New? thoughts on driving MBL 101s with tube amps


Rather than hooking up big tubed monoblocks (CAT JL3; VTL 800; ARC 300s, etc.) to these speakers, has anyone tried (or heard) them bi-amped using smaller tube amps?

My thinking is that smaller amps often sound better and that bi-amping should be a more efficient way to drive these speakers.

I'm wondering, for instance, how four Manley Neo-Classic 250 monoblocks would work?
exlibris

Showing 2 responses by gregm

Big amp for bass, small amp for mid-high. Should be good. Especially so, if you cross-over at line level rather than speaker level. I think MBL once had a client who wanted to x-over passively at line level... but can't find the reference.
Yes, it's difficult, but ASAIK the phase is relatively benign and all you need is some extra energy -- but not that much extra energy. So a tube would do the job -- since you're looking into a small tube.