2. amps-preamps
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Could use your advice re: tube gear

I posted a long discussion of my MC240 and 8B which came out of storage a couple weeks ago. After listening to them with several speakers in our little local shop, and in comparison to an Anthem 700 MRX SS integrated ($2K) driving the speakers I'm thinking about, I'm missing the highs I thought I was getting. Quite a bit. And on big speakers the bass is loose and very undefined. Both tube amps (with my CJ PV-5) had vastly better midrange though.

What would be a move to keep the mids of my gear but get the defined bass and airy open highs?

Get a SS amp (like the DNA-1)? But would the CJ kill the tight lows and open highs? Could I mod the CJ?

Can I find a (~$1K used) tube amp that has the lush mids but tight lows and open detailed highs? The Quicksilver GLA maybe?

Trying to solve it with speakers, I could probably find a speaker with much tighter bottom (B&W CM-1 maybe) but that would not solve the highs. I have some Superzeros with spiky highs that help but don't replace the missing air and space.

Your thought would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.
river251
river251 OP
143 posts
 
Jeez. If Jolida's mods cost as much as Underwood's, then you had some good wine indeed.

I searched Jolida's website for a list of the mods but I could not find one. Guess I will have to wait and call them.
river251 OP
143 posts
 

Ths364, thank you for your post, it makes me feel easier about getting the two old timers in spec, without taking a bath. Do you mean, put them back in the stream with the upgraded parts, or put the old ones back in? I have been listening to them so the caps should be reformed well enough to last a while if I mean to take them out then put them back.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
7,068 posts
 
River251, I hope you understand that even if it appears that you have reformed the old filter caps in your amps that there is no way that they are performing to spec as they could if you had new filter caps!
wolf_garcia
4,650 posts
 
HA...yeah...there are some pretty serious "Underwood" mods on various Jolida items, which was one reason I went with Jerred's suggested mods which he's been doing forever, and right there at Jolida MD...at a very reasonable cost.
ths364
181 posts
 
River251, Atmasphere is exactly right (again!) What I meant was have them re-capped, then give them a listen . If at that point you prefer something else, you can sell them for a pretty good chunk of change and buy the amp you like. By "back in the stream" I simply meant like "catch and release" when fishing-when you've had your fun with them, put 'em back and let someone else have a chance.
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