i am wondering how many folks here own more than one amp. I own a couple of amps...a tube mono block ( Jadis) and a stereo ss Jeff Rowland model 8t ( modded). These two amps give me what I consider to be the best of ss and tubes. i do NOT use the amps in the system at the same time. As such, the system requires two sets of speaker cables and two sets of ic cables. I can run two amps off my preamp. Anyone else have the option of two amps..if so, what are they and why do you run multiples.
George, you might be surprised that another amp would give you a different ’flavor’ which you might equally like as much as your ’best to do the job’. IME, there are several different variations on a theme ( ss vs tube,Class A, Class AB, Class D etc, high power vs low power etc) ...and several of those variations can be extremely enjoyable. Try it, you might like it.
Like I said I have the best one for the job, that doesn’t mean I didn’t try any before settling on that amp, but always "end up with the one" Just like my dac's I have a few but there is still "the one"
I have only low-powered tube amps these days. I have a pushpull 45 amp that probably does around 3 watts, a parallel single-ended 2a3 amp that is rated at 6.5 watts (I believe), and a pushpull 349 amp that is good for around 5 watts. The 349 amp is what I am currently running. The parallel SET 2a3 amp is the only "regular" commercial model (Audio Note Kageki).
Well, let's see there's the amp in my iPod, MacBook Pro, Macbook Air, wife's cell phone, Comcast cable box, Herron phono stage, my cell phone, oh and six more around the house, then there's the Melody I use, the Aronov that's busted but can't bring myself to throw away, and the whatever it is in the living room. Oh! Almost forgot! The CD player has an amp, DVD ditto, and the tuner as well- so 18. Wow!
Oh crap! Almost forgot the cars! Make it an even 20!
I've owned multiple amps before, but found I typically just used my favorite of the amps owned at any given time. I still flirt with the idea of adding a solid state amp to the mix to get a different flavor vs. tubes. Too many home improvements to make in the next few years to spend money on audio, so it will have to wait... although I have tried three different varieties of power tubes (EL34, KT77 and KT88's) with my Music Reference RM9 MKII, and am tempted to try GE 6550's.
I have, and use nearly every day, five amps, three of which are Class D for home theater use, one SET 300B, (my favorite amp) and an SET 845 I'm still debating the merits of.
In my main system I rotate between 3 amps every 2 weeks ; enjoy each and , as daveyf suggested, the different flavors. Modwright LS100 tube preamp/ KWA100SE solid state power amp; Line Magnetic 518IA tube integrated; Finale Audio 7189 MK2 tube integrated.
In my 2 second system I use an Ayon Spirit 2 tube integrated. Occasionally I'll run it as a power amp with a Herron Audio VTSP 1 tube preamp. Headphone system Ray Samuels The Raptor headphone amp
I have 3 pairs of monoblock amps: Emotive Audio Vita amps (push pull KT-120), DIY 46 single ended, and DIY push pull 6L6. They all sound good although quite different from each other. I tend to swap one set out for another every few weeks.
In use:
Aloia / This is a 2 piece SS stereo unit with an induction power supply (in use). This one is exceptional with the Wilson speakers I'm currently running
Not currently in use:
Solid State: Forte Model 1A Valvet mono blocks / Single ended SS
Tube: Jeff Korneff 6550 SET amp ASL Mono Blocks Halo (not Parasound) Mono Blocks
I am intrigued by4 preamps in one system. I understand a line and phono preamp, but what are the other 2 for and how do you implement them? Do you get superior sound that way? This really does intrigue me.
2 sets of modified/updated EICO HF35 tube monoblocs. 2 Croft 25R tube phono preamps. A 90 pound TVA1 in need of repair. A few solid state integrateds in boxes. T-amp with 5A PSU for PC.
Mcintosh Ma5200 2x100 Mcintosh mc7106 6x100 Another mc7106 (cause you need two), accuphase p-250 2x100? marantz 1608 and an old pioneer Schiit freya + Musical surroundings phenomena 2+
I have a pair of Quicksilver M120s that get the playing time in my main system, a Yamamoto A-08S 45 tube amp that I am likely not going to use but can't bring my self to sell just in case, Canary CA306 300B amp and a Pass Labs XA30.5 amp. The Canary and the Pass both work so well with my set up that they aren't going anywhere either. I have a like New Jolida 302 BRC in case one of my kids show an interest, a pair of BK M140s and a Yamamoto HA-03 headphone amp in my headphone system. After putting this down in print and rereading it, I think it's time to get rid of all of them but my Quicksilvers and the two Yamamotos. Thanks for bringing it up.
Main Amp - PS Audio BHK 250 Secondary System - PS Audio M700s HT system - EMotiva XPA-7 Office System - Schiit Vidar x 2
Main Pre-Amp - PS Audio BHK Secondary System - Parasound P6 HT system - Yamaha 3080 Office System - Schiit Freya+
Main DAC - PS Audio Directstream Secondary System - Mytek Brooklyn+Office System - Schiit Bifrost
I have a sickness. My wife and family still love me, despite my debilitating Audio illness. Don’t get me started on the warehouse of speakers.
Seriously, I love audio and love audio gear. I love the craftsmanship and engineering that goes into each piece. I like to reverse engineer items and learn from them. I do hobby DIY on the side and like to learn from the masters. I like to keep as many pieces as I can afford so that I can mix and match and create different sonic signatures. Once an item has cycled beyond my office system, it gets sold. A man has to have limits (so I am told). Practically speaking, the house just can’t hold more than that.
Two: NAD 2400 and Quad 606 mki, both from the 1980's; the Quad having lower distortion. Used to have a third (Parasound HCA-1500), and that one had sounded worse than the other two at $500 used (sorry John Curl), and I couldn't wait to get rid of it. I love buying older used gear on Ebay, and soldering in new components (that may or may not be better than the OEM ones). Main purpose for having more than one, is so I can have a backup in case I'm doing work on one of them, especially if the mods don't go well: for example, the Parasound was on fire; I had put a dead short on the board that had gone undetected. Luckily, it was a three channel amp, and I was able to sell the other two. Also, I would not have to do without my system, when selling and buying second hand, where I don't know how long it will take to sell an item.
well..... I counted just to be sure. I have 18 integrated amps, 7 preamps, 16 amplifiers and 3 EQ's. Or to put it more succinctly, I have a compulsive behavior problem. Speakers are even worse, I'm not counting. I swap them tube, SS as the mood strikes or 2x monthly on average.
From where I'm sitting I see: Sumo Andromeda, BEL 1001, custom-built SE 6BG6, GAS Son of Ampzilla, Bryston 3B, Kenwood KM208. Around the corner are two SAE's (MkXXX in a wood case and a 101).
In the next room: a pair of rare Quad 50 monos, Tim Rawson First Watt F5, Quartre Gain Cell 250, GAS Son, Muse 100, Audionics CC2, Bedini 25/25. Two more rooms to go!
I have a number of items across the board and I would like to swap them around to see effect. The big problem I have, is that would involve the usual excessive swearing, dripping sweat and highly raised blood pressure in moving them around in racks and inserting cables and plugs and sockets in impossible to reach places. For example, I have knocked over and broken at least 3 times an expensive lamp that I thought I could squeeze past each time, thinking each time my great care was going to be sufficient. BUT .. these things are inanimate objects that have an agenda! They have a built in psyche to cause you as much distress as possible! If they can catch you finger they will - if they can get you to fall over whilst bending round impossible corners .. they will! Ooh ... can we have a revolutionary system that tames these wild totally selfish sodding blocks of metal. And it has taken me months to get over that slipped disc moving my Kell 250. I think we need another thread of "damage inflicted upon us by inanimate objects"!! Teach them a lesson, I say ...
Now I don't feel bad: Mark Levinson 20.6 Class A 100-watt monos (Winter space heaters); Mark Levinson 23.5 (Summer); Audio Research 100.2; Homemade 2A3 monos; Heavily modified Adcom 535
especially after returning to my highly efficient horn speakers, allowing me to never need more than my current 45 wpc integrated tube amp, Cayin A88T. My Fisher 30 wpc mono blocks, with spare parts, sit unused because I wanted the direct inputs of several components and remote volume, and I found that with the Cayin which also had 16 ohm taps I need.
I had a McIntosh SS pair, C28 with MC2500, 250 wpc (actually measured accurate to 305 wpc) which I actively used years ago with inefficient speakers, but it's only use lately was in demos for others, who invariably chose the tube amps.
Home theater is a Sony receiver, all one remote for the whole system for the first time. Except the PC I still have in one iinput, hardly used now that TV's are smarter.
Office is PC into Carver Cube, 200wpc, some nice old B&W bookshelf speakers
My shop/garage is an old Tandberg Receiver, 80 wpc, two pairs speakers, 1 in small shop, 1 in garage/workroom where I am building my newly designed amp stand/ventilated base allowing tube preamps/tube tuners/any low heat component below any component on the black glass top which supports up to 200lbs. I am close to offering on eBay, perhaps I will figure out how to offer them here.
I too suffered badly. My obsession ended when I finally reached nirvana.
OTL's Atma-Sphere MA-1, 140w OTL. The amp I will use till I'm buried. Tenor Audio 75i, 75w OTL. Fabulous amp. Not in the same league as the AS MA-1's, but fabulous in the midrange. Grounding nightmares relegate it to digital duty in my son's condo. Vacuum State DPA300b OTL. Wow, but no bass.
Counterpoint SA12 tube hybrid. The amp that hooked me on tubes.
Magnum Dynalab Hybrid integrated. Backup for when I'm working on upgrades for the MA-1.
I've tried selling some of my 'stuff'. Take the pictures. Get the ad ready. Never press 'apply'. I already know; my wife will chuck everything in a dumpster, along with 2000 vintage tubes. Oh well!.
I run 3 McIntosh MC2300’s run off of a McIntosh C2500 with 2 sets of Sonus Fabers and a set of JBL’s in a room 22’ x 34’. They fill the room with great sound and yo don’t have to crank them way up to enjoy them.
I have four: A Yaqin MC-30L (my first experience with a tube amp - currently not being used); a Peachtree Audio 220SE that I use for digital sources only (driving JBL Studio L890's); a Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum II paired with a vintage Onkyo Integra M-504 that I use for both analog and digital sources (to bi-amp a set of Polk LSi707's). The Rogue/Onkyo/Polk setup is my favorite.
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