VTL 120/50 Stereo Tube Amp

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Comments

  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 32,926
    edited October 2018
    kharp1 wrote: »
    Aw, man, you're looking at this all wrong. Buy a tube amp and get different, more efficient speakers to pair with the tube set up...then, start looking for a really good SS amp to pair with the SDS's. Problem solved.

    He's got -- if memory serves -- a Bottlehead S*E*X amplifier just waitin' to be aroused umm, I mean, rehabbed.

    :)

    Fleapower, baby!
  • verb
    verb Posts: 10,176
    edited October 2018
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    kharp1 wrote: »
    Aw, man, you're looking at this all wrong. Buy a tube amp and get different, more efficient speakers to pair with the tube set up...then, start looking for a really good SS amp to pair with the SDS's. Problem solved.

    He's got -- if memory serves -- a Bottlehead S*E*X amplifier just waitin' to be aroused umm, I mean, rehabbed.

    :)

    Fleapower, baby!

    Correct Professor! Just waiting for a nice pair of high efficiency speakers!

    I may say, that my SS CJ handles the SRS's with ease. That paired with the VTL pre, I can see why so many here rave about the tube pre/SS power amp setup!
    Basement: Polk SDA SRS 1.2tl's, Cary SLP-05 Pre with ultimate upgrade,McIntosh MCD301 CD/SACD player, Northstar Designs Excelsio DAC, Cambridge 851N streamer, McIntosh MC300 Amp, Silnote Morpheus Ref2, Series2 Digital Cables, Silnote Morpheus Ref2 Series2 XLR's, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Pangea Power Cables, MIT Shotgun S3 IC's, MIT Shotgun S1 Bi-Wire speaker cables
    Office: PC, EAR Acute CD Player, EAR 834L Pre, Northstar Designs Intenso DAC, Antique Sound Labs AV8 Monoblocks, Denon UDR-F10 Cassette, Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers, SVS SB12 Plus sub, MIT AVt2 speaker cables, IFI Purifier2, AQ Cinnamon USB cable, Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
    Spare Room: Dayens Ampino Integrated Amp, Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38), Analysis Plus Oval 9's, Zu Jumpers, AudioEngine B1 Streamer, Klipsch RB-61 v2, SVS PB1000 sub, Blue Jeans RCA IC's, Shunyata Hydra 8 Power Conditioner
    Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated, Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer, Rotel RCD-1072 CD player, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers, Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
    Garage #1: Cambridge Audio 640A Integrated Amp, Project Box-E BT Streamer, Polk Tsi200 Bookies, Douglas Speaker Cables, Shunyata Power Conditioner
    Garage #2: Cambridge Audio EVO150 Integrated Amplifier, Polk L200's, Analysis Plus Silver Oval 2 Speaker Cables, IC's TBD.
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 32,926
    verb wrote: »
    ...

    Correct Professor! Just waiting for a nice of high efficiency speakers!
    ...

    D'oh!
    I guess perhaps I should do something about that... :p

  • verb
    verb Posts: 10,176
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    verb wrote: »
    ...

    Correct Professor! Just waiting for a nice of high efficiency speakers!
    ...

    D'oh!
    I guess perhaps I should do something about that... :p

    Edited comment to include the word pair ! :smile:
    Basement: Polk SDA SRS 1.2tl's, Cary SLP-05 Pre with ultimate upgrade,McIntosh MCD301 CD/SACD player, Northstar Designs Excelsio DAC, Cambridge 851N streamer, McIntosh MC300 Amp, Silnote Morpheus Ref2, Series2 Digital Cables, Silnote Morpheus Ref2 Series2 XLR's, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Pangea Power Cables, MIT Shotgun S3 IC's, MIT Shotgun S1 Bi-Wire speaker cables
    Office: PC, EAR Acute CD Player, EAR 834L Pre, Northstar Designs Intenso DAC, Antique Sound Labs AV8 Monoblocks, Denon UDR-F10 Cassette, Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers, SVS SB12 Plus sub, MIT AVt2 speaker cables, IFI Purifier2, AQ Cinnamon USB cable, Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
    Spare Room: Dayens Ampino Integrated Amp, Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38), Analysis Plus Oval 9's, Zu Jumpers, AudioEngine B1 Streamer, Klipsch RB-61 v2, SVS PB1000 sub, Blue Jeans RCA IC's, Shunyata Hydra 8 Power Conditioner
    Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated, Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer, Rotel RCD-1072 CD player, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers, Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
    Garage #1: Cambridge Audio 640A Integrated Amp, Project Box-E BT Streamer, Polk Tsi200 Bookies, Douglas Speaker Cables, Shunyata Power Conditioner
    Garage #2: Cambridge Audio EVO150 Integrated Amplifier, Polk L200's, Analysis Plus Silver Oval 2 Speaker Cables, IC's TBD.
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
    verb wrote: »
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    kharp1 wrote: »
    Aw, man, you're looking at this all wrong. Buy a tube amp and get different, more efficient speakers to pair with the tube set up...then, start looking for a really good SS amp to pair with the SDS's. Problem solved.

    He's got -- if memory serves -- a Bottlehead S*E*X amplifier just waitin' to be aroused umm, I mean, rehabbed.

    :)

    Fleapower, baby!

    Correct Professor! Just waiting for a nice pair of high efficiency speakers!

    I may say, that my SS CJ handles the SRS's with ease. That paired with the VTL pre, I can see why so many here rave about the tube pre/SS power amp setup!

    Yep, if you have big speakers, the tube pre /SS amp combo will have you slapping the monkey. Tube amps have their own special allure also, but better speaker matching is the name of that game. Unless you can afford the bigger tube amps. Tube power around the 100 watt + area is going to cost ya some donuts.

    HT SYSTEM-
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  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    tonyb wrote: »
    Tube power around the 100 watt + area is going to cost ya some donuts.

    And a cannoli!
    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
    HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
  • verb
    verb Posts: 10,176
    tonyb wrote: »
    verb wrote: »
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    kharp1 wrote: »
    Aw, man, you're looking at this all wrong. Buy a tube amp and get different, more efficient speakers to pair with the tube set up...then, start looking for a really good SS amp to pair with the SDS's. Problem solved.

    He's got -- if memory serves -- a Bottlehead S*E*X amplifier just waitin' to be aroused umm, I mean, rehabbed.

    :)

    Fleapower, baby!

    Correct Professor! Just waiting for a nice pair of high efficiency speakers!

    I may say, that my SS CJ handles the SRS's with ease. That paired with the VTL pre, I can see why so many here rave about the tube pre/SS power amp setup!

    Yep, if you have big speakers, the tube pre /SS amp combo will have you slapping the monkey. Tube amps have their own special allure also, but better speaker matching is the name of that game. Unless you can afford the bigger tube amps. Tube power around the 100 watt + area is going to cost ya some donuts.

    This CJ looks like it may do the trick!
    s0xh1vfypzs7.png
    Basement: Polk SDA SRS 1.2tl's, Cary SLP-05 Pre with ultimate upgrade,McIntosh MCD301 CD/SACD player, Northstar Designs Excelsio DAC, Cambridge 851N streamer, McIntosh MC300 Amp, Silnote Morpheus Ref2, Series2 Digital Cables, Silnote Morpheus Ref2 Series2 XLR's, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Pangea Power Cables, MIT Shotgun S3 IC's, MIT Shotgun S1 Bi-Wire speaker cables
    Office: PC, EAR Acute CD Player, EAR 834L Pre, Northstar Designs Intenso DAC, Antique Sound Labs AV8 Monoblocks, Denon UDR-F10 Cassette, Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers, SVS SB12 Plus sub, MIT AVt2 speaker cables, IFI Purifier2, AQ Cinnamon USB cable, Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
    Spare Room: Dayens Ampino Integrated Amp, Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38), Analysis Plus Oval 9's, Zu Jumpers, AudioEngine B1 Streamer, Klipsch RB-61 v2, SVS PB1000 sub, Blue Jeans RCA IC's, Shunyata Hydra 8 Power Conditioner
    Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated, Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer, Rotel RCD-1072 CD player, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers, Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
    Garage #1: Cambridge Audio 640A Integrated Amp, Project Box-E BT Streamer, Polk Tsi200 Bookies, Douglas Speaker Cables, Shunyata Power Conditioner
    Garage #2: Cambridge Audio EVO150 Integrated Amplifier, Polk L200's, Analysis Plus Silver Oval 2 Speaker Cables, IC's TBD.
  • verb
    verb Posts: 10,176
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    verb wrote: »
    ...

    Correct Professor! Just waiting for a nice of high efficiency speakers!
    ...

    D'oh!
    I guess perhaps I should do something about that... :p

    Uh, yeah! :smile: Ready to do a joint venture at the Harvard town dump! :smile:
    Basement: Polk SDA SRS 1.2tl's, Cary SLP-05 Pre with ultimate upgrade,McIntosh MCD301 CD/SACD player, Northstar Designs Excelsio DAC, Cambridge 851N streamer, McIntosh MC300 Amp, Silnote Morpheus Ref2, Series2 Digital Cables, Silnote Morpheus Ref2 Series2 XLR's, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Pangea Power Cables, MIT Shotgun S3 IC's, MIT Shotgun S1 Bi-Wire speaker cables
    Office: PC, EAR Acute CD Player, EAR 834L Pre, Northstar Designs Intenso DAC, Antique Sound Labs AV8 Monoblocks, Denon UDR-F10 Cassette, Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers, SVS SB12 Plus sub, MIT AVt2 speaker cables, IFI Purifier2, AQ Cinnamon USB cable, Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
    Spare Room: Dayens Ampino Integrated Amp, Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38), Analysis Plus Oval 9's, Zu Jumpers, AudioEngine B1 Streamer, Klipsch RB-61 v2, SVS PB1000 sub, Blue Jeans RCA IC's, Shunyata Hydra 8 Power Conditioner
    Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated, Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer, Rotel RCD-1072 CD player, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers, Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
    Garage #1: Cambridge Audio 640A Integrated Amp, Project Box-E BT Streamer, Polk Tsi200 Bookies, Douglas Speaker Cables, Shunyata Power Conditioner
    Garage #2: Cambridge Audio EVO150 Integrated Amplifier, Polk L200's, Analysis Plus Silver Oval 2 Speaker Cables, IC's TBD.
  • mrbiron
    mrbiron Posts: 5,711
    verb wrote: »
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    verb wrote: »
    ...

    Correct Professor! Just waiting for a nice of high efficiency speakers!
    ...

    D'oh!
    I guess perhaps I should do something about that... :p

    Uh, yeah! :smile: Ready to do a joint venture at the Harvard town dump! :smile:

    Hmm...I'm only 46minutes from the audio Mecca. 45 minutes if I drive on the sidewalks...
    Where’s the KABOOM?!?! There’s supposed to be an Earth shattering KABOOM!!!
  • sgmsmg
    sgmsmg Posts: 542
    2 Channel
    Pre:Bryston BP173
    Amp:Bryston 14B3
    Speakers: Golden Ear Triton Reference
    Source: Oppo UDP-205, Bryston BDA-3, Bryston BDP-3, Bryston BCD-3, Apple TV, Amazon Fire
    Cables: Wireworld Gold Eclipse 7 Speaker, Wireworld Gold Eclipse 7 XLR, AQ Diamond USB/HDMI
    Power: PS Audio P10 Regenerator, AC12, AC10 and AC5 Cables
    Display: Sony XBR65Z9F

    Home Theater
    Pre: Anthem AVM90/JBL SDP-55
    Amps: Parasound A31, A51x2
    Speakers: Polk LSiM 707 (FL/FR), Polk LSiM706 (Center), LSiM 703 (SL/SR/SBL/SBR), Polk 900-LS (Atmos)
    Subwoofers: SVS SB16 x 4
    Source: Oppo UDP-205, Apple TV, Amazon Fire
    Cables: AQ Meteor/Rocket 88, AQ Niagara/Sky
    Power: Torus AVR20, Shunyata Denali, Shunyata Delta, Cullen, PangeaAC9SE Cables
    Display: Sony XBR85Z9G
  • verb
    verb Posts: 10,176
    sgmsmg wrote: »

    Small world. This is the same guy who was selling the 120/50 Amp! He also has it listed on eBay.
    Basement: Polk SDA SRS 1.2tl's, Cary SLP-05 Pre with ultimate upgrade,McIntosh MCD301 CD/SACD player, Northstar Designs Excelsio DAC, Cambridge 851N streamer, McIntosh MC300 Amp, Silnote Morpheus Ref2, Series2 Digital Cables, Silnote Morpheus Ref2 Series2 XLR's, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Pangea Power Cables, MIT Shotgun S3 IC's, MIT Shotgun S1 Bi-Wire speaker cables
    Office: PC, EAR Acute CD Player, EAR 834L Pre, Northstar Designs Intenso DAC, Antique Sound Labs AV8 Monoblocks, Denon UDR-F10 Cassette, Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers, SVS SB12 Plus sub, MIT AVt2 speaker cables, IFI Purifier2, AQ Cinnamon USB cable, Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
    Spare Room: Dayens Ampino Integrated Amp, Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38), Analysis Plus Oval 9's, Zu Jumpers, AudioEngine B1 Streamer, Klipsch RB-61 v2, SVS PB1000 sub, Blue Jeans RCA IC's, Shunyata Hydra 8 Power Conditioner
    Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated, Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer, Rotel RCD-1072 CD player, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers, Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
    Garage #1: Cambridge Audio 640A Integrated Amp, Project Box-E BT Streamer, Polk Tsi200 Bookies, Douglas Speaker Cables, Shunyata Power Conditioner
    Garage #2: Cambridge Audio EVO150 Integrated Amplifier, Polk L200's, Analysis Plus Silver Oval 2 Speaker Cables, IC's TBD.
  • mikeyb128
    mikeyb128 Posts: 2,885
    Get those Phillips Holland tubes in there! I have so many different variants of these tubes. Those big O getter tubes are great tubes man! I have those in a 7025A and 12AU7A and are one of my favorite tubes. I always go back to them time and time again. Such a great balance of midrange warmth, smooth top end, excellent dynamics and deep tight bass. System depending, you will love them. Try some hamburgs if you can. I have some 1960 short plates in my phono stage with my Holland 7025A and the combo is sweeet!
    2 channel:
    Bryston 4B3, Bryston BDA3, Cary SLP05, Shanling CDT1000SE with parts conneXion level 2 mods, Nottingham analogue ace space 294, soundsmith Carmen MKii, Zu DL103 MKii, Ortofon MC 20 MKii, Dynavector XX2 MKii, Rogue Audio Ares, Core power technologies balanced power conditioner, Akiko Corelli power conditioner with Akiko Audio HQ power cable, Nordost heimdall 2, Frey 2, interconnects, speaker and power cables, Focal Electra 1028 BE 2, Auralic Aries Femto, Black diamond racing cones, ingress audio level 1 roller blocks, JL Audio E110 with Auralic subdude, Primacoustics room treatments.
    Theater:
    Focal Aria 926,905,CC900, SVS PB ultra x2. Pioneer Elite SC85, Oppo BDP93, Panamax M5400PM, Minix neox6, Nordost Blue heaven LS power cables.

  • mikeyb128
    mikeyb128 Posts: 2,885
    mikeyb128 wrote: »
    Get those Phillips Holland tubes in there! I have so many different variants of these tubes. Those big O getter tubes are great tubes man! I have those in a 7025A and 12AU7A and are one of my favorite tubes. I always go back to them time and time again. Such a great balance of midrange warmth, smooth top end, excellent dynamics and deep tight bass. System depending, you will love them. Try some hamburgs if you can. I have some 1960 short plates in my phono stage with my Holland 7025A and the combo is sweeet!

    Holy crap. I’m losing it. Thought this was the vtl preamp thread! Ahhhhhh....
    2 channel:
    Bryston 4B3, Bryston BDA3, Cary SLP05, Shanling CDT1000SE with parts conneXion level 2 mods, Nottingham analogue ace space 294, soundsmith Carmen MKii, Zu DL103 MKii, Ortofon MC 20 MKii, Dynavector XX2 MKii, Rogue Audio Ares, Core power technologies balanced power conditioner, Akiko Corelli power conditioner with Akiko Audio HQ power cable, Nordost heimdall 2, Frey 2, interconnects, speaker and power cables, Focal Electra 1028 BE 2, Auralic Aries Femto, Black diamond racing cones, ingress audio level 1 roller blocks, JL Audio E110 with Auralic subdude, Primacoustics room treatments.
    Theater:
    Focal Aria 926,905,CC900, SVS PB ultra x2. Pioneer Elite SC85, Oppo BDP93, Panamax M5400PM, Minix neox6, Nordost Blue heaven LS power cables.

  • verb
    verb Posts: 10,176
    mikeyb128 wrote: »
    mikeyb128 wrote: »
    Get those Phillips Holland tubes in there! I have so many different variants of these tubes. Those big O getter tubes are great tubes man! I have those in a 7025A and 12AU7A and are one of my favorite tubes. I always go back to them time and time again. Such a great balance of midrange warmth, smooth top end, excellent dynamics and deep tight bass. System depending, you will love them. Try some hamburgs if you can. I have some 1960 short plates in my phono stage with my Holland 7025A and the combo is sweeet!

    Holy crap. I’m losing it. Thought this was the vtl preamp thread! Ahhhhhh....

    Hehe. No worries my man. I was scratching my head! :smile:
    Basement: Polk SDA SRS 1.2tl's, Cary SLP-05 Pre with ultimate upgrade,McIntosh MCD301 CD/SACD player, Northstar Designs Excelsio DAC, Cambridge 851N streamer, McIntosh MC300 Amp, Silnote Morpheus Ref2, Series2 Digital Cables, Silnote Morpheus Ref2 Series2 XLR's, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Pangea Power Cables, MIT Shotgun S3 IC's, MIT Shotgun S1 Bi-Wire speaker cables
    Office: PC, EAR Acute CD Player, EAR 834L Pre, Northstar Designs Intenso DAC, Antique Sound Labs AV8 Monoblocks, Denon UDR-F10 Cassette, Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers, SVS SB12 Plus sub, MIT AVt2 speaker cables, IFI Purifier2, AQ Cinnamon USB cable, Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
    Spare Room: Dayens Ampino Integrated Amp, Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38), Analysis Plus Oval 9's, Zu Jumpers, AudioEngine B1 Streamer, Klipsch RB-61 v2, SVS PB1000 sub, Blue Jeans RCA IC's, Shunyata Hydra 8 Power Conditioner
    Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated, Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer, Rotel RCD-1072 CD player, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers, Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
    Garage #1: Cambridge Audio 640A Integrated Amp, Project Box-E BT Streamer, Polk Tsi200 Bookies, Douglas Speaker Cables, Shunyata Power Conditioner
    Garage #2: Cambridge Audio EVO150 Integrated Amplifier, Polk L200's, Analysis Plus Silver Oval 2 Speaker Cables, IC's TBD.
  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,776
    verb wrote: »
    mikeyb128 wrote: »
    mikeyb128 wrote: »
    Get those Phillips Holland tubes in there! I have so many different variants of these tubes. Those big O getter tubes are great tubes man! I have those in a 7025A and 12AU7A and are one of my favorite tubes. I always go back to them time and time again. Such a great balance of midrange warmth, smooth top end, excellent dynamics and deep tight bass. System depending, you will love them. Try some hamburgs if you can. I have some 1960 short plates in my phono stage with my Holland 7025A and the combo is sweeet!

    Holy crap. I’m losing it. Thought this was the vtl preamp thread! Ahhhhhh....

    Hehe. No worries my man. I was scratching my head! :smile:

    He's Canerdian. They're a bit off come this time of year.
  • GOLDEN-EARS
    GOLDEN-EARS Posts: 12
    edited November 2018
    I have had a lot of VTL amps over the years. From ST80 to MB450, they are all great tube amps. In over 30 years of owning most tube amps VTL remains some of the very best. It's current and amps that really drive the speaker and damping factor that controls the speakers. In Tetrode they will drive your speakers nicely. Those amps are Tetrode and Triode. Don't let people who never owned or listened to those amps turn you off. Now I just listen to my MC-2000.

    OpFWTHQ.jpg?1

    "We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm."
    -George Orwell
  • verb
    verb Posts: 10,176
    ^^^^^Awesome!
    Basement: Polk SDA SRS 1.2tl's, Cary SLP-05 Pre with ultimate upgrade,McIntosh MCD301 CD/SACD player, Northstar Designs Excelsio DAC, Cambridge 851N streamer, McIntosh MC300 Amp, Silnote Morpheus Ref2, Series2 Digital Cables, Silnote Morpheus Ref2 Series2 XLR's, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Pangea Power Cables, MIT Shotgun S3 IC's, MIT Shotgun S1 Bi-Wire speaker cables
    Office: PC, EAR Acute CD Player, EAR 834L Pre, Northstar Designs Intenso DAC, Antique Sound Labs AV8 Monoblocks, Denon UDR-F10 Cassette, Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers, SVS SB12 Plus sub, MIT AVt2 speaker cables, IFI Purifier2, AQ Cinnamon USB cable, Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
    Spare Room: Dayens Ampino Integrated Amp, Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38), Analysis Plus Oval 9's, Zu Jumpers, AudioEngine B1 Streamer, Klipsch RB-61 v2, SVS PB1000 sub, Blue Jeans RCA IC's, Shunyata Hydra 8 Power Conditioner
    Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated, Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer, Rotel RCD-1072 CD player, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers, Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
    Garage #1: Cambridge Audio 640A Integrated Amp, Project Box-E BT Streamer, Polk Tsi200 Bookies, Douglas Speaker Cables, Shunyata Power Conditioner
    Garage #2: Cambridge Audio EVO150 Integrated Amplifier, Polk L200's, Analysis Plus Silver Oval 2 Speaker Cables, IC's TBD.
  • earth1
    earth1 Posts: 1
    edited October 2019
    What you have there appears to be the single-chassis version of the VTL Deluxe-120 block amplifiers. I have four of the Deluxe 120s mono-blocks, and I really like them. They aren't specifically "warm" as tube amplifiers go, but are very neutral, and I like that in a reference amplifier. Having said that, they are still warmer than the sterile-sounding top-shelf transistor amplifiers of equivalent power (pick most any like the Carver 1.0t for example). When listening, a good audiophile will probably perceive right away the really large sound stage that these amplifiers develop for you. Anyway, it's worth it to get tubes that are matched - you'll get a better listening experience and will really be able to realize the potential of these fine amplifiers if you do. I assume biasing each channel of your amplifier is the same as what I have to do to bias mine, since your VTL Deluxe120 uses four 807 tubes per channel as do each of my mono-blocks. What you do is set your meter to the 2vdc range and place the red (positive) probe in one of the test sockets (there is one for each tube so that you can set the bias for each tube individually), and hold the black probe to any good ground connection or raw-metal connection on the chassis like the center of any of the alan screws at the front. You'll get a small screw driver and turn the corresponding trim pot and set it for 0.260vdc (that's 260 milliamps which corresonds to 26 miliampres of idle current for each tube since this measurement is taken across 10 ohm resistors in series with each cathode). You'll need to go back and verify the settings and fine-adjust them because as you set the bias for the other tubes, the adjustment of the others will in turn affect the Q-point of the tubes you've already adjusted and you will therefore need to go back and set the previous ones again. After 2 or 3 passes of going back and adjusting the bias of all tubes, the bias adjustments of the amplifier should be right. Anyway, you have a very fine amp there. If you ever want to sell it, please bend my ear ;-)


    Regards,
    Jim Butler
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 49,708
    Helluva first post, Jim. Welcome to Club Polk.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

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