Tube vs. SS Amps - Same stereotypes and tradeoffs for Monstered Powered Amps at Elite Price Points?
-- Sat, 10/24/2009 - 22:09
Hello All,
I may be in position to pick up some very high end monoblock amps to drive some electrostats in time for the winter. In terms of my history and tastes, I like SS amps to drive my speakers. This, of course is based on respectable, but not ridiculous price points. I like the grip, control, dynamics, and bass response of ss. The tubes, of course IMO, do the midrange much better, but lack the other stuff. The SS amps I have enjoyed need to priced near $10K or more. At that price point the designers have gotten closer to capture the tube magic, or at least enough for me to be able to make the trade off, especially when using a tubed preamp.
Anyone hear any of the elite priced, monster powered tube amps? Compare them to expensive SS? Do the expensive tube amps close the gap to SS in terms of control, bass, etc. How close are they? Ideally, there is an amp that brings all of the virtues together, or am I dreaming?
Which brands will be worth auditioning - ARC, CJ, VTL, Joule Electra, CAT, others?
Thanks
I believe Rogue makes a pair of tube mono-blocks in the ten grand range, using 6550s.
The ARC 610T is an incredibly special amp. It concedes very very little to monster SS (Krell, Soulution et al) in terms of control, bass, but are oh so much more magical everywhere else. If you are looking to spend that kind of budget on an amp, you owe to yourself to listen to the ARC, VTL etc.. before making a choice.
For bigger power requirements I would go SS. The likes of Soulution, FMA will keep you in good company. More neutral and truer to live interpretations of recorded music. As for tube, the higher the power, the higher the number of tubes, the higher the likelihood/chance of an error and mishap. Not to mention that certain time frame you will only get to enjoy them at 'peak' performance (after break-in), after which (loosing bias) is gradually downhill all the way. Thus, if I were to go back and do tube, SETs or lower powered ones would be my choice (with preference the 300Bs varieties using NOS W.E). I would then find myself a good set of efficient speakers and use something like the Audionote, Wavac or Lamm ML3 to drive them. They are just so much purer and natural sounding than any pentode numbers to these ears.
"For bigger power requirements I would go SS. The likes of Soulution, FMA will keep you in good company. More neutral and truer to live interpretations of recorded music.."
Pure unadulterated hogwash!
Chill up, go for your wash and listen to Rouge!
Rouge? Ya can't spell either!
Whatever.. not interested, couldn't be bothered!
Lamm ML3 at 32 wpc SET DHT, it can drive virtually most speakers (but it is ridiculously priced)
How efficient are your speakers
Many industry insiders do not recommend monster powered tube amps because of reliability issues. This includes many of the brands mentioned above. There are too many horror stories of not just the amps going out, but amps taking the speakers out with them.
Of course, one can get a couple sets of monoblock amps and a couple of sets of speakers as back ups. It could get really expensive, unfortunately.
When I've heard of speakers being damaged, it usually happens by over-driving solid state amplifiers.
Somewhat the problem I have encountered, though not as far as damaging the speakers (yet). They were generally not a problem during their first few years (from brand new), after which then there would usually be just too much time spent worrying--trouble shooting, rectifying, biasing etc2 and in the end defeats the purpose of all this which to me is ultimately--musical enjoyment. The big powered tubes I've owned over span of 30yrs were VTL300, Ichiban, ARC D115, M300, Classic 150, REF 600 mkIII, Jadis JA200. Although some were totally reliable requiring not more than just their periodic re-tubing, others were quite a pain, with some un-rectifiable (had to be shipped back to factory--hence the cost and the wait). Had better times with lower powered and SETs numbers--VTL 90 (300Bs), Audionote Kondo Ongaku, Cary 211 (805), these imo, matched to the right speakers sounded gloriously purer too. Have since moved on to SS and learn more to enjoy the music and less time worrying about equipments. It's a tough act to do considering my lengthy tube years, but there are currently quite a few recent and decent SS numbers which could manage just that.
High performance cars are a pain also. So why do people continue to covet them?
Good analogy. I guess one has to weigh the pain and pleasure if one cannot afford the redundancy. The frustration factor must be huge. Is not having the system operational for 1, 2, 3, possibly 4 months of the year worth it? Only each individual can decide.
Post of the day!
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