2. amps-preamps
  3. 1104016990

tube amp sound more engaging

Hi folks, can you explain why everytime I listen to high efficiëncy speakers, like old Klipschorns, powered by not-so-expensive single ended tube amps, the sound is more engaging (largely due to greater immediacy and presence) than when playing the same music through expensive high-end solid state amplification (high current, high powered design, with the most sophisticated switch mode power supply, etc.) and a pair of very accurate, high tech loudspeakers. This is not funny, because the much older and far less expensive system makes more musical sounds than the so called state-of-the-art and ultra expensive high end stuff.
dazzdax

Showing 3 responses by superhonestben

superhonestben
212 posts
 
ok thanks for the info, hope you move soon to get those Khorns, thanks,Ben
superhonestben
212 posts
 
I have owned my beloved Khorns for around 10 yrs,quite frankly Paul Klipsch was a bona fide genius,what his speakers do no other speaker does,he has always maintained that the world needs a great sounding 5 watt amp...hence the SETs...I use both solid state and a variety of tube amps including a pair of 3 watt SETs and they all perform quite well...i tend to like the tubes better. I also have other (dynamic) speakers which I also enjoy,but man those Khorns....I have owne quite a few systems and speakers in my day...things may come and go but my Khorns aint going anywhere....ever !

My big problem with most"hi end systems" is that many expensive speakers are very hard to drive, need a gizzillion watts to drive them and the end result is a sense of strain....with the khorns it is a sense of ease and a large full open sound.

It is interesting, that with all the hi tech of the 21st century,people flock to tubes and Khorns...who Knew ???....Paul Klipsch did....like I said a bonafide genius....all the way.
superhonestben
212 posts
 
question for boa2,what 7 watt set amp are you using ?? also in regards to a right room for khorns....any room will do large or small. I have them in a 12x15 room, not to big and they work great. I do use them with a Mac 252,they work great with that,also have a nicely restored dynaco st 70.also great, have vtl too, also great with the khorns....must meant theKhorns are great....sure are to me.

Also in response to my gizzillion amp thing..what I am talking about are big Levinsons, krell, Rowland etc...trying to drive a monster speaker that goes down to 1ohm..with cables you could hoist a piano with etc... I mean it starts to get ridicilous...the whole point is to play music....I too have heard many systems...like some big electrostatics driven with the gizziilion watt mega expensive amp, connected by wire that cost what a used car does...the sound wasn't too good, sales guy blamed the room...yeah right.

I Know Khorns aren't for anybody and there are very good dynamic speakers out there etc. but sometimes it seems that too many get hung up on the equipment and the "sound" rather than is it musical....my definition of musical is any system that makes you want to listen to more music...thats musical.
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