2. amps-preamps
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Could use your advice re: tube gear

I posted a long discussion of my MC240 and 8B which came out of storage a couple weeks ago. After listening to them with several speakers in our little local shop, and in comparison to an Anthem 700 MRX SS integrated ($2K) driving the speakers I'm thinking about, I'm missing the highs I thought I was getting. Quite a bit. And on big speakers the bass is loose and very undefined. Both tube amps (with my CJ PV-5) had vastly better midrange though.

What would be a move to keep the mids of my gear but get the defined bass and airy open highs?

Get a SS amp (like the DNA-1)? But would the CJ kill the tight lows and open highs? Could I mod the CJ?

Can I find a (~$1K used) tube amp that has the lush mids but tight lows and open detailed highs? The Quicksilver GLA maybe?

Trying to solve it with speakers, I could probably find a speaker with much tighter bottom (B&W CM-1 maybe) but that would not solve the highs. I have some Superzeros with spiky highs that help but don't replace the missing air and space.

Your thought would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.
river251
bondmanp
1,816 posts
 
Yeah, what Atmashpere said.

Also, maybe a good subwoofer would help. I run a pair of Vandersteen 2Wqs with my almost full range speakers. It relieves the amp of having to drive deep bass into the mains, and these have an adjustable "Q" so you can tighten up the bass as desired. I bought them for about $775 each here on A-gon.
wolf_garcia
6,708 posts
 
I second the sub thing...been using a old REL Q150e and it really makes everything around it sing.
river251 OP
154 posts
 
Thanks very much guys. How does that work....say I have my MC240 driving the speakers. You can make everything below say 100hz go to the sub(s), so your main speakers are not trying to reproduce energy below 100? And the sub is working off of a different amp?
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,308 posts
 
What speakers are you targeting again? OR is that open as well?

The pre-amp/amp/speaker combo together along with good quality source material is the key to max out what you seek.

If speakers are open, getting something that will physically integrate well into your listening room is also important.

For reference, take a look at the new tube/Class D hybrid amps from Rogue. With many larger speakers out there today, something like that or a similar pre-amp/amp combo would likely address what you seek. OR if the tube amp is in good condition, you can find speakers to match to that well as an alternative, but the choices will be different and perhaps more limited.
river251 OP
154 posts
 
OK, so check out the Rogue for tight bass and tube mids.

My current speakers are:
Snell Original E -- currently waiting for new foam surrounds from Peter at Audio Note so these have been out of commission since bringing everything out of storage

NHT SuperZeros (original ones -- no sub)

Realistic Minimus 7 Walnut (don't laugh)

Speakers I'm considering:

B&W PM-1 -- probably can't afford these right now

Used B&W 805

Sinclair Brighton 460T http://sinclairaudio.com/460t.html

Haven't hear of these but have auditioned them for hours at local shop, and really like them, great tonal balance. 92db, ribbon tweeters, very reasonable.
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