2. amps-preamps
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Tell me about "tubey" tubes.

I own pair of Quicksilver mini monos driven by Quicksilver's phono and linestage (A23 transformer and Zu DL103 or Grado Sonora1 mono if you want to swim that far upstream) and a pair of Prologue Sevens driven by a Three and mostly digital sources. Stray speakers follow me home, so I do not voice either for a single pair-- I like rolling loudspeakers. To keep this from becoming a manifesto on that aspect of my illness, I have about "fifteen or so" (I purposely do NOT count them) pair of classic american speakers ranging from various 1970's JBLs, Ohm 3s and 4s, Snell Es and Js, all the Spicas, Klipsch Chorus IIs to the some late-production Maggie 1.6s and Druid mk4s. I do have a few classic japanese high-wattage solid-state systems for those times when current is required, but have fairly sensitive hearing and do not generally need high power to appreciate any of my boxes.

I also run several old 1950's five-tube AM radios and a few Zenith AM/FMs. For radio, I enjoy the tube euphony. I really, really enjoy the euphony.

I'm currently listening to a lot of small-ensemble female vocal, avant-garde jazz, and space age exotica, if that matters.

Both the minis and the Sevens allow rolling of all the usual suspects, and I am aware of the basic sonic differences of power tube types. Both rigs currently utilize stock-spec tubes (2 Shuguang EL 34s and 4 KT88s, respectively), and until now I have not deviated from that. I already know what I need to get fairly accurate sound from both amps.

I don't enjoy tweaking and perfectionism as much as occasionally being whacked in the head by change, which is why I bought self-biasing amps in the first place, and now I'm a gonna use 'em. I want some simple advice: What specific varieties of EL34, KT88, 6550, or equivalents, in your actual experience, would give me the most euphonic, fat, Midrange Uber Alles, tube-colored sound? Feel free to suggest front-end drivers (12AU7/12AX7) as well, if that would make a noticeable difference. Price matters, so current production is a plus. Stick to my two amps. I'll get around to SET one day after I find some K-horns. Experience only, please. I'm not interested in second-hand speculation.
morgenholz

Showing 5 responses by morgenholz

morgenholz OP
61 posts
 
Tonyjack, I will return to this thread when I run the Snells with KT88s in the minis.

I really respect Kevin Voecks designs, especially the B and B Minor.

I had not originally intended the ProLogue system for the 1.6QRs as I bought a Vincent SP331 specifically to run them, however, that will be another experiment when I have the time to sit down (jump up and down) getting the Maggies placed in that room/system. Althought they are famous for requiring power, the Sevens have 2 Ohm taps and I can't imagine 70W of KT88 power being inadequate.
morgenholz OP
61 posts
 
Thorman/Hifihvn: This may have been all too easy. My passive websurfing has also suggested the SED EL34. Every datapoint helps, however, so I don't mind being advised the same repeatedly.

Buconero117, I sure hope that they are capable of it. Some recordings that I own and love were not recorded all too well. I am hoping a set of power tubes dedicated to this end will do for them what my 1950 Zenith AM/FM does for overcompressed FM broadcasts.
morgenholz OP
61 posts
 
OK! I got some pretty definitive power tube advice, then some input opinions. I had visited Joe's post years ago when all I knew about tubes was sticking them in my Fender guitar amps and running them hot. Thanks for the link-- Wasn't Kurt Tank a mid-century engineer or airplane designer? I associate that name with the development of the Fw190...
morgenholz OP
61 posts
 
Thanks all for even more focused advice and literary allegory. Yogiboy, I don't mind less gain as the Druids and Chorus IIs are screaming with KT88s by nine o'clock on the attenuator dial...

Speaking of KT88s, I also appreciate the advice I have found here and on other threads regarding them-- I have discovered that these power tubes in the ProLogue Seven make even modest speakers such as a mint old pair of kg2s sound absolutely glorious and alive. I will probably devote the ProLogue system to KT88s and the Quicksilver to midrange (the Spicas are inherently limited at the top and bottom, so I shouldn't lose too much there and I can play my female jazz vocals through them.

Maxmad, I will end up with a neutral, extended range set of tubes, and a tubular set-- to me, this is the inherent advantage of a self-biasing tube amp.
morgenholz OP
61 posts
 
Tonyjack, I do indeed plan to run the Snells with the Quicksilver setup, especially when my wife complains about the Angeluses (Angeli?) in the living room. She doesn't mind showing them to people when they are in the basement, but prefers stand-mounted monitors because they don't look so... The Snell Js and Es are both Series II, Peter Snell's final two revisions of his own designs. I have until now been powering them with a restored Kenwood KA8100, but I know that they will bloom with the minis.

The Genalex reissues will definitely replace the original Shuguang KT88s in the ProLogues eventually-- And I can break them in four at a time in the mini monos.

I was always a "put most of your money into the speakers and phono cartridge" person until lately. Now that I have what I consider to be my semi-final speaker collection, including three years of replacing all of the foam surrounds and tweeter diaphragms in those that needed it, I am discovering what differences the signal chain makes. The kg2s were on their way to Goodwill until I heard them with the ProLogue Sevens, now they stay-- They sound better on KT88s than the Chorus IIs sound on 200W of solid-state.
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