2. amps-preamps
  3. 1100726914

Argh Too Many Choices

I have been considering switching to an all-tube preamp/amp combo for a little while and have read a lot of reviews of various tube equipment. There is just too much to choose from, as soon as I think I've settled on something I read about another product and start re-thinking my choices. I can't remember if it was Alvin Toffler or John Nesbitt who coined the term "hyper-choice" (or something like it), whereby consumers are faced with so many products to choose from that they end up feeling paralysed or frozen and unable to make a decision. In any event, I seem to be afflicted by this phenomenon.

Here is a sample of tube gear that I had decided upon only to find something else to consider:

- Wright Sound Mono8 amps and WLA12 pre;
- Canary Audio CA301 MkII amp and CA880 pre;
- Rogue Magnum 90 amp and 66 or 99 pre;
- Manley Mahi monos and Shrimp pre;
- Yamamoto A-08 45 SET amp (2 Wpc) and CA-04L pre;
- and many others, but these are the most recent ones.

Currently I have a Blue Circle BC21.1 tubed pre and BC22 ss amp, an Anthem CD-1 player, NAD tuner, Rune speakers are by Zu (sensitivity of 101dB, 12 Ohms impedance), and Zu interconnects, speaker cables and pc's. As you can see, the speakers are high sensitivity with a 10" full-range driver supplemented by a supertweeter without a crossover. This is the main reason I've considered low-powered SETs. Also, I feel the BC21.1 has too much gain for this set-up, I don't get very far with the volume control before hitting my comfort zone and it's not easy to achieve a level for late-night listening.

I'm looking for some tube magic to enhance the presence of the music, infuse a bit of warmth into a somewhat bright system, although it is not glaringly so, and fill out the bass a little more. Thoughts and advice would be most welcome.

Regards.

Max
mghcanuck

Showing 1 response by jax2

jax2
3,031 posts
 
George Wright's gear is great stuff, especially when paired off together as you are considering. However I'd agree with Boa2, but would stretch it a step further; neither of his SET offerings are going to offer you what I'm guessing would be a "fuller" bass than your SS setup (BTW, I'd agree to plug the amp into the wall outlet as opposed to a conditioner before you give up). Warmer? Yes. Tube Magic? Houdini would be proud! But low bass? Look elsewhere. If he is still making them, his 2A3-based push/pull Mono 10's come very close to a SET sound while giving a corresponding authority to the bass of a push/pull. They're a great combination of midrange magic with a bit more hold on the low end than any of the SET offerings George has (I've heard all of his amps - wonderful stuff...great bang for the buck too!). I've heard great things about your BC 21.1 so my instinct would be, if you do decide to swap out gear in a quest for a different, warmer sound, that you may want to hang onto that preamp and start with swapping out the SS amp. Certainly going to a thoughtfully chosen tube amp would give you a more holographic presentation, especially if you move in the direction of SET. I know absolutely nothing about your speakers so cannot comment there, but 101 db efficiency leaves the door wide open to SET power.

Good luck!

Marco
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