Monoblock amps

Manek, with a tube pre-amp, why didn't he go for a tube power amp?
Would you not lose the benefits of tubes with a SS PA?
Kamal

Kamal schrieb:

Manek, with a tube pre-amp, why didn't he go for a tube power amp? Would you not lose the benefits of tubes with a SS PA? Kamal

The answer to this question is "depends". Depends on the implementation of the s.s. power amp. Usually having an tube pre & a s.s power amp is the best of both worlds - liquid midrange (tubes), soundstage depth (tubes), width (tubes & ss), bass (s.s) & extended hi freq (tubes, if the pre is designed correctly), headroom (s.s), dynamics (tubes & ss). This is from personal experience.
If the s.s amp design is mediocre you could lose what you gained from the pre.

You can also get the above attributes from a tube power amp by making judiocious choice. Again, from personal experience.
As Manek stated, I have the AES Sixpacs. They lose to my s.s. power amps in bass weight & grunt. this is to be expected with a tube amp the size of the Sixpacs & it being operated in 0dB feedback (I disabled the 10dB feedback option! ) wherein the output impedance is not very low hence bass control & impact is sacrificed. it is still very good but not s.s. type.

There are some kick-ass tube power amps that would beat many s.s power amps in bass weight & grunt. However, they cost a pretty penny too!

couldnt have said it better myself, bombaywalla.

yeah square, I think its one of the 8000 series with rega planet 2000 cdp.

Manek.

Bombaywalla said:

There are some kick-ass tube power amps that would beat many s.s power amps in bass weight & grunt. However, they cost a pretty penny too!

Can you drop a few names ?

Thanks !

Lamm , Wavac, Macintosh ?
$$$$$$$$$

bombaywalla schrieb:

...having an tube pre & a s.s power amp is the best of both worlds

What if things go terribly wrong and you acquire the worst from both the world

Lamm , Wavac

Kick ass bass from Macs... probably agree.

I have not had the priviledge to hear the Lamm Tube amp, but reviewers dont... I think ... complement its bass slam. In that dept its probably more Lamm(e) than Whamm !

The Wavac ... their top of the line 150 Watt SET Valve amp is in 6 seperate Chasis, and costs US $ 150 K I think.

It promises to deliver 105 Watts ( YEAH 105 Watts as a SET Triode ! ) but the technical test had me in splits... it would not go beyong 15 Watts, I think... Check out the Stereophile review, on the Stereophile site ( www.stereophile.com )

If THAT is their BEST product ......

Bass Slam needs spped but more importantly - WATTS, probably even more than a fish needs water...

( Just to clear the air... I AM a TUBE freak... a convert after more than 25 years of SS )

Amp_Nut schrieb:

Bombaywalla said: There are some kick-ass tube power amps that would beat many s.s power amps in bass weight & grunt. However, they cost a pretty penny too! Can you drop a few names ? Thanks !

Yes!
Lamm hybrid that have 100W+/ch.
VTL Siegfried & Wotan monoblocks. Some of their earlier models too were very good such as VTL175.
McIntosh - some of their big & ugly monos (I'm not a McIntosh fan, I'm sorry! )
Manley Labs NeoClassic
CAT JL2 - this amp is my obsession, my junoon! One day, I must have this amp. it is totally killer in performance & price! :hail.
Wolcott Presence 220W/ch.

screamgigi schrieb:

bombaywalla schrieb: ...having an tube pre & a s.s power amp is the best of both worlds What if things go terribly wrong and you acquire the worst from both the world

LOL, Screamgigi!
yes, this condition is very much possible if one chooses unwisely. There are many such posts I've read on various audio forums.
Luckily, for me & the friends that I know, we've not had this (unfortunate) condition arise so far.

bombaywalla schrieb:

Wolcott Presence 220W/ch.

Humm..you sure do know your tube amps.
This is the only modern tube amp that I long to hear someday.

Manek schrieb:

couldnt have said it better myself, bombaywalla. yeah square, I think its one of the 8000 series with rega planet 2000 cdp. Manek.

Wow. That is a good combo. I know someone in Bangalore who has an 8000 amp with rega planet or Jupiter (I am not sure of the exact model) driving a Proac Response 1se with fantastic results.

square_wave schrieb:

Manek schrieb: couldnt have said it better myself, bombaywalla. yeah square, I think its one of the 8000 series with rega planet 2000 cdp. Manek. Wow. That is a good combo. I know someone in Bangalore who has an 8000 amp with rega planet or Jupiter (I am not sure of the exact model) driving a Proac Response 1se with fantastic results.

Jeeves...
So have you got an opportunity to listen to his system ?

Yup….Jeeves only
I did hear the system. Fantastic That is all I can say……..

Currently use an ss pre but would love to use the CAT JL2 (lucky bombaywallah). Probably have to wait till India's GDP goes to 12%!
Its an Aragon 8008BB by the way and a Jupiter.

Jeeves schrieb:

Currently use an ss pre but would love to use the CAT JL2 (lucky bombaywallah). Probably have to wait till India's GDP goes to 12%! Its an Aragon 8008BB by the way and a Jupiter.

Jeeves, I dream of this amp. I do not own it...............as yet!
I'm buying lottery tickets just in case I strike it one day.....

Jeeves, I dream of this amp. I [b]do not[/b] own it...............as yet!
I'm buying lottery tickets just in case I strike it one day..... [/quote]

Nice Amplifier;


Have had the pleasure of listening to it a few times [2].
Ascendo [Germany]. I had liked what I had heard.

I am sure you can buy it in the 2nd hand market rather easily - Audiogon -

All the best !

Bhagwan