Worried about Tube amp power with LSI 15-25

TubeGlow
TubeGlow Posts: 2
edited February 2011 in Speakers
I own an amp system that I treasure. It consists of a vintage Marantz pre-amp (tube powered) hooked to 2 super sweet tube monoblocks amplifiers (KT-88 kind in full triode mode). The output is a solid 50 watt per monoblock at 8 ohms. It's not a lot compared to a solid state amp, but it's quite respectable for a tube amp. It has lots of peak power and the sound is just perfect to my taste. At least as far as the amp is concerned.

I am truly attracted to the LSI 15 and 25 speakers. But from all the readings on this forum I am worried that no matter how much I like my monoblocks, I may still be disappointed with the LSI (I do not want the LSI 9 - I like all-in-one tower speakers; the RTI A9 *may* be an option though). My goal is well over 90% music on this 2 channel system. Maybe HT once in a while, but music mostly. Are the LSI 15 or 25 (with powered subs) *that* power hungry?

Do you guys with real world knowledge of tube amps think my system is truly underpowered for these speakers? It is my experience that tubes are way more assertive with power reserve than most solid state amps. Yet, could such a set up work?

I'd love to hear from anyone who has experience with tube amps - and these speakers!

Serge
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Comments

  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,779
    edited February 2011
    Get one of the mid-sized pin/blade SDA's.
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  • blakeh
    blakeh Posts: 491
    edited February 2011
    A lot depends on the kind of volume you're expecting from the speakers. My situation was similar, but not exactly like yours in that I had a 50W Dodd tube amp powering LSi9 speakers. Let me tell you, that setup sounded sweet! They mated up very well. But, I couldn't crank the speakers up to 100dB without the sound falling apart. It was a very good combination for moderate level listening. But, as I'm sure others will tell you, the LSi series does like to have some power behind them.

    Best thing to do? Hook them up and see!
    /COLOR] [U][URL="http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=68366"][COLOR="Blue"]My Rigs[/U][/COLOR][/URL] [COLOR="Red" Balanced Audio Technology | Revel | Dodd | Monarchy | PS Audio | MIT | Polk | Etc.
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited February 2011
    FWIW--I drove a pair of LSI 15's (modded crossovers)
    with a pair of Quicksilver M-80 mono's,,80 watts,,they sounded fantastic and they would play plenty loud.But Jesse is right,, get some mid size SDA's(exactly what I did),,you may like them even better.YMMV--good luck.
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • TubeGlow
    TubeGlow Posts: 2
    edited February 2011
    Thanks George and JC - and Blakeh. I think the one conclusion I can get for sure is that, indeed, my monoblocks won't have the oompf needed to get the real sweet juice out of the LSI 15. I am resigning to this fact. Too bad as I really liked them.

    The SDA's do not have a shape that is conducive to my living room. I have plenty of depth but extremely limited width (furniture, fireplace, etc), which makes sliding SDA's in place quite impossible (besides the WAF is impossible with these speakers).

    I guess I could look into the RTI A9 then? I listened to them at the store and they sounded kinda "compressed" (mostly when listened side by side against some KEF IQ90). Any ideas?

    Serge
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited February 2011
    Keep the LSI 15's,, upgrade the caps n' resistors,, then jump on these

    http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstube&1301522405&/Manley/VTL-Reference-200-Clean

    You will be as happy as a clam :smile:
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited February 2011
    As long as your amps can drive a 4ohm load, you'll be fine!
    "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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  • virtualdean
    virtualdean Posts: 286
    edited February 2011
    TubeGlow wrote: »
    I own an amp system that I treasure. It consists of a vintage Marantz pre-amp (tube powered) hooked to 2 super sweet tube monoblocks amplifiers (KT-88 kind in full triode mode). The output is a solid 50 watt per monoblock at 8 ohms. It's not a lot compared to a solid state amp, but it's quite respectable for a tube amp. It has lots of peak power and the sound is just perfect to my taste. At least as far as the amp is concerned.

    the RTI A9 *may* be an option though).



    Serge

    Sergei:

    I own a set of RTi A9's. They sound wonderful. IF U get end up getting RTI A9's, I'd be very interested in your posting how well your Tube system and the A9's perform together. I'm considering going to tubes.

    Thanks

    VD
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited February 2011
    You'll have more fun with the RTiA's. You can drive the 25's, but they will run out of steam on 50 watts of tubes, been there, done that. If you love your amps, buy a speaker you like, that they can drive. The RTiA are right up that alley.

    Cheers,
    Russ
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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