2. amps-preamps
  3. 1226469897

tube amp for Apogee Tweeter mid-range

I recently upgraded the capacitors in the crossover of my Apogee Stage speakers. This was a good and bad thing at the same time. While it opened up the upper frequencies and let the subtle details shine through, it also exposed that "solid state" sound in my amplifiers. I'm using a Pass Labs x-150 to drive the Apogee bass panel and an old modified Sim Audio W3 amp to drive the tweeter midrange ribbon. While the Pass Labs may be a better amp, it was a horrible match when I had it driving the tweeter midrange ribbon. The sound was like turning the treble up to +11 on an old Radio Shack receiver!
Does anyone know of a musical Tube amp under 2K used, that would produce detailed and smooth (not dull) music to drive my Apogee Tweeter midrange ribbon. I'm currently using a Naim 202 preamp, Raysonic 128 CD player, Linn Sondeck with Koetsu Rosewood and Ayre phone pre-amp.
scott_kindt

Showing 2 responses by apachef1

apachef1
164 posts
 
Hi Scott

How much breakin time is on the new caps that were installed? Is the crossover passive or electonic? Passive crossover caps and resistors can take up to 300hrs to burn in and open up. Your description of sound is what you can expect for the first 25 to 50 hours. After that things begin to mellow out and expand at the same time. What brand caps did you use?

Ed
apachef1
164 posts
 
Scott

I replaced the caps and resistors on a pair of Polk Sda srs speakers last year. I now have about 300+ hrs on them and just last month I noticed they opened up wide and deep.
Take your time with the upgrade to amps so you can hear each tweek as you go along. You can't go wrong with a Rogue amp or a single ended tube amp. The tweeter ribbon only needs a few watts to give you ear peircing SPL
I've listened to Pass Labs with a Dunlvy V setup and was very disappointed with the performance. Pass is very overpriced and over rated IMO
I listened to the same speakers with a pair of Lamm monblocks. I was left thinking something was wrong with the pass amps thats how dissapointing the sound was

Ed
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