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Tube amplifier suggestion for 101 dB speakers

Hello All,

I've been using the Tyler Acoustics PD30s with Classé Sigma solid state preamp and amp combination.
These speakers have two 15" woofers and a horn tweeter, 4 ohm, sensitivity 101 dB.
The above combination is not the best, especially for complex rock music, the highs start to distort, they are harsh, just bad. Never had tube gears, but after reading a bit, these speakers apparently scream for tubes. Actually somebody brought over a hobbyist-made tube amp and yes, the speakers were tamed.
I'm willing to switch to a tube amp but prefer to keep the ss preamp.
Can anybody recommend a few good tube amp matches here, for a max of 3K new or used. Room is just a good medium size. I want something that I can keep for many years if possible and being somehow flexible to tube rolling.

Thanks.
128x128piramis
piramis's avatar
piramis OP
14 posts
 
That's right, I'm not driven here by need of high power.
The speakers are highly efficient here with 101 dB, but also they are 4 Ω in impedance which I guess will limit the amp selection.
Here is the Atma-Sphere S-30 but they want 8 Ω and up speakers at least. This is an OTL type amp.
Then come the SET amps, I think this is the category what I need.
sbank's avatar
sbank
2,038 posts
 
You're on a good track. Even with SET amps, there are a number of different tube types which each have their own relative strengths. For example's sake (please don't flame my oversimplification here):
845 - a bit more powerful, good dynamics & bass slam for a SET type
300Bs - beloved midrange, magical vocals, acoustic guitars, cello, etc.
2A3 - great imaging, traditional warm tubey colorations
45 - lowest output, need highest efficiency speakers

Try researching articles like this to learn more on the differences:
https://hometheaterreview.com/whats-so-irresistible-about-a-single-ended-triode-set-amp/  Sorta simple, but it's a start. Cheers,
Spencer
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
4,966 posts
 
piramis OP
 The speakers are highly efficient here with 101 dB, but also they are 4 Ω in impedance

Yes as I said before, and that’s a nominal 4ohm, it will have dips even lower than that.
Look for an amp that has a 2ohm speaker tap just in case beside 8 and 4ohm.

The 100w per channel Music Reference RM200 has a 2ohms tap which should still give enough watts from that 2ohm tap for your 101db speakers in case you need to use it.

http://www.ramlabs-musicreference.com/music_reference_rm-200_hybrid_power_tube_amplifer.html

Cheers George
piramis's avatar
piramis OP
14 posts
 
I kind of understand now these particular types of tube amps and how should they be matched.
And more and more I think that the problematic thing here is the 4 Ω / 101 dB combination for the speakers I have.
So there is no need for high power, that's a SET amp then, class A and no need for biasing anything. Cool, but I need a stereo, preferably with XLR in. I can hardly find something used under 3K.
I thought a BAT VK-55 would be good, but that,s not a SET.
I'm telling this territory is not easy, a push-pull would be much easier to pick.

shkong78's avatar
shkong78
515 posts
 
Dear Op

If you are serious, then go for Line Magnetic 508 even if it means stretching your budget.

https://reverb.com/item/17478397-line-magnetic-508ia-single-ended-triode-vacuum-tube-2018-black-clas...

I am driving my 99db/W speaker (Lansche 4.1) with Silbatone 8W 300B SET and Line Magnetic 508 48W SET to get the most out of it.

http://stereotimes.com/speak112410.shtml

With Line Magnetic 508, I have more headroom than Silbatone although Silbatone is more transparent using exquisite silver foil output transformer.


After you buy it, if you replace SN7 with Sylvania 1944 Nos Vt231(around 150$ per pair in Ebay) and SL7 wih Mullard EC35(around 125$ for single tube), then it sounds excellent.

Later you can also replace 300B and 805 with new production Chinese tubes called Acme series or Shuguang Treasure .


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