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I've just picked up a pair of Tannoy Monitor Gold 15in (in Lancaster cabinets).
I'm getting conflicting advice on what amp to use with these - some telling me they are pretty efficient so 12 or even 8 watts of SET will be enough ... others saying I need 40w of push-pull or even 100w of solid state.
I bought them originally looking to pick up something like a Leak Stereo 20 but now I'm not so sure ...
Sources are a 0.6mv mc through C-J EV1 pre which needs a sensitive amp without step-up (I use a x5 generally) and a fairly low-output home made NOS DAC
Any thoughts?
Follow Ups:
I don't have the Monitor Golds, but on my Tannoy Westminster Royal SEs I find that amps between 9 watts (300B) and 40 watts (Leben CS660P) have worked well. My favorites so far have been the deHavilland 50A, the Leben CS660P, and the Master Sound Cesar 300B. I've tried solid-state with them but I felt like I was giving up too much music - tubes did better by quite a lot. My little Leben EL84 integrated CS300X at 15 watts sounds amazingly good too.
Or have you heard the call of a new siren? Just curious.
I still have the Harbeth SHL5 in a second system, but sold the M40.1.
Best,
Jeff
I think you need to consider more than just power amp output and topology with big drivers like the 15" dual-concentric. They can generate a significant back emf that most tubed amps (and almost all SET's) will find difficult or impossible to control. Many folks like the sound of under-damped woofers, but if realizing whatever LF response your speakers were designed to have is your priority, any good ss amp should do. You can then tweak with room positioning and bass trapping.
BTW, you can approximate the "under-damped" tube sound by adding series resistance between your speakers and a low output impedance ss amp. This way you will at least have some control of (and be able to audition) this quality without having to commit to an expensive tubed amplifier.
I run my 12" Golds (150L cabinets) on 14 watts of EL84 Eico and I get all the volume I need in a fairly large room. I have tried less (ASL Wave 8s) more (Jadis Orchestra PP EL34, 40w), and tons (Bryston combo) but none sounded as jake as the Eico HF81. A buddy uses Quad IIs to fabulous effect with his 15s in big cabs (GRF?). I imagine a low-watt SS class A Sugden or Pass would work well too.
Others will say that they perform best with big power, but it hasn't been my experience.
ben
I believe the rated efficiency of that driver is 92 dB and it is similar (not the same) as the driver in my Tannoy Arden IIs. A good 20 watt tube amp, such as the Leak, will produce beautiful music with the Monitor Gold and I have heard this combination on several occassions. However, when music is more demanding (large scale classic, for example) I think you will need a little more power. So, 40 wpc tube power seems about right to me. I am using a 60 wpc Rogue Atlas on my Ardens and this is more than enough for my listening habits.
It's more like 94db. I think that's good advise. It really depends upon the listeners tastes. I have had a few Tannoys at home and have heard many over the years. I am still a Tannoy dealer. I have also used quite a few of the C-J preamps. The Tannoy DC's can be driven with low wattage amps or high powered amps. That's the beauty of them. The resulting sound can be a deep soundstage with a rich midrange and fat bass from many tubed amps or a tight and clean sound with a wide soundstage and powerfull, controlled bass with a good SS amp. I am also a Rogue Audio dealer and I cannot say enough good things about the Atlas amp. It is very reliable, reasonably priced, excellent sounding and flexible in terms of its power output. You can fit them with EL34 tubes for 55w, KT77 for 75w and with the latest Magnum versions, KT90 tubes for 90w per channel. They have a neutral and controlled sound, clean but with sill enough tube softness to bloom. I'd say that would be a very good match.
-Bill
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