool!! :-)
dev's avatar
dev
832 posts
 
Hi Fplanner,

Yes I did, I actually owned one. Tried it with Focal Salon's and Andra 2's which I both owned.

I'm waiting to receive my tubes and I'll pass along my thoughts once I log in some time.
kernelbob
51 posts
 
I'm running a similar biamp setup with VR5-Annis. Double Kronzillas on the top and monoblock Spectron Musician III Mk2s on the bottom. Very tight, fast, articulated bass and the Kronzillas doing their thing on the top. A friend is installing a VAC 300.1a this week. He has the same Spectrons as mine and will be comparing running his system full range vs biamped.
fplanner2010 OP
283 posts
 
Kernelbob - That's quite a nice system you've got there. I heard a pair of 4 jrs bi-amped and fully driven this past weekend and the sound was literally amazing. I can only image how much even better your system must sound with the amps you are using. It gives me hope that maybe what I'm about to do might actually work!!

I have some questions, if you don't mind. How did you match the outputs between the top and bottom amps? Also, did you use an electronic crossover, or just the ones in the speakers? Have you always run them this way? Sorry for so many questions, but this is pretty new for me.

As far as your friend's system is concerned, not sure what speakers he's running but regardless, he should hear a significant improvement once those VAC tubes start to sing.

Thanks very much for sharing your experiences.
dev's avatar
dev
832 posts
 
Kernelbob,

Kronzillas, I like those amps. That would be an intersting set-up to hear. How are you dealing with matching, what's the rest of your system?

Does your friend have the same speakers also.
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