2. amps-preamps
  3. 192205-171531

I hate to say it, but now I think maybe I like my amp in ultralinear mode versus triode

It's a Cary V-12; it features a dozen EL34s and each pair has a switch in between them that configures that pair to either triode or ultralinear. In full triode Cary listed in the specs that it makes 50 wpc and in full ultralinear 100 wpc.   For most of the twenty three years that I have owned this amp I have always felt that I preferred triode except for the occasions that I wanted to full out blast (it has literally been many years since I've felt the need to full out blast).

However, today I experimented with a couple of things in my system, and after listening to the same "Jazz Essentials" (compilation) red book CD a couple of times all the way through, the next thing I experimented with was switching to full ultralinear.

Maybe there was more "PRaT"?  (Which is a term I am still not sure that I completely grasp.)  Maybe . . . but what I do feel I noted for sure was that the imaging (particularly the imaging in the center) had more weight (meatier?) and was presented more forward, which I actually like.

I put a few more hours in (one more time with Jazz Essentials, Holly Cole/It Happened One Night, Dave's True Story/Sex Without Bodies, selected tracks from Rebecca Pigeon/The Raven and Once Blue/self titled and Norah Jones/Feels Like Home) after switching to ultralinear.  (No booze during this session, just coffee.) The jury is still out on this, but I do have some CDs in mind that I want to listen to over the next few days as I continue to evaluate.  

immatthewj

Showing 1 response by frogman

frogman
7,516 posts
 

I can only speak to the Manley Labs 200/100 triode switchable amps that I have used for quite some time.  I would imagine triode switchable amps do not all behave the same; in no small part due to the speaker they are driving and, importantly, what the listener considers to be “better”.  For those reasons I am suspicious of blanket statements about this issue one way or the other.

In the case of my Manley amps and the speakers that I have used them with what I hear is the following:

Triode mode:

- Tonally more refined.  Slightly smaller, but better organized and delineated soundstage.  Slightly smaller, but better defined individual images.  Overall, better clarity.

Ultralinear mode:

- More powerful and deeper bass range, but somewhat less detailed.  More bass “volume”, but less of the sound of the bow and rosin.  Slightly larger soundstage and correspondingly slightly larger individual images.  Depending on the music played, somewhat better musical drive (PRAT).  Darker, slightly thicker, even murkier overall sound.

When in my listening chair (usually Classical and acoustic Jazz), Triode is “better” for me.  When listening away for the sweet spot (usually Rock/R&B), usually at louder volumes when working out or other activity, Ultralinear is more satisfying (better?).  

 

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