Planar Speaker Asylum

Welcome! Need support, you got it. Or share your ideas and experiences.

Return to Planar Speaker Asylum

Message Sort: Post Order or Asylum Reverse Threaded

tubes and Maggies part deux

72.220.169.158
Posted on November 18, 2016 at 19:36:58
Green Lantern
Audiophile

Posts: 16952
Location: San Diego, Ca
Joined: November 12, 2002
Contributor
  Since: June 17, 2003
 after 3 1/2 years with my VTLs I decided to move on, like leaving a good friend the choice wasn't easy but I felt it was time to push ahead. The VTLs at 100w are more than enough for a starter pair to push my pair of MG20s (mids and tweeters) but I was looking for a little bit more of 'inner detail'. I think I've found it.

Saw a pair of Quicksilver audio v4 quicksilver v4 tube mono blocks on Agon a couple weeks ago and decided to give em' a go. Listening to now all I can say is 'wow'. Those big, fat tubes absolutely 'blooms' glorious audio throughout the room.

You're welcome to take a look











 

Hide full thread outline!
    ...
RE: tubes and Maggies part deux, posted on November 18, 2016 at 19:59:11
Satie
Audiophile

Posts: 5426
Joined: July 6, 2002
 The Quicksilvers are really good and do better than any Western made tube amps at their price points.
Congrats and I am happy you found them an upgrade to the VTL.

 

RE: tubes and Maggies part deux, posted on November 19, 2016 at 04:00:17
timm
Audiophile

Posts: 780
Location: Ann Arbor Mi
Joined: January 15, 2008
 Sweet!! That sounded great on my phone! :)

 

RE: tubes and Maggies part deux, posted on November 19, 2016 at 09:51:20
Norman M
 Running tube amps without an accompanying light-show, what's the fun in that!

 

RE: tubes and Maggies part deux, posted on November 19, 2016 at 16:43:02
gadio4533
Audiophile

Posts: 460
Location: FL
Joined: May 28, 2007
 Nice! Would love to hear them....

 

RE: tubes and Maggies part deux, posted on November 20, 2016 at 05:02:27
rosendds@frontiernet.net
Audiophile

Posts: 599
Location: North East
Joined: November 13, 2010
 I am driving 1.7's with a vintage re-built McIntosh Mc275.It does about 90 watts/. I have never driven the 1.7's with a more powerful amp.,but I'm very satisfied with the the system,

 

Congrats!, posted on November 20, 2016 at 08:48:13
E-Stat
Audiophile

Posts: 37666
Joined: May 12, 2000
Contributor
  Since: April 5, 2002
 I feel the same way with tubes and stats.

My fifteen year old MB-450s still have the magic. :)

 

RE: tubes and Maggies part deux, posted on November 20, 2016 at 22:19:52
pictureguy
Audiophile

Posts: 22597
Location: SoCal
Joined: October 19, 2008
 Better than before? Tell me when and I'll drop by for a brief listen.

I thought BEFORE was the limit. Better? That'd be something!
Too much is never enough

 

RE: tubes and Maggies part deux, posted on November 22, 2016 at 05:02:24
Green Lantern
Audiophile

Posts: 16952
Location: San Diego, Ca
Joined: November 12, 2002
Contributor
  Since: June 17, 2003
 I'll invite you guys over but my foreplay preamp just started to develop a noticeable hum. I ordered two new tubes (hoping that all it is) and just waiting on them to arrive.

I'm running the system through my squeezebox (which I can control the volume) bypassing the preamp but it won't get loud enough to adequately display these amps.











 

RE: Congrats!, posted on November 22, 2016 at 13:22:51
timm
Audiophile

Posts: 780
Location: Ann Arbor Mi
Joined: January 15, 2008
 E-Stat...
I have some Martin Logan Odysseys right now..... Any suggestions on affordable tube gear that could deal with the impedance curve? I am considering it as a 'living room' system......

 

RE: Congrats!, posted on November 22, 2016 at 19:02:19
russ69
Audiophile

Posts: 951
Joined: December 13, 2009
 I don't find the M-L particularly hard to drive. Although I have to admit that I don't push them that hard.

 

RE: Congrats!, posted on November 22, 2016 at 23:32:08
pictureguy
Audiophile

Posts: 22597
Location: SoCal
Joined: October 19, 2008
 Depending on model, impedance can really drop as the phase angle goes wacky.
Yes, a demanding load.

Look at Any Stereophile tests of 'Stats. One look at the measured data should convince.
Too much is never enough

 

Looks nice!, posted on November 23, 2016 at 06:43:46
grantv
Manufacturer

Posts: 7729
Location: B.C.
Joined: January 15, 2002
 Would love to hear it... bet it sounds fabulous.

 

RE: tubes and Maggies part deux, posted on November 23, 2016 at 08:55:36
Dynamite Ham
Audiophile

Posts: 232
Location: State of Confusion, U.S.A.
Joined: February 24, 2005
 If you really want to unlock the magic try Shuguang KT88-98 tubes in the Quickies.

 

RE: Congrats!, posted on November 23, 2016 at 12:58:10
russ69
Audiophile

Posts: 951
Joined: December 13, 2009
 "Depending on model, impedance can really drop as the phase angle goes wacky. Yes, a demanding load."

I know some stats can be a difficult load. I drive a pair of M-L Electromotion ESLs with the little Quicksilver Mini-monos and they play quite well. I guess the best advice, when in doubt, is to call the amplifier manufacturer and get an expert opinion.

 

RE: Congrats!, posted on November 23, 2016 at 16:00:33
timm
Audiophile

Posts: 780
Location: Ann Arbor Mi
Joined: January 15, 2008
 My hunch is that the electromotions do not have the same demand as the odyssey. Odyssey dips to around 1 ohm at high frequencies. So my question still stands

 

RE: Congrats!, posted on November 23, 2016 at 16:01:49
pictureguy
Audiophile

Posts: 22597
Location: SoCal
Joined: October 19, 2008
 Too bad that SPEAKER manufacturers dont' publish REAL data on their product's electrical characteristics.

Some of the WORST loads 'in speaker history' were notorious amp killers with only a few of the more robust models being capable of surviving without self-destruction.
I thinking of the original 1ohm Apogee Scintilla. These are NOT 'stats, but just a crazy design of a planar magnetic. Some 'stats go wild above 10khz with very low impedance measured as well as reactance of 60 degrees or MORE.


Too much is never enough

 

RE: Congrats!, posted on November 23, 2016 at 20:59:38
Utley1
Audiophile

Posts: 1609
Location: NYC
Joined: July 30, 2010
Emotiva mono block differential XPA 1 cannot drive them I was told, by Emotiva and cannot handle variable loads below 3 ohms which is the case with ML, Apogee, & Vandersteen . They work perfectly with Magnepan with explosive contrast.Did not know when I bought them. Some of their less expensive non differential amps have no such problem.


 

RE: Congrats!, posted on November 24, 2016 at 06:15:23
Green Lantern
Audiophile

Posts: 16952
Location: San Diego, Ca
Joined: November 12, 2002
Contributor
  Since: June 17, 2003
 I can recall reading some time ago about how the Adcom GFA-555 were once one of only a handful of amps capable of slaying the original Apogee's 1 ohm appetite.









 

RE: Congrats!, posted on November 24, 2016 at 09:16:39
pictureguy
Audiophile

Posts: 22597
Location: SoCal
Joined: October 19, 2008
 And that, of course, designed by Nelson Pass. Sort of figgers don't it?
Too much is never enough

 

RE: Congrats!, posted on November 24, 2016 at 13:33:54
Satie
Audiophile

Posts: 5426
Joined: July 6, 2002
 Here are some impedance curves of infamous amp slayers from Vandersteen and Apogee and models built by the same makers to accommodate more delicate amps - at a price. The Vandy 2Ce and 3A have 3 ohm dips and the Treo and Quattro are carefully built to avoid any dips below nominal 6 and 8 ohms they are rated for - respectively.

Note the shameless resonance peaks of the Apogee minigrand's subwoofers and the punishing 3 ohm flat impedance of the main Stage panel section.

http://www.stereophile.com/images/archivesart/Vanfig1.jpg
http://www.stereophile.com/images/archivesart/V3afig01.jpg

http://www.stereophile.com/images/archivesart/A94FIG04.jpg
http://www.stereophile.com/images/archivesart/A94FIG05.jpg

http://vandersteen.com/media/files/Reprints/Treostereophile.pdf
http://www.stereophile.com/images/archivesart/Duetfig1.jpg

http://www.lippaudio.org/old/MySystems/Scintilla/impedance.html

 

RE: tubes and Maggies part deux, posted on November 29, 2016 at 10:41:12
pictureguy
Audiophile

Posts: 22597
Location: SoCal
Joined: October 19, 2008
 rumor has it that preamp tubes last somewhere between a long time and forever.

Hope new tubes are the 'cure'.
Too much is never enough

 

RE: tubes and Maggies part deux, posted on December 1, 2016 at 15:40:03
mondial
Audiophile

Posts: 891
Location: S.E. ASIA
Joined: January 14, 2007
 Hi fellow planar enthusiast's ,

I think there is something wrong w/ my bone stock external X over of my MG3A . When I drive my MG3A fullrange using my ARC REF 610T mono blocks ( 840 w/ch all tube w/ KT 120's ) they sound thin ,threadbare, bright w/o body nor a tinge of warmth. But when I use a pair of ARC D79B's ( 75 w/ ch all tube ) w/ the ARC EC21 electronic X over they sound superb. Does the stock MG3A external X over that bad , that's why a lot of fellow inmates modify them by upgrading the parts ( caps , resistors , etc ) .

Thanks in advance ,

Mondial

 

Exactically, posted on December 1, 2016 at 20:38:12
Satie
Audiophile

Posts: 5426
Joined: July 6, 2002
 You hit on the issue, there is only so much the price conscious parts choice can get you.

Biamping is a better solution. SS bottom and tube top - tube 200 watter would be quite sufficient on top and something just a tad under 1kw will do the bass panel as far as it can go. 4-500W if you use subs. You already have the ARC XO.

Your marvelous ARCs should do fine with single amping and subs, but you will need to rework the crossover parts. Good parts should cost you just a bit under $1k. Booutique supercomponents will set you back more than double that.

 

RE: tubes and Maggies part deux, posted on December 3, 2016 at 08:28:51
morricab
Distributor or Rep

Posts: 9181
Location: switzerland
Joined: April 1, 2005
 Now try a 20-30 watt SET if you really want inner resolution!

 

RE: tubes and Maggies part deux, posted on December 3, 2016 at 10:50:48
Satie
Audiophile

Posts: 5426
Joined: July 6, 2002
 A friend had terrific results with a Ming Da 805 SET with the feedback dialed back. 50 watter. any thoughts?

 

Page processed in 0.035 seconds.

[ Top Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]