SET Asylum

Single Ended Triodes (SETs), the ultimate tube lovers dream.

Return to SET Asylum

Message Sort: Post Order or Asylum Reverse Threaded

Just bought my first SET but it is "muddy"?

216.123.121.139
Posted on April 30, 2000 at 00:17:22
Hoyt Graham


 
Hello. Can I ask for some possible suggestions.

I just received my first SET, having purchased the unit 2nd hand. Without naming the amp, (I would hate to suggest the amp is at fault here as I am a newbie) it has SV 572 tubes, and is 50 WPS. The amp is more 'muddy' than the YBA Integre SS it replaced. More airy and better soundstage (the speakers disappeared for the first time)as well, but not crisp by any means. Much more powerful, all other parts of the system the same. I know I have some weaknesses in my system, but could these drastically reduce emotion and clarity/ accuracy overall? I fear I made a bad purchase as I did not have the opportunity to audition with my gear or in my room.

* I Have a YBA CD3 player (Should be ok, it is 6 months new, low hours)
* I Have a relatively inexpensive ($300) copper interconnect
* I Have a pair of 12 year old NAD Camber speakers, 4 ohm, and I have used the 4 ohm posts on the amp
* I Have a generic copper speaker cable, bare wires to posts.
* I am running direct from CD to amp using two volume pots in back of amp
* My room is 15' by 22'
* The amp had only 200 hours on it, but has been sitting for 2 months awaiting a buyer

What would you suggest for clarity and/ or accuracy? Silver interconnects? (I am getting ready to buy a pair of used TARA Labs RSC Air 1's which I think is a well regarded copper). Could it have taken a bad bump during shipping? Would a preamp help? Perhaps the SET just doesn't like the NAD speakers? (I plan to replace the speakers but need my bank balance to recover a bit) Do the tubes need to be (re)broken in? Are Svetlana 572 tubes good, or is this a primary problem to begin with?

Thank you for your thoughts. I really don't want to give up on this purchase but right now, I wish I had 'more'.

Hoyt.

 

Hide full thread outline!
    ...
Your Cary Amps Are Probably Fine, posted on April 30, 2000 at 08:10:07
Mister Pig


 
My first guess would be that the amps are probably fine. I would consider replacing the speaker wire as soon as possible. Silver is a nice cable, and works well, but does get expensive. If you use copper cabling Tara Labs and Alpha Core make some very nice stuff. Also I would look at what pre driver tubes you are using. If they are chinese or soviet tubes, I would consider replacing them ASAP. A good NOS tube does a far better job. I dont know alot about your NAD speaker, so I wont be able to give you any good advice about them, maybe other inmates can. But I would also try to find out how many hours are on the output tubes, they could be at the end of their useful life span. But dont give up on this purchase, I think your amps just need a bit of TLC and they will be fine.

Regards
Mister Pig

 

You need new speakers..., posted on April 30, 2000 at 08:43:26
Rich


 
8 ohm impedance or higher, 90 db sensitivity or higher, and 8 inch or smaller woofers. This will eliminate your mud.

 

Re: You need new speakers..., posted on April 30, 2000 at 10:33:49
Hoyt Graham


 
Hi Rick. My amp has speakers posts for 4, 8, and 16 ohm settings. I have them tied into the 4 ohm posts as the speakers are 4's. Does the resistance really matter that much? I hoped the proper setting helped. New speakers to me are $2000 and I am somewhat isolated so hearing is a problem...

Thanks.

 

Re: Your Cary Amps Are Probably Fine, posted on April 30, 2000 at 10:41:37
Hoyt Graham


 
Thanks for the note. I have two smaller tubes (pre drivers?) The midsized tubes are General Electric 6Y6GT and the smallest ones are Phillips ECG. I am told all tubes are new or with only 200 hours on them. Are these good one's? Also is the Svetlana 572 tubes ok as tubes go? Also, my amp is not Cary, though I heard after that Cary makes monoblocks using the SV 572's.

Again, thanks. I will have new Tara Labs interconnects this week.

 

Well it Was Just A Guess....LOL.(nt), posted on April 30, 2000 at 13:42:53
Mister Pig


 
..

 

No tube amp..., posted on April 30, 2000 at 18:14:05
Rich


 
sounds its best into lower impedances. This is especially true of single ended amps. Many will drive 4 ohm loads, but you have no idea how good the amp can sound until you hear it with an 8 ohm or higher load and smaller woofers (8" or less). Low impedance in the bass is especially a problem.

Borrow a good sounding pair of 8 ohm mini-monitors with 6 inch woofers. You'll understand what I'm talking about.

 

Cables, Jenalabs?, posted on April 30, 2000 at 22:05:22
fred


 
IF I may breakin, has anyone checked Jenalabs cables and interconnects? Wondering how they sound.

 

SV572, posted on April 30, 2000 at 22:28:52
MTL


 
The SV 572 should give you a clarity that no SS amp can provide.It is also a powerful tube.Power with grace.If the bias is adjustable I suggest trying the cheaper SV 811 also.
As regarding your problem I think you should concentrate on two things first ,i.e.amp or speaker,to identify the problem.

 

Re: Hoyt has the Wavac 572-160, posted on May 1, 2000 at 02:56:08
Robert J


 
I assume that Hoyt is using the Wavac MD572. Other than Cary, ( I
own a pair of their 572-3), the other manufacturers of amplifiers with the Svetlana 572 is Wyethech and Viva. Their are alot of
DIY tube assemblers that choose this tube too!

I do not think the Wavac is at fault...though you shoul contact
Jim Ricketts at TMH Audio since he is the importer.

 

Re: No tube amp..., posted on May 1, 2000 at 11:32:24
Brad Brooks


 
Hoyt:

Try connecting your speakers to the 8-ohm connection on your amp, just to see if it will make a difference.

The speaker impedance is really a nominal value, as typical impedances will vary from a couple of ohms to many, and still be rated as a "4 ohm speaker". By the way, ohms is a measurement of both resistance and impedance--impedance is what we are talking about this case.

There is no good technical reason that a tube amp would not perform well into a 4 ohm impedance--that is what the output transformer is for. Good output trannies will do it fine. Poor quality output trannies will not. Which output tap you use should be determined by how it works best with your particular speaker. Again, try connecting the speakers to 8 ohm output trannie taps to see how it sounds.

After you do that, it could very well be that your speaker is presenting a difficult load, or just not sensitive enough.

Good Luck.

Brad

 

Not Necessarily True...., posted on May 1, 2000 at 15:14:56
Mister Pig


 
Afraid I cant agree with this statement wholeheartedly. I we are talking about the majority of 2a3 and 300b based amps, I think thats a true statement. The transmitter tube SETS seem to offer more flexibility in terms of speaker matching. I currently use a pair of Cabasse Farella 400's that have a dip to 4.3 ohms at two points.Forget the exact frequencies at the moment, but one is in the midbass. The rest of the speaker is closer to a 6 ohm load. This information was obtained from Cabasse via email. Anyways the AES SE 811 amps have a 4 ohm tap which I use. The bass is tight, fast, extended, and detailed. Beautiful sounding bass. So in my case speaker impedance isnt as big a stumbling stone as many would believe.

Mister Pig
p.s. they do have approx. an 8 inch woofer tho

 

I've never heard any tube amp..., posted on May 1, 2000 at 18:44:26
Rich


 
sound anywhere near its best into a nominal 4 ohm load (and I've experimented with many). I don't pay much attention to theory, I just experiment.

 

Hook that same amp ..., posted on May 1, 2000 at 18:49:34
Rich


 
to some quality 8 ohm nominal speakers that are 8 ohms or higher in the bass and it will sound better. I've yet to hear any tube amp sound its best into a 4 ohm load. My 805B Signature and other 211 or 845 based amps I've experimented with sound good into 4 ohm loads, but divine into 8 ohm loads. Moreover, I've yet to hear a push-pull tube amp sound its best into a 4 ohm load.

 

Remove the binding posts at both end..., posted on May 3, 2000 at 23:00:05
vv52b


 
binding posts distorted sound and restrict current flow! You'll find the amp more powerful than.

http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/Forum14/HTML/000406.html

 

Page processed in 0.014 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 ]