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In Reply to: RE: Warmer sounding output tubes in VTA 70 posted by airtime on August 17, 2016 at 07:29:19
While anything but inexpensive, AVA's hybrid power amps are excellent. They are costly, but not "insanely" so. I own an early version FET-Valve and its voice is quite similar to that of my "McShaned" H/K Cit. 2.Also, 2 Canadian "name" brands: Bryston and Classe are good sounding and not hideously expensive. Bryston's warranty is very lengthy. They would not offer said warranty, if they knew it would have to be frequently honored. ;>)
JMO, quality SS power amplfication "cries out" for tubed preamplification.
Eli D.
Edits: 08/17/16Follow Ups:
Yes, but when most SS amps go to full power with less than 1.0V input (some as low as 0.25V) any tube preamp with gain is a bad match. A solid state amp with 5 or 10 volt input sensitivity is a perfect match for a tube preamp. Tube buffered attenuators with little or no gain are fine, but are really just tone controls.
FWIW, I've never had "hair trigger" volume control problems with my equipment. However, you make a good point. If somebody is going to "mix and match", that individual is well advised to understand resistive "padding" and how to implement it.
Eli D.
Agreed. I think a lot of people lack the understanding of what a system is or how to implement it correctly.
A system where the phono section has enough gain to drive a preamp section that has enough gain to drive the output amplifier that is balance to optimize the gain and matching impedance at each handoff is better.
A cobbled together set of components that has, for example, a source putting out 2 volts, reduced down to 0.1 volts with a pot, amplified back up to 2 volts with the preamp into an amp that has input pots or padding to reduce that back down to 0.1 volts to drive the amp input section that then makes the output signal to the speaker does not make any sense.
I still will pop in a FetValve 300ex and it's really good. It sounds great and never runs out of power. I also have a Fetvalve EX preamp old enough to still have 12ax7s, but I like other things a lot more. It seems a bit too bassy for my taste.
I'm using the Conrad Johnson. Not the warmest tubed preamp I've had but it is the most transparent I've ever had with clarity in spades!!
Bryson - hum
I had my eye on the citation 2 at audio classics. But it will be a year to save up enough to have it McShaned.
I also had my eye on the Mac MC60 as well as some SS pieces. Like the Mac 7100, 502, 2100 (older), Marantz 240, I think that's it?
Charles, what are your sources? maybe they are part of the reason more so than your preamp.
I just wanted to have some fun tube rolling to warm it up a tad.
However Mike's suggestion of putting more carbon film resistors is an interesting one that I may do ONE DAY.
Sorry I don't mean to sound sharp but I am clearly NOT unhappy.
This amp has a very crisp clean sound. Very different from the original 70 but clearly a great sound.
thanks
charles
Let's make this clear - I am NOT unhappy with the amp
that it appears you'll never be completely happy with any amp. It's either "too modern" or not modern enough. You enjoy the chase. :)
Understood. Kegger over at audiokarma knows the board in and out with some interesting ideas. You could message him. I believe the low gain mod, board running 12au7's, was taken from him with a few changes.One easy thing to try that I believe he recommends is disconnecting the NFB wire that goes to the 16ohm tap. Easy to do and worth a try. When I was messing with the same driver board I believe Mike told me to try the same but it's been years.
Edits: 08/18/16
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