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Low watt tube amps/pros/cons

300B's, 845's and others. What are some of the benifits of these tubes as well as the limitations. I see someone posted that he has a 15 watt tube amp and wants to get 30hz bass. It is highly unlikely that his amp will deliver as low as 30hz, even if he did find a speaker that went to that level, would the bass have any authority? Also by saying I want to find a speaker that goes to 30hz hows the mids anf highs. IOW I'd never buy any speaker based on the fact that it goes to 25hz, its a package deal.
Back to the main idea here. Can anyone give a list of +'s and the ='s of the low watt tube amps. For myself its not something I'm interested in as all my listenings are classical, and I want the orchestras to sound full rich, dynamic, that is the low and high end extended. I heard a 300B amp, the Cayin, and was incredible with light jazz, blues, but for classical orchestral it fell flat and lifeless. The speakers were the Silverline Sonatas.
bartokfan

Showing 4 responses by bartokfan

bartokfan OP
664 posts
 
Then hows the KT90's compare with the K88's? Or no noticable differences? I mentioned the low performance of the KT88 with classical and the slaesman said that is the character of the KT88 tube, rools off at bottom and top.
I heard the new Audio Research KT88, VS110 and it didn't offer great highs nor deep bottom. Not from a amp that size with 8 KT88's.
bartokfan OP
664 posts
 
Tvad Apologies if I misread your post. That aside lets get back to the limitations of low powered tube amps. Sure I've not heard the 845, so I cannot judge. I did hear the 300B and it was flat on complex orchestra. I've heard several KT88 amps and were also very flat in the fq's. Anyone heard a KT88 tube that was dynamic in the bass and highs?
bartokfan OP
664 posts
 
This topic should be in the amp section, but seems no one minds.
I've not heard the 845 "set" amp. My limited experience with the 300B , Cayin with Silverline Sonata, was that it was great with light jazz, but even with these high sensitive speakers the bass and highs were not spectatular. With classical it fell so falt that it was unlistenable. Zero dynamics. I've heard several 88 amps , plus had KT88's in the JOR and the results were not near the KT90's dynamics. The bass and treble was much superior in the KT90's vs the "fluffy" KT88's. I wrote to the seller from which I demoed the KT88 amp, and he said, "that fluffiness is the character of the KT88 tube". As much as i loved the mids of the 300B on jazz (although the Sonatas "barked" on certain fq's with vocal's) it was extremely limited for classical.
So I just can't see myself having the wonderful 845, 805, 300 tube amp and always in search for the ideal speaker. i've found my ideal speaker and am lucky that I've found a tube amp that delivers classical. Which is the JOR KT90. If the Jadis did not deliver classical with dynamics,, nor any other tube amp, then I'd go ss amps with my ideal speaker. Speaker comes first, amp comes second.
I could not deal with a tube amp that has limitations. It absoluetly must be VERSATILE.
bartokfan OP
664 posts
 
Ok I see my error. No amp can be all things. That there are tradeoffs with any design. I have my eye on a pr of 845 amps and hopefully one day will own the pr and will report back.
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