Looking for high power warming sounding tube amps
Right now running bottlehead moreplay into pass x350.8. Speakers are ns5000. The sound is great but my buddy let me borrow cj lp140ms and the mid range magic these amps brought was amazing. The pass had better bass and maybe detail.
I wanted to see if I could get tube amps that had pass bass with romance of cj. I tried prima luna evo 300 but it was a step down from cj in terms soundstage and tone.
I'm guessing I need more power.. maybe at least 100 wpc. Any recommendations looking to spend less than $7k.
@orthomead I didn't know that one could just drop in a KT150 quartet in at all or with modification. The amp is rated 100 watts per side with a quartet of KT88s (which VAC claims they achieve tapping 3 tube elements instead of just the plate and filaments) KT150 should provide at least 100 watts per side and probably much more with VACs 3 sided tube power. Do VAC amps tubes burn up quicker using getting max power out of them? |
@fleschler I checked with Kevin (owner and president) at VAC before doing even demoing the KT 150's. Kevin, by the way is awesome to deal with -enthusiastic, engaging, and available. No problem at all according to him. No modification necessary. I can't directly comment on tube life, because I have only run the KT 150s. When I auditioned the amps, I didn't care for the KT 88s at all. Best for chamber music I think. I listen to rock, jazz, and blues which need a little more umph. The KT 120's were better to my taste but the amps really started to sing with the KT 150's. Bass in particular. I have had the amps for 6 years and had to change tubes only recently. I've checked the expected tube life of KT 150's and my tube life is in the ball park. Hope that's helpful. |
@orthomead Thanks for the tube life at 6 years. I listen a minimum of 2 hours nightly, more than 800 hours annually. I have 2 EAR 890 amps but they sound great with classical chamber/orchestral, vocal/opera/pop, jazz (traditional to post bop) and 50's to Led Zep rock-so every type. They run rather warm (2=4 degrees room temp rise after an hour). A pair of VAC 200IQ have more power. I have not compared the two sonically and have not read of a direct comparison either. |
@fleschler I'm not as fortunate as you in terms of listening time per week, probably on the lines of 6-8 hours weekly, so your tube life is likely to be less than mine in terms of time. Like your system, my room does get a little toasty after a few hours. But that's when all the magic starts! |
