Solid State sounds the alarm!

madmax
madmax Posts: 12,434
edited November 2010 in 2 Channel Audio
I've been using some nice Manley 200wpc amps since I moved into my new house a few years ago. Great sound! Over the weekend I hooked up a solid state amp and played at about the same levels. It sounded OK. I was testing out for a friend. So here is the point of all this, my glass breakage detectors in the house kept going off continuously. Hook the tubes back up and not a peep. Its my analysis the detectors were complaining about some of the harsher qualities of the sound. :eek:
Vinyl, the final frontier...

Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited November 2010
    That is funny! I have considered getting some quality SS monoblocks in to demo with the Klipsch horns, but I'm hesitant for that very reason. It seems like class A may be the SS key to success and I like the sound of my class A Forte amp when I owned it. What kind of amp were you using? Until I make another SS decision, I guess I'll just hangout with my Treasure 300Bs and twiddle my thumbs...
    Jake
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited November 2010
    Very telling, you may be on to something.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited November 2010
    It's hard to argue with the bass authority and power of SS though...
    Jake
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited November 2010
    I was using an Acurus 200wpc.
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited November 2010
    I haven't heard any Pass Labs equipment myself, but it seems like a good answer to bad solid state from what I've heard.
    Jake
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited November 2010
    I blame the horns.
    "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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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited November 2010
    naw that sand was getting grit everywhere.......

    Max you Rock.

    I have been evaluating some 200 watt Hurricanes in the R-Hole running KT-88's, had them about a month or so. pretty things they are, originals with the solid steel case and 11 tubes per amp.

    RT1
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited November 2010
    zingo wrote: »
    I haven't heard any Pass Labs equipment myself, but it seems like a good answer to bad solid state from what I've heard.

    It really is especially the lower power single ended Class A and First Watt stuff.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited November 2010
    Gawd.....get a room.....be safe though..

    I got an awesome pyle pro....3000 watts baby....183 bucks, bet that'll make those alarms sing like a canary swagging backwards on its peter perch.

    RT1
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited November 2010
    reeltrouble1 wrote: »
    Gawd.....get a room.....be safe though..

    I got an awesome pyle pro....3000 watts baby....183 bucks, bet that'll make those alarms sing like a canary swagging backwards on its peter perch.

    RT1

    terrible_temper_tantrum_retro_girl_sticker-p217375625642475853qjcl_400.jpg
    Jake
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  • megasat16
    megasat16 Posts: 3,521
    edited November 2010
    Time to get a new alarm? It's obvious that Solid State has a better edge over Tube.

    Wooh...that was a close one. :biggrin:
    Trying out Different Audio Cables is a Religious Affair. You don't discuss it with anyone. :redface::biggrin:
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  • xj4094dg
    xj4094dg Posts: 1,158
    edited November 2010
    Face wrote: »
    I blame the horns.

    Exactly.
    "The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it." Neil deGrasse Tyson.
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited November 2010
    You can't blame the horns, they are only exposing the flaws further up the stream... (this coming from a horn owner)
    Jake
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited November 2010
    Horns blow. :biggrin:

    FYI, I'm listening to a pair of horn loaded tweeters at the moment.
    "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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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited November 2010
    megasat16 wrote: »
    Time to get a new alarm? It's obvious that Solid State has a better edge over Tube.

    Wooh...that was a close one. :biggrin:

    Lets just say that Solid State has an edge. :wink:
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited November 2010
    oooh thats going to leave a mark.....:rolleyes::wink:
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited November 2010
    reeltrouble1 wrote: »
    oooh thats going to leave a mark.....:rolleyes::wink:

    I was quite proud of that last remark. :biggrin:
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • megasat16
    megasat16 Posts: 3,521
    edited November 2010
    Oh well, poor tuber must have lost all it's edges after being rolled on many times by u know whom. Still, it has to blow at the end of the day. Oh my....:redface:

    I think the alarm works fine. It's just giving a shout out to the Solid State for it's accuracy. :wink:
    Trying out Different Audio Cables is a Religious Affair. You don't discuss it with anyone. :redface::biggrin:
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  • megasat16
    megasat16 Posts: 3,521
    edited November 2010
    Any mark that left on the tuber are just thumb prints. Wear your grove before u got it roll on. :biggrin:
    Trying out Different Audio Cables is a Religious Affair. You don't discuss it with anyone. :redface::biggrin:
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited November 2010
    Tubes and horns rule!
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited November 2010
    My issue with horns and solid state in the past has always been noise of the system. Granted this was probably just the systems I have listened to (Klipschorns with H/K SS monoblocks for example), but I've never had a noise/quietness issue with my system, but I also choose my components very carefully for that aspect as I seem to notice that more than other people. If I can get my hands on a good, class A, zero noise amp, I'll A/B it against my 300Bs and I have nothing to loose except the lesser of the two amps.
    Jake
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited November 2010
    W4S gear is dead silent at the tweeter on my 94db Tannoys.
    "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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  • megasat16
    megasat16 Posts: 3,521
    edited November 2010
    Almost every SS gears / amps have a noise floor (SNR) above 100dB. Most Tube Gears / amps are around 80dB or 90dB and we call it good for Tubes.

    Most efficient horns are around 95db to 100dB sensitivity. If the tube doesn't sound the alarm, it's most likely coz it's tailored to sound that way. I understand some ppl prefer to listen to vocals in the music and not so much of others.

    I love BIG FAT THICK Vocals too but I prefer to hear everything I can while I still can. Even the harshness if it's in the music.

    Yes, SS gears can be harsh. I know some SS can be very harsh and edgy. Likewise, some Tubes can be harsh and edgy too. What Max said, I doubt it's probably Synergy at play again coz I know the Acurus gears and I did not find it harsh. But I have no idea how it will sound with the horns.
    Trying out Different Audio Cables is a Religious Affair. You don't discuss it with anyone. :redface::biggrin:
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited November 2010
    That is very funny Chuck!
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  • AudioGenics
    AudioGenics Posts: 2,567
    edited November 2010
    Glass Breakage Sensors: Usually consist of two parts, the microphone and the main module. The module can be hidden anywhere.... The microphone shouldn't be concealed and should be mounted equidistant to all windows ideally. To set, start with least sensitivity, and tap the glass with the side of a quarter (be careful not to break the glass)....DOH

    goes for solid state tooo
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 6,767
    edited November 2010
    Acurus did always have a reputation for being harsh in the treble region. I'm thinking there are a number of heavy hitting solid state amps that would be every bit as smooth as those Manleys and not set off your alarms.
    For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore...
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited November 2010
    Maybe someone looked through the window, saw the manleys sitting there unhooked and was trying to break in?? Another possibility is possibly the harsh sound was annoying the woodpeckers and they were pounding against the glass?? Nah, it was just the edge of the SS... :)
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • megasat16
    megasat16 Posts: 3,521
    edited November 2010
    Another possibility is that your neighbor finally hear you playing music since SS sounds so much cleaner and he peep through the window to see what's with the newfound musicality.

    Not all SS is harsh. I heard the Acurus through LSi25 for a few hours and never got a fatigue. It was not harsh to me. May be my ears are used to the teeth grinding. Who knows?

    Acurus may sound harsh at treble if paired with Bright speaker. Sounds like horns?
    Trying out Different Audio Cables is a Religious Affair. You don't discuss it with anyone. :redface::biggrin:
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited November 2010
    megasat16 wrote: »
    Acurus may sound harsh at treble if paired with Bright speaker. Sounds like horns?

    Who said it was an Acurus? And no, MY horns are not bright, actually laid back... but powerful. :smile:
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited November 2010
    madmax wrote: »
    Who said it was an Acurus?

    madmax wrote: »
    I was using an Acurus 200wpc.

    H9 :smile::wink::biggrin:
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter