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Tube amp for Sourcepoint 8?

My Sourcepoint 8s are breaking in nicely...loving them so far (and boy did they need break-in!). I have them paired with an Exposure 3510 integrated, which sounds wonderful - the holography and bass quality are completely addictive. But I do notice a slight dryness in the upper mids, and I'm wondering if a tube amp might be helpful here. Does anyone have direct experience with SP8s combined with tube amps? Only looking for people who have actually heard them in person this way (not on YouTube). Separates are not an option for me...looking for an integrated solution. Any insights appreciated. Thanks!

mdemaio

Showing 3 responses by soix

soix
9,962 posts
 

Well, given you like the Exposure (nice amp BTW) and are just looking for a little more meat on the bones you might be looking for more of a neutral sounding tube amp rather than a more conventional and warmer “tubey” sounding amp.  I’d put the PrimaLuna more in the latter camp and would be a little concerned you might miss some upper octave detail and energy.  With what you stated you’re looking for I’d check out the Rogue Cronus Magnum iii for a tube amp and the Unison Unico series that are hybrid integrated designs with tube pre and MOSFET solid state amp sections.  Sound Approach sells the latter with a 10% discount and a trial period, which is nice.  Either should do a great job filling in what you’re missing in the upper mids while retaining what you like about the Exposure.  Just some ideas to ponder FWIW, and best of luck. 

soix
9,962 posts
 

What’s your budget, and are you looking for new or used?  It’s really almost irrelevant what tube amps other people have run with your speakers because their taste may be, and probably is, different from yours so really the thing that matters most is what specific sound characteristics you’re looking for from the amp. 

soix
9,962 posts
 

From Stereophile’s measurements section of their review…

The SourcePoint 8's specified sensitivity is 87dB/2.83V/m; my B-weighted estimate was the same. The SourcePoint 8's nominal impedance is specified as 8 ohms, with a minimum value of 6.4 ohms. I measured the speaker's impedance magnitude and phase with Dayton Audio's DATS V2 system, but for consistency with Stereophile's presentation of impedance graphs for the past 33 years, I created fig.1 with the Audio Precision System One software. The speaker's impedance magnitude (solid trace) is greater than 8 ohms for almost all the audioband, dropping to 7.47 ohms at 120Hz. If this speaker is used with tube amplifiers, the significantly higher impedance in the treble compared with that in the midrange will tilt up the high frequencies. With the high average impedance, the equivalent peak dissipation resistance, or EPDR (footnote 1), is generally greater than 4 ohms, though it does drop below that magnitude between 197Hz and 341Hz, with a minimum value of 3.83 ohms at 242Hz. Even so, the SourcePoint 8 is an easy load for an amplifier.

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