I'm curious whether a different speaker will ameloriate the relative deficiencies of triode, since my experience has always been that switching to triode mode on a push-pull pentode amp will lose you some of the exact qualities you mention - namely dynamics and soundfield size (and often a bit of tonal neutrality, frequency extension, and bass tautness as well) - in exchange for some added textural purity and freedom from glare/hardness. I'm not saying a different speaker won't work any better in this mode than the little Thiels (although I'm not sure that they will, all things considered - it's a fine speaker), just that the same sort of relative differences between the modes may still apply even with different speakers.
what speakers for 40 watt triode?
Hi, I've got Cary SLI-80 now, and love it in both triode and ultraliner mode, but I think I'll get best of both worlds if I get a more efficient speaker and just run it in triode. My Thiel 1.6's actually work quite well with the triode mode, but comparison with the UL mode reveals that there is a bit more spunk and size of soundstage to be had. I'm thinking nominal 8 ohm instead of 4, 90+ sensitivity. What do you think?
Have any of you lived with Cary SLI-80 in triode mode? Which speakers mated well?
Thanks,
Art
Have any of you lived with Cary SLI-80 in triode mode? Which speakers mated well?
Thanks,
Art