845s: To biamp or not

Another idea is to stick with one pair of amp(s) for the (main) speakers but make more extended use of the sub I'm already using. Its crossover is now set to 40 which is where the Hyperions are just starting to roll off. I could use a pair of inline 50 or 70Hz highpass filters going into the Cyber 845s and turn up the sub's xover to fill in the gap.

Possible issues:

1) Since my linestage is passive (TVC), my source is then driving these little (FMod) inline xovers, and I don't know what that means to it.

2) The last time I tried this, with a 16W SET amp on Gallo Ref 3s, it just didn't seem to help the amp much... it wasn't able to play much louder (if any) without sounding strained.

Actually I probably just think too much.

Paulfolbrecht, yes Cyber rates them at 16 watts, but mine put out 20, and yes, you are right that this is trivial.

All I can say is that as Enjoythemusic was right when they said the NOS tubes made a great difference, but wrong when they said the GEs were best. The RCAs are far superior.

I am telling you that NOS is superior, now given what you said you must evaluate it for yourself. :<)

I would never argue the point that they're better - but worth $700/pr? Not to me - not now anyway.

Why the hell is it that nobody in the 21st century can make a vacuum tube as good as one 50 years old? It's pretty darn ridiculous.

I was using highly modded Dared 845 amp with my 94 db efficient speakers and it wasnt enough power for me, It is an "integrated amp" so it has volume control. I found that for me the bass never sounded properly, it was too thin all around and though music was enjoyable it missed a lot of instruments altoghether. I like Class A PushPull tube amps, sound more real to me IMHO. With SET 20 watts didnt cut it and 12 watts of push pull class A bring down the house! I turned off my sub....
I had a TVC previously and sold it for the same reasons; something was missing from the music, I can just imagine the same effect adding up...·$%&?* (I like SS preamps I guess...still looking for the perfect preamp!)
IMHO SETs are for Horns in a biamped or triamped setup!!

This is what you ought to hear in your system and then you can decide if I was wrong or not!! I like your approach...

Cheers

Hi Paulfolbrecht

I bought a pair of Hyperion 938 speakers recently. I am considering 845 tube amps to drive it. Looking at several options:
- Hyperion's own HT-845
- Consonance Cyber 845
- Antique Sound Lab 1009 (dual 845)
- exploring others...

How would you describe the sound of the Consonance compared with other 845 amps?