You might want to try Plinius/XLO Sig combo on top or a Conrad J. tube amp and Purist cabling.I would stay away from using different amps top/bottom,you may never get the soundstage to solidify completely.Try to find a cable set- up that you can use thru out the whole system and drive it with one amp.Either class-A biased SS or Push-Pull tube.The VTLs are good,but the SF and Melos I would have reason to pause before making that decision.The latest Krell and Bryston designs may fit the bill-leaning toward Krell.Good luck and let us know the results.
Need help choosing...
Hi:
I am modifying my system, one step at a time, and I need a little input (so to speak):
My front end consists of an EAD 2000 CD player, a tuner and a CJ PV10AL preamp.
I have a pair of PS Audio Delta250 mono amps, which I am going to replace, connected via 6-meter Audioquest Rubys.
My speakers are NHT 3.3s (which I just purchased and have not installed yet. I also have two suwoofers (I can use either/or, or none) - an older, powered Velodyne 12", and a new NHT Sub Two powered dual 10". If I use one of the subs, I need input on cabling, too. Maybe I'll use my AQ Rubys, and get new cables for the mains.
My room is large, app. 25 ft x 40 ft with a pitched ceiling rising from 12 ft to 20 ft, one wall of all glass, carpeted floors.
I am in the music business, and for my critical listening, listen primarily to rock and pop music, VERY loudly.
My questions are these-
1) I LOVE the sound and feel of tubes, and would love to use mono tube amps in my system, but I am concerned about power, and about lack of bass extension/control/slam. Which used amps do you recommend? I have been looking at VTL (225t or 250s), Manley (Ref 350s), Melos (400 watt triodes), Sonic Frontiers (Power 2 or 3s), etc.
2) Should I go Solid State, and stick with Krells, MLs, Brystons or the like?
3) Should I biamp, and then get an external x-over, tube amps for the high end and use my PS Audios for the woofers? Or use one of the powered subwoofers?
Any thoughts??
Thanks - Jeff
I am modifying my system, one step at a time, and I need a little input (so to speak):
My front end consists of an EAD 2000 CD player, a tuner and a CJ PV10AL preamp.
I have a pair of PS Audio Delta250 mono amps, which I am going to replace, connected via 6-meter Audioquest Rubys.
My speakers are NHT 3.3s (which I just purchased and have not installed yet. I also have two suwoofers (I can use either/or, or none) - an older, powered Velodyne 12", and a new NHT Sub Two powered dual 10". If I use one of the subs, I need input on cabling, too. Maybe I'll use my AQ Rubys, and get new cables for the mains.
My room is large, app. 25 ft x 40 ft with a pitched ceiling rising from 12 ft to 20 ft, one wall of all glass, carpeted floors.
I am in the music business, and for my critical listening, listen primarily to rock and pop music, VERY loudly.
My questions are these-
1) I LOVE the sound and feel of tubes, and would love to use mono tube amps in my system, but I am concerned about power, and about lack of bass extension/control/slam. Which used amps do you recommend? I have been looking at VTL (225t or 250s), Manley (Ref 350s), Melos (400 watt triodes), Sonic Frontiers (Power 2 or 3s), etc.
2) Should I go Solid State, and stick with Krells, MLs, Brystons or the like?
3) Should I biamp, and then get an external x-over, tube amps for the high end and use my PS Audios for the woofers? Or use one of the powered subwoofers?
Any thoughts??
Thanks - Jeff