2. amps-preamps
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Antique Sound Lab 805 DT SETs--WOW

This isn't a review but more an attempt to reduce my initial impressions to writing. I'm anything but a golden-eared audiofile; I'm more a tin-eared audiofool as I've said many times. One reason for that is my aural memory seems to be about 3 seconds long. Others change a component and listen to a system they haven't heard for a day and say 'gee, listen to that', or 'doesn't THAT sound lots better!'. I stand there and think something like 'yea it sounds OK, but how does he REMEMBER how it USED to sound?'. However, I seem to be good at longer-term evaluations done over days, weeks, etc.

Thursday a pair of new ASL Explorer 805 DT poweramps arrived. (They're 50-Watt Single-Ended Triodes that use the big 805 transmitting tube for output, a 12AX7 frontend, and a 6L6/KT66/EL34 driver. [Mine were supplied with EH 12AX7s and Chinese 6L6s. I'm using a pair of National Union/Amperex 805s I bought USED.] The amps retail for $2995/pr. I bought mine from the very helpful Chris Kipp of The Audio Gallery in Sacramento.) I've been using a pair of very-nice-sounding New Generation 100-Watt (in UL) mono amps in triode, producing about 40 Watts each. (See my System for more info.) The 805DTs went in Thursday, I listened for a couple hours, rebalanced* the multichannel system Friday nite and listened a bit that evening too. Today I played a DVD-A, Korngold's music from 'Robin Hood', on Naxos. I love this music and this recording and have heard it many times.

WOW is the best word I can come up with to describe the wonderful sound I hear today. The sound is simply more natural and PLEASANT sounding...it sounds more like real music sounds to me, and I hear a LOT of it in concert halls all over the West. Euphonic colorations? Maybe; I don't care...the MUSIC sounds GREAT and makes my investment worth every penny. NOTHING else changed in the system; only the poweramps. Just think...they'll get better as everything breaks in--I can hardly wait.

Back later--there's MUSIC to listen to. ........ :-)

* This required only a 1dB increase in the front-L/R channels. NOTHING else was changed.
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128x128jeffreybehr

Showing 1 response by pryso

pryso
1,912 posts
 
Jeffreybehr, we exchanged messages a few years ago (Two Jeffreys question).
Apparently you still have that turnstile installed in the doorway of your
listening room! You certainly have gone through a variety of equipment. But
it sounds like you're having fun and that's good.

Now, regarding power needs. A year and a half ago I bought a pair of 97 dB
speakers, my first venture into HE systems. I was able to borrow a number of
amps from friends (no local dealers seem to be into HE systems) that ranged
from 3-4 watts up to 25, and a mix of SET and PP. In general, even with the
efficiency of my speakers, musical realism/satisfaction improved with each
increase in power output. There was one exception, a 6 watt PX-25 amp that
sounds like it has roughly triple the output. It also offers a musical
refinement most of the more powerful amps didn't produce.

My bottom line conclusion? Generally you can't rely on an efficiency/power
needs chart, so don't hesitate to try more powerful amps than such a chart
tells you. A 97 dB speaker will play at 103 dB with only 4 watts? Not
successfully if you listen in at least an average size room and to anything
other than chamber music or solo folk singers.
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