Got some BIG mono blocks!

organ
organ Posts: 4,969
edited August 2006 in 2 Channel Audio
OMG, I finally went down to the dealer today. If you guys remember, I wanted the ASL "Tulip" at first. I talked to the dealer and he told me the Tulip will not give me the kind of slam/dynamics I'm looking for. Instead he suggested a pair of ASL KMP22-FOX mono blocks. Single ended, 20w/ch(or maybe 22). He told me the clarity and dynamics will blow me away. He said it sounds better than the 300B or 2A3 offerings from ASL.

Got home only to find out, one channel didn't have sound. Swapped output tubes and found the problem. One output tube was bad and didn't make any sound. I already ordered a pair for replacements which should arrive early on Mon. So no rockin' until Monday:( .

Anyways, I connected one of them to my Klipsch and the dynamics is out of this world! Clean, fast, effortless. The bass is very powerful. Can't wait until I get both of them running.

The mono block uses the 6C33 output tube which was designed for radar use in Russian MIG's. The tube is very well made and quite heavy. It is also known as the "three nipple Russian monsters" because of it's ability to drive hard loads, its large size and, of course, the three nipples on top of the tube.

Here are some pics. These mono's are monsters compared to my ST-70. They weigh in at about 40 lbs each! On the second pic I put the 6C33 beside an EL34(that I'm using in my Dyna). You can really see the size difference.
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Comments

  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,643
    edited August 2006
    Awesome... amazing looking amps.
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,552
    edited August 2006
    Sweeeeet!!!
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • faster100
    faster100 Posts: 6,124
    edited August 2006
    awesome tube gear as usual maurice.. what they set ya back for the pair?
    MY HT RIG:
    Sherwood p-965
    Sherwood sd871 dvd
    Rotel 1075 amp x5
    LSI15 mains
    LsiC center
    LSIfx surround backs
    Lsi7 side surrounds
    SVS pb12/plus2

    2 Channel Rig:

    nad 1020 Pre-amp
    Rotel 1080 stereo amp
    Polk sda 2B
    kenwood grunt Tuner
    realistic lab 450 TT
    Signal cable IC
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  • fredv
    fredv Posts: 923
    edited August 2006
    Congrat, Maurice. You ought to find something better than the AQ2004DT to drive it ;)

    -fredv-
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  • Shizelbs
    Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
    edited August 2006
    Sexy.
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  • BlueMDPicker
    BlueMDPicker Posts: 7,569
    edited August 2006
    Waaay cool, Maurice!
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited August 2006
    Very nice.

    Gotta love anything that has big nipples on it. Are those tubes the same size as a KT88?
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited August 2006
    BAT likes to use the same Russian tube - but for a LOT more $ (than I assume what you paid). What are the front end drivers? Maybe I can hook my favorite Canadian up......

    Rock on with BIG SET watts.
    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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  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited August 2006
    Wow..that's awesome!
    George Grand wrote: »
    Jstas wrote: »
    Simple question. If you had a cool million bucks, what would you do with it?
    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
    In Use
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    In Storage
    [Home Audio]
    Rotel RCD-02, Yamaha KX-W900U, Sony ST-S500ES, Denon DP-7F
    Pro-Ject Phono Box MKII, Parasound P/HP-850, ASL Wave 20 monoblocks
    Klipsch RF-35, RB-51ii
    [Car Audio]
    Pioneer Premier DEH-P860MP, Memphis 16-MCA3004, Boston Acoustic RC520
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  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited August 2006
    Those are REAL nice Maurice. Congrats.
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
    NORTH of 60°
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited August 2006
    Congrats!! Those look awesome and must sound sweet...

    I regret so much having parted with my sixpacks....as soon as I have the means I will get some big a$$ monoblocks :)
    _________________________________________________
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited August 2006
    Very nice.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • Wardsweb
    Wardsweb Posts: 935
    edited August 2006
    Very nice indeed ! Congratulations.

    But if you wanted really big monoblocs, these would have fit the build

    go08.jpg

    CARY CAD-805C MONO BLOCK POWER AMPS
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  • Sherardp
    Sherardp Posts: 8,038
    edited August 2006
    Those are nice looking toys, I can only imagine the cost. Awesome though
    Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

    Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580
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  • Airplay355
    Airplay355 Posts: 4,298
    edited August 2006
    lol guess that guy isn't much into video....check out his nice TV :)
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  • Skynut
    Skynut Posts: 2,967
    edited August 2006
    Some people are into audio more than video.

    I don't see the facination with two channel but I do wonder how 5 of those monoblocks would sound in a HT inviroment.
    Skynut
    SOPA® Founder
    The system Almost there
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    Thanks for looking
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  • LessisNevermore
    LessisNevermore Posts: 1,519
    edited August 2006
    I like the adjustable speaker stands, looks like they could be done DIY very cheap and easy!

    Oh! congrats on the upgrade, they look great.
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,194
    edited August 2006
    Very nice man
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited August 2006
    Thanks guys. I'm really glad I got these amps. The sound is exactly what I've been looking for. Now I understand the need for high powered SET amps. You get the delicacy of the low powered SETs with the slam and dynamics of high powered amps. I've been listening all week and I'm completely blown away. I never knew my Klipsch could dig so deep on bass and have this kind of dynamics.

    That's it. No more push/pull or quasi triode strapping for me now. I'm spoiled. From now on, it will only be Single Ended Triode. Now I understand this whole "magic" thing people talk about with SETs.

    Cliff,
    Man, I pretty much stole these amps. The dealer I went to also sell used gear. My units are used from original owner. They look brand new. It's discontinued now but retailed for close to $3k. I got them for $1300.

    Fred,
    LOL:D. The 2004DT ain't too bad. Don't worry, the GTA should be here soon. Gonna crap my pants again when I hear that combo:).

    Russ,
    I'm totally rockin with the big SET power. Dynamic range seems unlimited. I blasted some metal music the other day and the sound was killer. The first stage is a 6SL7. Drivers are a pair of 6SN7. If you have a quad of vintage 6SN7, I'm interested. The amp had the stock tubes installed. I've replaced them with GE chrome plate 6SL7 and EH 6SN7. NOS SN7's seems quite pricey.

    Sean,
    No big bucks, dude. I pretty much stole these amps:).

    Wardsweb,
    Wow! Those look sweet. I bet they sound amazing. Are those 300B's being used as drivers?

    EarlyB,
    I've never owned a KT88 tube, but I'm sure these 6C33 are bigger. They're actually 2 triode tubes in one with one big plate. Each tube use 2 filaments and they get crazy hot. They're quite different from other output tubes because they're low voltage and high current with low output impedance. I guess that's what makes them sound powerful.
    Here's something I found on the net about the 6C33: "The 6C33-C-B is a low mu dual power triode built originally for the Russian military. Its primary application was (is) as a high perveance low voltage series pass regulator in MIG aircraft. The construction is mechanically rugged to withstand 10G of acceleration and up to 100G of shock - I think not operating in this case. Service life is rated as 1000 hours, but in civilian use as a power amplifier life could be as great as 10K hours. The tube utilizes two separate filaments, and may be operated with one or both simultaneously. One filament operation reduces plate dissipation to 75% of maximum rating."
    Here's a pic to give you an idea of their size.
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited August 2006
    The GT is leaving this weekend, btw - believe it.
    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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  • fredv
    fredv Posts: 923
    edited August 2006
    Looks like the 6C33 is about 1/4" more than the KT88 in diameter and height.
    It is a biiiig toy, LOL.

    -fredv-
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited August 2006
    Russ,
    Damn dude, all these toys are giving me an overload. Thanks for making me feel like a credit card carrying little girl in a GAP store;):D:cool:.

    Fred,
    Yeah, they're pretty big. Nothing special about their glow though, just the normal orange glow.

    Sean,
    I thought you gave up the SET route because your speakers aren't sensitive enough? Or are you planning to get a pair of high eff speaks?
    Even if you have to, you'll enjoy the reward. The SET sound is really something else. The imaging is pure insanity. Not those "slightly past the side of the speakers" type imaging. I'm talking wall to wall, and when called for, some ambience or other stuff can sound like it's 100ft to the side and 100ft deep. I've never heard this kind of imaging until now. The purity of vocals and instruments is amazing too.

    I will definitely tell you if I come across the same deal (no joke), that audio shop ships to the US. There is another great deal though. He still has an ASL int. SET amp for $1200 (that's Canadian $). 300B output tubes, but only 8w/ch.

    You can contact them from their website. www.audio-oasis.com Let them know what you're looking for.
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  • aaharvel
    aaharvel Posts: 4,489
    edited August 2006
    Beautiful looking (and i'm sure sounding) setup.
    I want to experience tube gear before I die.
    H/K Signature 2.1+235
    Jungson MagicBoat II
    Revel Performa M-20
    Velodyne cht-10 sub
    Rega P1 Turntable

    "People working at Polk Audio must sit around the office and just laugh their balls off reading many of these comments." -Lush
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