change amps or speakers
@majorc Yes, and It might be worthwhile to head over to the Klipsch forum, lots of quicksilver amp owners there with all the different models. Many over there are into the lower power / low noise amps paired up with classic horn versions. A different sound compared to your EMT. |
@majorc By chance are you in Sac? Familiar combo here locally. I’ve heard the LFT8bs on the larger 100w QS Mono 120s, and the smaller LFT16s on amps as low as 10w. In either case, neither were super loud but sure are musical. Neat speakers. It depends on how loud you want to play them, and those speakers can be tricky if they are not placed out from the wall, very room sensitive. The older 2014 review by AS indicated they preferred the 8bs with at least 100wpc. https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/eminent-technology-lft-8b-loudspeaker/?page=4 However, I’m also wondering if your DAC direct to the Mono 60s is not giving you sufficient output voltage/gain to drive the Mono 60s properly. I’ve tried a former DAC direct to my own QS amps and it did not drive them properly. Do you have access to someone you could borrow an active preamp from to test it out before bailing on speakers or amps? |
@majorc Did not realize you had older Mono 60s with EL34s. Great tube, less drive. +1 on earlier KT88 suggestion. Genelex Gold Lyon KT88s, a good tube preamp, and good OCC interconnects could give you more drive and transparency you are looking for. Or, if you go to different speakers, what color stain are they and how old are the LFT8s? PM me if you plan to sell them. May know of a buyer :) |
@majorc By chance have you heard your LFT8 speakers in an audio store with quality tube amp or monos at 100wpc+? (or solid state amp) I’ve heard them locally with 100pc tube amps (QS Mono 120s with KT150s) in fact, and they are wonderful sounding speakers; even compared to $5k 2-way Audio Note speakers along the same lines as the Salk/Fritz. Your LFT8s can give off a sound a smaller box speaker cannot replicate in the same way. Don’t mean to push, but those are nice speakers with the right preamp/amp combination. Can sound wonderful given a chance, I’ve heard them at least 20+ times and enjoyed them every time with the right pre/amp, and particularly when fed with a really good Audio Note DAC and Audio Note preamp, wow. Can be amazing. Keep them if you can! +1 charles1dad, what he said. With the lower power and older version EL34 based QS monos, many go for a more efficient speaker, several collegues in my areas with those amps, and many settled on speakers 92-100db sensitivity. With the newer QS Monos with KT88s, I’ve heard them with mid efficiency speakers 88-92db sensitivity, and they can do pretty well but with a good active (non-passive) preamp with some gain helps too. btw, I've heard the Sonic Frontiers preamp you have and tried, it was a little bit more laid back...a buddy of mine had one for 3 years, and he ended up parting with it for an Audible Illusions Modulus III that drove his RM EL34 tube amp a lot better for his less efficient 88db Totem speakers, Similar scenario as yours. Sorta know what you are referring to. @hilde45 can tell you all about the Salk and Fritz after having completed an exhaustive review using the latest (larger transformer) QS Mono 60s, an offline discussion with him might help there too. |
@majorc I’d get a good matching tube preamp no matter what. Tons of threads on this topic alone. If you do order a Linestage preamp from Mike at QS, heads up, for $50 upgrade service fee, he can convert the TapeOut to a 2nd set of PreOuts if yourdecide to bi-amp as others suggested earlier. Or, use the added pre-outs to add a really good subwoofer for added bottom end your mono 60s won’t have to make up for. A nice sub could fill in bottom end and let your LFT8s flow with KT88s in the Mono 60s. Add good tubes in Linestage preamp from Mike@QS. Local Tech Option: You mentioned a local tech. Yes, a good local tech can also upgrade coupling caps in those amps to much better ones to add transparency you are looking for, along with checking tubes, re-bias. I upgraded my own QS Mono 120s with Mundorf Supreme EVO Silver-Gold caps, and the upgrade has been very rewarding. Yes, see your tech! Option-C: Check this out. If you keep the LFT8 speakers, you could do the preamp now, add KT88s, run for 1-2 years. Then,wait for KT170 based amps to come out next! Yes, did not mis-spell. New tube coming from Tung Sol would be perfect for your LFT8s. :) Guarantee you’d love those LFT8s all over again with a bit more drive. https://www.instagram.com/p/CG77jvZJEoH/?igshid=xj8re0i2fhl2 |
@yogiboy Do you have the older 60 watt Quicksilvers? Or the new ones?+1 @yogiboy Agree. This is an important question for @majorc to answer to first. @majorc FYI, my local dealer who’s carried Quicksilver amps and Eminent Technology speakers since the 90s shared to pass along to you today, quote: "the older mono sixties with smaller transformers running EL34 output tubes are power limited to effectively drive and power the lower efficiency 82db sensitivity EMT LFT8b speakers." He’s tried several amps with your speakers over the past few decades. He also shared, The "latest design QS Mono 60s with the LARGER transformers and KT88s -OR- the QS Mono 120s with KT150 tubes -OR- a good 100wpc solid state amplifier would be a much better choice to drive your LFT8b speakers". He also shared a good matching preamplifier for a proper amp(s) is highly recommended. Hope this helps... |
@ditusa Your super cool el34 quad-output-tube Silver 60 amps (with larger V4 amp transformers) are close to 2x the drive compared to the older and smaller dual-output-tube EL34 monos. Now your amps would definitely drive @majorc ’s LFT8b speakers. I’ve actually heard that combo together before at a local dealer. Was there to buy those amps on trade-in, and they sold too fast. Very nice. Lucky You :) |
@majorc IF you decided to sell them, your current el34 based Monos would make a nice setup for someone within the higher-efficiency speaker crowd, kind of desirable amps on the used market. Could recoup some funds there. And of course, the other option is to keep them and buy much higher sensitivity speakers, you know that already. Since you’ve not bought a preamp yet... One other option might be to part with the monos and purchase a really nice higher power integrated tube amp to more effectively drive your EMT LFT8b speakers. |
@majorc Yeah, kinda wondered if he'd say that, and he's a Klipsch horn speaker guy according to local dealers here. I've only heard your same taller EMT LFT8Bs with the later model Quicksilver mono amps with the larger transformers and knurled speaker terminals. Sounded quite nice. Also heard the smaller version EMT LFT16a 85db speaker many times paired with a low 8 watt limited production Audio Note Meishu integrated tube amp and it was impressive. 16As were amazing with the new QS Mono 120s, and could tell the EMTs like power. Matching well is key for sure. fwiw, both pairs on all amps were run with very low capacitance RCA silver interconnects and low capacitance silver plated speaker cables. All combos had plenty of volume in a 20'x40' foot room too. |
