It also has better control of bass than 100 Watts Rogue Cronus Magnum II fitted with KT120 tubes.
I also own a LM805ia and agree that it’s bass control is really impressive. And this is even on the minimal NFB (negative feeback) setting. As mentioned, with a bit of tube rolling it is really hard to find anything wrong with the sound. Just glorious.
There seem to be a lot of line magnetic units on the used market these days and rumors of counterfeiting right on the vendor’s website so be careful there.
That’s quite a compliment you bestowed on the Line Magnetic 508ia. It has a well executed circuit and using 300b to drive the 805 output is a smart choice.. I believe this is an underrated amplifier with excellent performance/cost value.
shkong, I did not know about the Silbatone costing $100,000!Something I don’t understand is with an amp like that, how can you possible settle for a Line Magnetic? Only because it has more headroom? Don’t you gravely miss the glorious sound of the Silbatone? Believe the LM is 845 based. I am a die hard 300B guy and tried an 845 in a Viva Solista once and sold it right away. It seems an 845 may have more headroom but lacks the wonderful musicality of a great 300B amp. And, G-d forbid, a SS “sand amp”. Actually, that is another Forum question! You mentioned a WE speaker system. Seems the financial is not a significant issue, so hunt for one and go for it! And enjoy the Silbatone. Seems there is no other amp like it. I understand that the 300B is the only tube that was specifically developed for voice/music.
@shkong78 That is the ratio I intend to have $38K speakers, $15K amp, $15K pre-amp $7K phono/trans $15K analog, $5K DAC, $5K cabling, $5K tweaks (I also have a second analog/pre/phono for 78s, cassette, 2 R2R, etc.
charles1dad: Spending choices invites a range of responses in a community with different levels of resources. I don't see why that should be so surprising in this day and age, especially after the worldwide discussion on inequality sparked by Piketty's two books.
My golden ratio is 40% on speakers, 20% amplifiers, 20% on front end (digital or analog) and 20% on cables, isolation foot or bed, rack and power management (filter or regenerator).
Neither. I'd go with a pair of used Audio Research Reference 600 amps, on Audiogon, $15,000 US. OMG $80,000 US for a tube amp is simply ridiculous. Now even Jadis is selling $5,000 US integrated amplifiers just to stay in business. This COVID-19 will bankrupt a lot of high end audio manufacturers. Can't say I'll miss them.
I owned a nice Woo OTL amp. I LOVED IT. I’m out of the headphone world but had both Jack’ s set and an otl amp, at the same time. The SET was quicker, more transparent and accurate (solid state sounding) The OTL was warm, colored and spongy. Love, love love the sponge, tubey vibe. My .02. Good Luck
Ralph,It is really nice to see that you can say nice things about another amplifier.Complimenting a competitor is a rarity in this hobby. I cannot afford the newer Berning amps but have several of his older designs. Dave is a gentleman to deal with and is also brilliant.I think that you are the same. Thanks. Mike
The output section topology gets around the traditional limitations of conventional transformers and so allows much wider bandwidth from the output section, regardless of power output. If you are wanting single-ended, this is arguably the best way to go. If you want a bit more power its especially useful, as the traditional issues that limit SET power and bandwidth simply don't exist.
It might be more accurate to call it 'Radio Frequency coupling'. The technique has produced IMO some of the best tube amplifiers made.
What was a really enjoyable, interesting and insightful thread has taken a different turn with the latest posts. I hope that this thread restores/retains the original good vibes and camaraderie. I just believe what people decide to spend is their own business. Charles
If I had the money, I would probably get B&W Nautilus speakers, which sound right with 8 channels of about 350 wpc. To power these, I would choose the top Audio Research amps, along with at least a 1500 square foot room with about 16 foot ceilings, probably sloped up from the speakers.and a dedicated 3 ton A/C unit to keep the amps from baking me in the room. I do curently have an eight hundreds square foo room (a large portion of my house), with 9-14 foot ceilings, and it really opens up the sound, so why not go larger? Subs? I'll never know. Tubes would be changed regularly, with the old ones rotating into other systems on my estate. Of course, I would probably not use tubes, but WTF? It's a only a pipe dream, and with a pipe, who needs an $80,000 amp?
For that kind of money I would expand my search and consider a few other alternatives.
top end Shindo + efficient speakers Kondo (japan) Boulder Solution Audio. VAC Wavac Allnic
There are others.
For that kind of money, spend some time listening! don't just take the word of folks on this forum. Listen to them with properly matched speakers for each. In systems with other comparable components (sources, Pre, cables).
Only then will you get the information you need to make a solid decision.
shkong, One thing is abundantly clear, you know what type sound you like. I believe that you will eventually have your Western Electric vintage horn system. I don’t think you’re going to settle for less.
Your Line Magnetic 805 output tubes SET is praised for its organic and beautiful sound quality. It will very interesting to read your impressions of an Atma-Sphere OTL amplifier if you pursue that route. They are also highly regarded as well. No doubt two different approaches. I wonder how they’ll differ driving your Lansche4.1 speakers. Charles
I have to admit I find this puzzling. Western Electric used to be the standard fare in movie theatres and the like, but their gear was supersceded by Altec, who had much greater performance and obviously better sound.
Its a simple fact that the distortion a horn may or may not have depends directly on how well the horn is formed along the ideal curves for it. There are now horns that have been built with these curves computer optimized, so they sound for more realistic.
I am very aware of how tricky it can be to set up a room as I have showed at many shows (we were 4 doors down from your friend's room). But I should point out he's had that room for several years and should know at this point how to set it up.
I get the part about jazz vocals sounding 'spooky' because they sound like they are right in front of you. But that is the goal of stereo in general, and many speakers can convey that quality of 'spooky' insofar as images floating in space is concerned! I'd be a bit chagrined if I could not evoke that quality from my system!
One of my friend is the owner of Silbatone who display his vintage horn in Munich high end show.
@shkong78 I've heard that system in Munich in two different years. I liked it a lot. But having also heard the Classic Audio Loudspeakers, I would go with the latter in a heartbeat. Your friend's system was inordinately complex, somewhat diffuse for centerfill, and lacking the frequency extremes (in spite of the Altec-based subwoofer). Despite that it was one of the more interesting systems I saw at the show and I took a lot of photos. If you want it for the shear size and impressiveness of how a system that old that can sound that good, I can see that.
But if you simply want something that sounds the best it can for the money then I would look elsewhere.
@shkong78 If you are looking for a speaker that will work with lower powered amps, one you might want to consider is the Classic Audio Loudspeakers Hartsfield (reproduction). John Wolff has done a lot to improve the speaker since it ceased production, with better drivers, better crossover, sturdier cabinet, field coil operation and so on.
The Western Electric stuff is collectable and classic, but does not compete with modern computer-optimized horns. It was state of the art in its day but that was before World War 2. If you really want to get the most out of your amplifier, you won't be doing it justice with a vintage horn that old!!
The WE300bs are excellent- that was back when the only game in town was tubes and they had to be right; they were often placed in service as line amplifiers for the phone company, and had to hold up. Some were even sunk in the ocean embedded into the inter-continental telephone trunk cables!
Unfotunately, the link to your photos is not working. But, in any case, if you found something specific that you heard and liked, it does not matter what anyone else thinks. Whether you get it or another vintage Western-based system, you can be well assured that you can always get your money back if you later decide to sell it; Western Electric prices go up and almost never down.
In the price/quality range you are looking at, it is hard to think of many high efficiency systems that I would recommend, although you could be in the market for custom designs. It appears that you have already auditioned a number of good candidates, like the JBL system and Avantgarde speakers.
Good luck on your search. You certainly have the good fortune of being able to enjoy the Lansche system while search for something else.
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