Newb tube amp

michaeljhsda2

What are your initial impressions of the amp?

bigaudiofanatic

I can tell that the lows and mids are more subtle than my carever. i do agree with the others that the highs are lacking. Made me question if the ML's were having a problem.

I can also tell that tubes do produce a much more powerful output than my carver with lower volume.

However I will be looking into better tube to try to fix this. Recommendations would be nice, I am looking at the set that was recommended on the first page.



Also will add that the "excitement factor" is with me right now with having a new toy in my system. So I will need a few days to settle down.

michaeljhsda2

As suggested I would try a different quad of preamp tubes. As far as the power tubes, I would leave those in there IMHO. If you decide you want to change those out keep in mind that you will need to remove the cover on the amp and make sure the bias is set in the proper range. It's kind of a pain to do that and you have to be careful not to let the probes of the MM slip....

As others have mentioned, the preamp tubes are more than likely the cause of the attenuated highs. I used that amp to power 1.2TL's and 1C's and the highs were not lacking. Synergy is sometimes hard to obtain. Are you ultimately going to use the amp on different speakers?

bigaudiofanatic

A few things as I switch from eagles back to Norah. Norah's highs seem to be more natural and not caped. So could of been the cd's being played.

The louder the volume the clearer things become. Will have to really try it tomorrow.

As far as the speakers. I honestly can not say. At this point I have ONE room for everything. So hard to really have two sets of towers especially with the ML's.

Who knows what I will have in my man cave when I get one. I know I want a dedicated 2 channel setup and a HT setup so who knows.

inspiredsports

Another fine point (and I don't know if yours will be the same), but my tube gear continues to get happier and happier for up to 45 minutes until the transformers are nice and warm. I usually don't even start the source material for 30 minues. Tube gear takes a bit more patience than SS.

BUT IT IS SOOOOO WORTH IT !!!

TOOBS RULE

michaeljhsda2

The longer it warms up the better it sounds, no doubt about it. You wouldn't think 52 watts would be enough power to drive many speakers but there is just something about a tube amp and how powerful they are.... BTW there are a few hundred hours on both the power tubes and the preamp tubes so the amp is well broken in at this point.

bigaudiofanatic

inspiredsports wrote: »

Another fine point (and I don't know if yours will be the same), but my tube gear continues to get happier and happier for up to 45 minutes until the transformers are nice and warm. I usually don't even start the source material for 30 minues. Tube gear takes a bit more patience than SS.

Sort of noticing that right now.

polkfarmboy

Lets have some awesome pics

bigaudiofanatic

bigaudiofanatic

Will get some better ones probably tonight.