Tubes and Monitor Series ?
VSAT88
Posts: 1,257
Anyone using tubes with Monitor Series ? My Dynaco ST 70 seems to like the Monitor 11s I picked up last week and they seem to like it as well..Really Really like each other...What are your results and with what tube amps ?
Comments
-
Oh yes! I've used Monitor 7s, Monitor 10s, RTA-12Bs, and a few different SDAs with tubes with great success. I'm listenin to some modded CRSs being powered by a Rogue 88 Magnum as I'm typing this and the sound is glorious! Other tube amps I've used with vintage Polks include Primaluna Prologue 4, Anthem Amp-1, and Anthem Amp-2 (hybrid tube/ss). Love them all!
-
I use Monitor 11w/peerless & 7w/194's on yaqin 30L w/30 tube cd player & love them both. The 11's
are pure bliss on music such as Kansas. Tubular Bells. James Brickman. I rotate 4 pairs of speakers on this tube amp. Klh-23 Advent1's. I seem to use other gear for rock though.. -
Awesome set up (ups). Both of my tube amps are my age or older and I am 50 ! I really want a tube preamp next and I would like McIntosh tube amp one day.....
-
I have identically one data point. I tried my EICO HF-81 (which is a modest but truly wonderful sounding, albeit low powered, by the standards of folks on this forum, push-pull EL84 stereo integrated amplifier) with my 1978 Monitor Series Model 7As, and the combination was not propitious.
It was an "n = 1" experiment, and one could argue that 12-ish wpc isn't enough for the moderate sensitivity of the 7As, but the same amp sounds good with some other insensitive loudspeakers (within limitations of course), e.g., the AR-3. Further, I've never tried the 7As with a more powerful vacuum tube amplifier, either (remember, at my house, 12 wpc is high powered!).
In other words, simply an empirical, anecdotal observation, offered as-is and FWIW.
HF81 by Mark Hardy, on Flickr
-
I must say that I have never tried my 7s on the tube amp (which is 50 watts x 2 @ 8 ohms).
But I've LOVED how my 7s sound on a Kenwood KA-7300, and the 10s on the Marantz 2265-and my 5As on a JVC R-S33, so I haven't been motivated to try it. But perhaps I will in the future. So far, my experience echoes Mark's above. Vintage SS and Monitors, pretty darned "good"!Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!
Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
[sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash] -
I currently have my Silk Audio MC-100 (made by Yaqin) hooked to my RTA 12c's with the Peerless tweets. It is 30 watt in triode and 60 watt in ultra linear. I currently have it on triode to listen to some mellower tunes. Florence and The Machine Live Acoustic CD sounds very nice. I have tried it with my SDA 1c's in ul mode but prefer the 1c's with an Adcom 555 and a Dared SL2000 tube pre. I have not tried the tubes much on my 10's or 7's. Those are currently setup with a Yamaha CR-2020. Have to move things around and give them a listen on the tubes.
-
I have the Silk Audio MC100B also, used it with my Monitor 10's and my CRS+'s and they really sound great together
- BUT -
I find I prefer my Vincent Hybrid preamp & amplifier more with both of them, my Vincent are hybrid and have tubes in the input and output stages and just have better bass slam and everything a tad tigher and they just gel with them better.
every time I use the MC100b within a hour I will switched back to my Vincent gear as it seems like something is missing.2 ch- Polk CRS+ * Vincent SA-31MK Preamp * Vincent Sp-331 Amp * Marantz SA8005 SACD * Project Xperience Classic TT * Sumiko Blue Point #2 MC cartridge
HT - Polk 703's * NAD T-758 * Adcom 5503 * Oppo 103 * Samsung 60" series 8 LCD -
I am using a rebuilt and updated Dynaco ST70. It puts out 35 watts per channel, and powers a pair of Polk 7A's. I also have hooked the 7s up to a Hafler DH 200, at 100 watts per side. The tube sound is better in every respect, except for sheer volume. More detail, better imaging, and overall, more pleasant for extended listening.Amps: Dynaco ST 70 (rebuilt), Hafler DH-200, Preamps: Perreaux SX1, Akitica PR 101, CD Players: Onkyo RDS 511, Teac RW 900 MKII, Sony SACD S9000ES, Turntable: Pioneer PL630, Sony 5520 Speakers: Ohm Walsh 4's, Large Advents, Rogers LS7's, POLK Monitor 7A's.
-
I have a pair of 7B's with the crossovers recently modded by westmassguy, driven by
Cayin TA 30 (PrimaLuna Prolouge) integrated tube amp.
This match is perfect.....midrange is killer. The sound is butterry liquid and textured. I'm sure that doesn't make sense, but those were the adjectives that immediately come to mind
I've also put the 7's om the McCormack DNA 1 paired with Rogue Tube pre. This also sound really good......details, details, details! and dynamic!
Soundstoge and imaging great either way.
Tubes and Monitors go together bro!Main Rig:
Antipodes DX > Roon > PS Audio Directstream Jr.>deHavilland Ultraverve 3 >Belles Reference 150a >Harbeth C7 ES3
Second Rig:
Roon> PS Audio Directstream Jr Bridge II > EE Minimax pre (Tutay mods) >Belles 150A Ref >Monitor 5 (Westmassguy-modded) -
I don't have any Monitors but I'm running tubes with a pair of LS70's and I must say that this rig sounds great. Currently I have a N.E.W. P-3 preamp (made by Cary) and a Cary SLA Signature (6550 V2 version with upgraded Clarity caps) going into pair of LS70's with Sonicap modded crossovers. I have to admit there are times I get lost in the soundstage. I'm thinking of upgrading my speakers but, quite frankly, I really don't know which ones to pick without spending $5000, or maybe $10,000, in order to achieve any tangible sound quality improvement. My brother, for awhile, ran a Sherwood 6898 (a noval based tube) based amp into a pair of Monitor 7's (one of the newer versions) and that too sounded great. With all due respect to our colleagues with SS based rigs, I don't think one could go wrong with tube/Polk Audio combo.Decware CSP3 Preamp, RCA 6DJ8, 2 X Rocket 6N1P-EV's, Cary SLA70B Signature V2 Amplifier: 2 X Mullard GZ32's, 2 X RCA/GE 5691's, 4 X Tung-Sol 6550's
Cambridge Audio 640C V2 CD Player & Dacmagic DAC
Rega Planar 3: Deep Groove Subplatter, P3 Motor
upgrade, Dynavector 10x5, JA Michell counterwieght, Cardas tonearm wiring and Mapleshade stand
Parks Audio Budgie Hybrid Phonostage with BEL 6922 tubes, Polk Audio LS70's
H.H. Scott 330D AM/FM Tuner with H.H. Scott 335 Multiplex adaptor. -
I am going to try my Fisher 500c with my Monitor 5s and 11s soon just to see..
-
@VSAT88 is that norman speakers in your avitar?Klipsch The Nines, Audioquest Thunderbird Interconnect, Innuos Zen MK3 W4S recovery, Revolution Audio Labs USB & Ethernet, Border Patrol SE-I, Audioquest Niagara 5000 & Thunder, Cullen Crossover II PC's.
-
@VSAT88 is that norman speakers in your avitar?
Yes, love them. Had two sets and sold one. If I had a big living room I would have kept all 4. They are Norman 10s ..both sets were. I know where the other set is and could get them back if things change... -
The 10's had a ton of bass. I had a set a while back.Klipsch The Nines, Audioquest Thunderbird Interconnect, Innuos Zen MK3 W4S recovery, Revolution Audio Labs USB & Ethernet, Border Patrol SE-I, Audioquest Niagara 5000 & Thunder, Cullen Crossover II PC's.
-
The 10's had a ton of bass. I had a set a while back.
What gear we're you using to power them? -
(FWIW, of course) I've always found the Monitor 10 family a little thick/heavy sounding. Not bad mind you, but a bit bloated relative to the 7s.
YMMV and all that rot of course, eh what?
-
mhardy6647 wrote: »(FWIW, of course) I've always found the Monitor 10 family a little thick/heavy sounding. Not bad mind you, but a bit bloated relative to the 7s.
YMMV and all that rot of course, eh what?
Funny, I feel the same way about the Monitor 11s in comparison with the Monitor 5s I have ...well with the Dynaco anway..I still use the 11s with the Dynaco however I think I like the 5s sound better with the Dynaco. Oh, by the way I do have some new tubes coming from Jim McShane. We will see how they sound on the Monitors. I must say, I will NEVER buy another JJ Electronics tube of any kind. Had a really bad experience in dealing with them. I had the JJ 6CA7s and they went out one at a time over just a few months..If even that.. -
Never much cared for the 12s (again, FWIW) -- haven't really had a lot of ears-on time with the 11s, so I don't have a strong opion of them; but I wouldn't be at all surprised.
By the time the SDAs came along, the line had pretty much jumped the shark, for my tastes. The simple/cheap/no frills/fine sound mantra that drove the original, successful consumer "Monitor Series" was gone.
based on another current thread topic here -- maybe it is coming back. -
The norman 10's I was actually using an onkyo integra amp.Klipsch The Nines, Audioquest Thunderbird Interconnect, Innuos Zen MK3 W4S recovery, Revolution Audio Labs USB & Ethernet, Border Patrol SE-I, Audioquest Niagara 5000 & Thunder, Cullen Crossover II PC's.
-
That Onkyo Integra is one impressive amp. Especially if it's the one my friend has..I don't recall the model but it's very nice.The norman 10's I was actually using an onkyo integra amp.
-
It was .. 508??? ... shoot its been a while. I think it was 160 per channel and had the nice big vu's. It took a sunfire signature to take it down. I had it for at least 10 years.Klipsch The Nines, Audioquest Thunderbird Interconnect, Innuos Zen MK3 W4S recovery, Revolution Audio Labs USB & Ethernet, Border Patrol SE-I, Audioquest Niagara 5000 & Thunder, Cullen Crossover II PC's.
-
mhardy6647 wrote: »(FWIW, of course) I've always found the Monitor 10 family a little thick/heavy sounding. Not bad mind you, but a bit bloated relative to the 7s.
YMMV and all that rot of course, eh what?
Funny, I feel the same way about the Monitor 11s in comparison with the Monitor 5s I have ...well with the Dynaco anway..I still use the 11s with the Dynaco however I think I like the 5s sound better with the Dynaco. Oh, by the way I do have some new tubes coming from Jim McShane. We will see how they sound on the Monitors. I must say, I will NEVER buy another JJ Electronics tube of any kind. Had a really bad experience in dealing with them. I had the JJ 6CA7s and they went out one at a time over just a few months..If even that..
Well, the tubes from Jim McShane came in. I immediately noticed a huge difference for the better. I never had a matched set now I am really really glad that I bought them. They are the 6CA7 Electro Harmonics . Jim matches them himself. They were very reasonable price wise and sound great. Still playing the Monitor 11s with the Dynaco. -
It was .. 508??? ... shoot its been a while. I think it was 160 per channel and had the nice big vu's. It took a sunfire signature to take it down. I had it for at least 10 years.
Damn, I just can't recall. That sounds right though...oh but for a Sunfire...maybe one day. -
Big difference in the sunfire and the sunfire sig II 625x2 I had. It was a more robust amp.Klipsch The Nines, Audioquest Thunderbird Interconnect, Innuos Zen MK3 W4S recovery, Revolution Audio Labs USB & Ethernet, Border Patrol SE-I, Audioquest Niagara 5000 & Thunder, Cullen Crossover II PC's.
-
Believe me I would like either one. I will keep it in mind though. I have read that the SIGII was the one to have but I have never seen or heard either one. I can't imagine that type of power....biggest, heavy, and most powerful amp I have ever ran is the Parasound HCA 1206..
