bi amping question

Rodman
I am open for learning here, I like musical, close to live music as possible. I like detail but not a the expense of musicality.... is that what people call warm? I dont really get all the nomenclature.

Clueless in tube land

I'm still trying to figure out what some people term "musicality" myself. To me the term SHOULD connote allowing all the MUSIC to pass without adding or subtracting anything. In other words: transparent, detailed, extended and fast bass(gotta feel the skin), accurate timbre/transients/decays, dynamics, a wide and deep soundstage with the instruments and performers placed and spaced within as intended by the recording engineer(hopefully- a good one). I listen to live music at least twice a week as a soundtech, and don't want any extra warmth, sweetness(read glazed donut), sibilance, glare or stridency(what some think is detail)... well, you know: the stuff that's just not there in a well set up venue(be it acoustic or plugged in). Some enjoy that, and what they enjoy is their business(who am I to say what's right in their listening room?). I guess to them that's, "musicality".

OOPS- I never replied to your query about the 6SN7's. It sounds like our tastes are similar. If you want the Holy Grails of transparency and sound stage: There's nothing out there like a NOS, matched pair of 40's TungSol JAN CTL/6SN7GT bottom getter, round plate(not the mouse ear though) or the Sylvania JAN CHS/6SN7W tall bottle(the short ones are a no no). I'm using one of each in my Cary monoblocks(driver and phase splitter), and the results are excellent. The cost of those tubes has gone through the roof lately though. Very close in sound are the Sylvania and Ken-Rad bottom getter VT-231's. Most of what they give up is in the sound stage department(not much though), and they are a tad less liquid in the midrange(both are much less expensive). I'm bi-amping with SS on the bottom, so I can't give you an honest review of the bass through these tubes, but- the 6SN7W is known for it's "slam" and both of the "Grails" for their microdynamics(which I CAN attest to). I've always done well purchasing tubes on eBay, but be certain the seller knows his tubes, gives comprehensive readings, and the triodes are matched(of course- a high feedback score is a must). CAVEAT EMPTOR

Ok it apears that my amps use two 6ns7 and six 5881. What do I do for the 5881's?

Sorry for slow responce..have been working a little too much.