Tube Amp on the Highs SS on the Lows??

Toolfan66
Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
edited August 2010 in 2 Channel Audio
Has anybody tried this?? Bi-Amp with a Tube Amp and SS Amp??


Just Curious..
Post edited by Toolfan66 on
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Comments

  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited August 2010
    Yes, it can be difficult to pull off though. I used a SS amp on the bottom that had attenuators, so I was able to level match between the top and bottom amps.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,033
    edited August 2010
    Ahhhh, the million dollar question.

    Good luck and happy listening but the rabbit hole will not let you in....[unless].....even then......
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,081
    edited August 2010
    You brought Tom out of the woodworks...
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited August 2010
    What speakers are you using? This type of bi-amping works better on 3-way speakers than 2 ime. In a 3-way, you can use the tube amp to power the mids and highs. If you're able to match the gain on both amps, try it.
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited August 2010
    organ wrote: »
    If you're able to match the gain on both amps, try it.

    Bingo
    Jake
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited August 2010
    gain is certainly a consideration a big one, there are others, speed? tonal character? signal handling? balanced circuit? unbalanced circuit, I guess the questions are near endless, if the idea just burns and you gotta have it, sure go for it, hear it, we did it here years ago, lets just say those fellows I know did not continue on with it,myself included.

    RT1
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,033
    edited August 2010
    Add another one to the list, Ted. Basically it sucks.

    You may gain some attributes but you lose so much more of what the goal is. Which makes it, well.....not worth it in the long run. Eh, if you want to experiment? Have fun as I'm sure some of us did. Ya' gotta learn somehow.
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
    edited August 2010
    It just crossed my mind if anybody has tried it. Sounds like one should stay away from it..
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,420
    edited August 2010
    I am very happy with SS power and Tubes for my pre, but that may change IF my new project gets off the ground.:cool:
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,033
    edited August 2010
    Dude, that's a completely different scenario.
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,243
    edited August 2010
    treitz3 wrote: »
    Dude, that's a completely different scenario.

    Yep!! I'm running a tube pre, and a tube phono pre..
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited August 2010
    There was another time a friend and I gave it a try. We used an Ayon Crossfire as an integrated amp on the highs and mids of his Acoustic Zen Crescendos, then used the pre-out on the unit to a W4S amp for the lows. We had to use a stepped attenuator between the Ayon and W4S to lower the gain a bit, but it sounded wonderful.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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