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Mid-fi tube vs high-end SS

Hello everyone. I am new here but not new to audio. I’ve been meaning to buy a high-end permanent SS amp for 2 years now. But not sure how much improvement I can get.

 

A little about what I have. I use a high-quality tube amp I bought for around $1,500. 55 watts per channel Class A. With upgraded tubes it’s a little over $2,000. The amp I have is the Musical Paradise mp-501 I’ll link below. Using upgraded Kt-170 tubes along with some nos 5693 red tubes and 717-a tubes.

 

My audio knowledge and listen ability has improved substantially these past few years thanks partly to this tube amp. Sorry for the long-winded intro. My actual question is, how much improvement should I expect going from this tube amp to something high-end SS like the Gato 150 and the incredible DVA M225? Very little reviews on the Gatos, I’m hoping I could get some help here, even anything about the Gato 150 from users would be helpful. Ty

 

https://www.musicalparadise.ca/store/index.php?route=product/product&path=59&product_id=55

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Showing 1 response by lloydc

lloydc's avatar
lloydc
737 posts
 

@audiman, "they use torroid type which  no Highend company uses"

My Rogers EH200Mk2 uses a giant toroid.  Can't imagine anyone saying it is not  "high end".

 

op, are you planning to use the same speakers and switch amps?  physically, or with a switch box?  Some issues with either of those plans.  I gave up on it.

you said you had inserted kt-170's.  Your amp does not appear to have been designed for those, did the manufacturer say that would work?  The transformers don't look large enough, and the bias circuit (cathode bias, I'd suspect) is unlikely to be correct for kt-170's.

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