Slam possible with Tubes instead of SS ??

My Soundlab A1 speakers seem to really open up with a very powerful SS amp. I am currently using a Sunfire Signature 600 x 2 amp that is amazing on this speaker. I know some will think no way a Carver amp can sound this amazing with SL speakers, but it does! 600 watts per channel into 8 ohms and all the way up to 4000 watts into 1 ohm!

By far the best amp I have had on my Soundlab's. OTL amps like Atmasphere also work nice as I have tried an Atmasphere MA1. An MA2 is really needed to drive this speaker to louder levels (over 92 db with a good amount of remaining headroom) based on my experience. The Sunfire amp just opens up this speaker and runs them unlike anything else I have tried. Bass is outstanding and the mids and highs are open and so rich and warm. Quite special really.

Point is careful matching and trial may be needed for the best speaker and amp match. I have found tube amps have slam in spades when matched with the right speaker only! Typically this should be speakers with higher efficiency and minimum impedance not below 6 ohms.

I read once that Soundlab speakers do bass well with SS amps that are designed with a large number of output devices per channel. The Sunfire Signature does and my past SS amps have not had near as many output devices. Perhaps this is why the Sunfire SS amp mates so wonderfully with Soundlab speakers.

Atmasphere is 100% correct. I tried 200 and 300 watt SS amps on my Soundlabs and needed more power! My other SS amps rated up to 300 watts per side started to sound tilted up in the highs and a little bass shy as I turned up the volume over 80db or so.

The wonderful Atmasphere MA1 drove my Soundlab speakers with very deep and powerful bass. The problem was in the highs where the SL's can dip as low as 2 ohms! To listen at sound levels above 90 db with ease I needed more OTL power. I would have loved to try the MA2's, but they were a bit to expensive for me with two in college :-)

In terms of sound the Atmasphere amps were clearly better and more nuanced then my current Sunfire Signature amp. However, the power of the Sunfire really worked nice with the A1's. This is why I am sure the larger MA2 amps would have been heaven. Maybe someday

Rleff, yes I did consider those as well as the Wolcott P400's. I could not afford both the A1's and those big tube amps right now. I decided to try a used Sunfire Signature for $1500 and I was and continue to be amazed.

I doubt any SS amp could make these SL's sing any better to be frank. I see one for sale for $1750 now. Mine, like the one for sale, is the original one that is 19 inches wide and weights more than the 2nd version. I modified it to accept an IEC. I also sent it into Rita's Repair Service (authorized Sunfire repair shop) to have it checked out. It did need new power supply caps and some other things. It cost me $375 plus shipping to do this, but I am good to go for years now.

All of these Sunfire Signature amps should go to Rita's as they do have to be updated with newer parts based on comments from Rita's Repair. Consider this in the purchase price. They were made in 1998 or so and the power supply caps seem to have a fixed life. Rita's puts larger caps in so as to avoid any future issues. They also double check to rail voltages to be sure the amp is in spec assuring great imaging etc...

Trust me when I say this amp is magic on our SL speakers. Not at all typical SS sounding. It is very rich and full bodied with wonderful stage size and what seems to be limitless power delivery. Bass is scary good and the music is simply beautiful. My seller paid for 1/2 the repair bill so in the end the amp cost me about $1500.

Bob Carver made a great one here and for the money it is perfect on my A1's.

Interesting points on noise. While I tend to agree with Tvad and Mapman as noise through my speakers drives me crazy....

What about all the noises in one's listening room that are certainly louder then some hiss trough speakers or mechanical transformer hum. Things like...

- home noises like a heater, blower, refrigerator,noise from another room, person in the house in another room etc..

- my own breathing, pages turning etc...

- outside wind, rain etc...

- many recordings have some background hiss and still sound great

- goodness what about all the record surface noise and clicks and pops of dust and dirt

Well you get my point. A little speaker noise is certainly no worse and often times far better then life noise in and around our music rooms?

Now, if we are talking about lack of distortion, silence and space between instruments and those other nuances that great gear does so well, then yes I am in 100% agreement.

Right now I am trying to silence some panel noise in my SoundLab speakers. No, I can't hear it when the music is playing, but it bothers me still. I sat down and told myself the things I mentioned above and said "Grannyring just enjoy". Is that panel noise really getting in the way of the music or rather is it my quest for perfection? In this case perfection means silencing every single little noise.

Could be a good topic for further comments...