Re: Good point II (long)

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In Reply to: Re: Good point II posted by Ron on February 22, 2002 at 13:30:17:

Ron,
You have some very good components. However, what I think you are experiencing with your sound, is a slight mis-match. Or, to put it another way, your system may be erring towards the brighter side of neutral.
Brystons are very clean sounding amps. Powerful yes, but very clean and detailed. I hesitate to say they are cold, which they are not, but I have never found them to offer the kind of warmth, compared to, say, what a B.E.L. 1001 or Rowland Research Model 1 can offer. Thiels are very resolving speakers, and have a tendency to tilt upwards when matched with cooler sounding equipment. Put the two together, and what you get is a very exacting, and somewhat wanting of a little warmth, sound.
You never mentioned what source you are using. So, assuming it has a neutral sound characteristic, it too, will not lend itself to any added warmth, either.
Can you see where this is going? I find this to be the biggest reason audiophiles grow tired of their systems, sell them off, and start over. Not that any one of their components is bad by itself, they're just bad when combined.
My personal opinion is that buying another preamp, tube or otherwise, is not going to get you 100 percent where you want to go. Sure, an all tube or class a preamp will warm things up a bit, but I feel your amp speaker relationship is going to be the stronger force working against you. I would suggest you start by making a change in that direction first.
Because Theils can also be power hungry, dipping into low ohm territory, the choice of amps is going to be narrow when it comes to combining warmth with power (at a reasonable cost). The Aragon 4004 comes to mind as a good alternative to your Bryston. It has plenty of jucie to drive your 3.5s, but will offer the added warmth that your Bryston is missing. If pinching pennies is your thing, then the B&K EX-442 would also do a nice job, as well. Though it will be much harder to find than the Aragon. If absolute sound volume is not an issue, the 60 watt Rowland model 1 I mentioned earlier is a wonderful amp, if more costlier than the others.
The thing we are trying to do here, is put together components that complement each other, and not add to their individual characteristics. Warm amps, with neutral to coolish speakers usually combine to produce an even tonal balance (generally speaking). From there, if you want to change the sound to either a cooler or warmer tone, the preamp will factor in. Once that amp/speaker relationship has been established, and the combination renders a basically neutral sound, a good quality, all tube preamp can add just the right amount of euphony to give you that liquidity you desire. I must say, the sound of my PV-5 ST-140 combination is like having sweet, golden honey poured all over me!
I could go on and on, sighting endless combinations of equipment, but I think I have pointed you in the right direction. As long as the components are not all the same (relatively) sounding, system synergy can be attained. Keep your source as neutral as possible, too. Because it will factor-in the final equation, dependinging on which way you want the sound to go.
One final thought, and a so often forgotten one. Your room can play as big (if not bigger) part in your systems sound as the equipment itself. Bright sounding equipment, in a cold, sterile room, will have disasterous effects, and send you running for the doors holding your ears. Alternatively, warm sounding equipment in a heavily damped room, can sound overly dull and lifeless. Check your room out, and make adjustments as necessary.
Please, feel free to write me direct if you have any specific concerns. I will be happy to lend assistance.
wpm

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Good tube preamp suggestions for $1,200 or so - Ron 17:50:31 02/21/02 (11)

Try the Blue Circle BC21 - Mike_D 12:53:48 02/22/02 (0)

Re: Good tube preamp suggestions for $1,200 or so - AnandR 10:54:47 02/22/02 (0)

Try out the Rogue 99? - Counting Crows 10:36:01 02/22/02 (0)

Re: Good tube preamp suggestions for $1,200 or so - Jerry O 09:13:59 02/22/02 (0)

Re: Good tube preamp suggestions for $1,200 or so - wpm 18:18:14 02/21/02 (6)

Good point - Ron 21:41:31 02/21/02 (4)

Re: Good point - wpm 09:35:34 02/22/02 (2)

Re: Good point II - Ron 13:30:17 02/22/02 (1)

Re: Good point II (long) - wpm 18:14:52 02/22/02 (0)

Re: Good point - Eli Duttman 23:25:17 02/21/02 (0)

Re: Good tube preamp suggestions for $1,200 or so - svisner 20:33:06 02/21/02 (0)

Follow Ups

Re: Good point II (long) - wpm 18:14:52 02/22/02 (0)

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