Tube Amp or Solid State

jhermance

Ok starting this over for a set of bookshelf speakers which would be better. for something along the lines of Lsi9's.

DarqueKnight

Raise shields Mr. Sulu.

jhermance

Ok did i say something wrong in that post. Just looking for help. Trying to understand the difference between the 2 types of amps.

Ern Dog

Let the battle begin... this should be fun and hopefully educating to watch!

faster100

why is it a big deal to ask this question? Simple, solid state amps to power these type speakers.. to get a tube amp to properly power those speakers is gonna cost you alot.

if you want to dabble in tubes.. get a tube pre and/or cdp

common amps to think about is Parasound, Nad, adcom.. to name a few..

DarqueKnight

jhermance wrote:

Ok did i say something wrong in that post. Just looking for help. Trying to understand the quality difference between the 2 types of amps.

No, you didn't say anything wrong. The tube amp vs. solid state amp is a huge topic of debate in audio. There are tons of info on the web and lots of enthusiasts of both persuasions here on the forum. I like them both, for different reasons and musical applications.

Set aside a couple of weeks for reading and then Google "tube amp vs. solid state amp". Enjoy.

jhermance

Ok thanks. any suggestions for a tube cdp within a reasonable price range around $500 if possible.

Early B.

Faster is right. No fight here if you're gonna use Lsi9's. The only thing I'll add is that if you plan to play those speakers only at low to moderate levels, then consider a tube amp or tube int. amp. Otherwise, go SS for your amp.

dorokusai

Solid State.

halo

faster100 wrote:

Simple, solid state amps to power these type speakers.. to get a tube amp to properly power those speakers is gonna cost you alot.

Not true. I have two different tube amps that will drive LSi's with ease.

halo

Halo wrote:

Not true. I have two different tube amps that will drive LSi's with ease.

Under $1300 new each.

halo

jhermance wrote:

Ok thanks. any suggestions for a tube cdp within a reasonable price range around $500 if possible.

Sheng Ya CD-S10 or Kavent CD-731.

jhermance

I will keep my eye's open for a used one.

ohskigod

keep the Jolida JD100 on the list for tubed cd players, I love mine, and its possible to score one for 500 used if you look hard enough.

ohskigod

jhermance wrote:

Ok starting this over for a set of bookshelf speakers which would be better. for something along the lines of Lsi9's.

eeeesh, thats a tough question to answer definitivly. for music I lean toward tube amplification, but for movies, and when I like to shake my house with music or movies, I go with solid state. Luckily I have access to both.
ss in the theater, tubes in the 2 channel.

ultimatly, your going to have to experience both and develope your own opinion. start saving the sheckles

dorokusai

I've run a set of LSi7's on a couple 20wpc tube amps...for less than <$400.

faster100

well the difference between listening to lsi's on small tubes and getting the most of is subjective..

I used my 5 watt sonic impact on a set of sda 1B's and they sounded good, optimal ? NO

dorokusai

It was near-field and it was plenty, sorry you're gear didn't cut it.

jhermance

I have looked into these amps any thoughts on them
Mcintosh mc7100
Rotel 1080, 1075
outlaw audio 220m
any other's i should look into?

cfrizz

Parasound Halo or Classic.

Frank Z

I powered my Lsi9's with a 50WPC tube amp and it sounded fantastic.

faster100

True mark, if you have **** Gear like me.. don't try tubes on lsi's.. :rolleyes:

If ya want it loud, and your rigs not in a crawl space.. Get SS

ESavinon

Get both. biamp the lsi's. tube for tweeters,ss for woofers. that way you can retain the warm sound of tubes and still get the dynamic slam of ss.

Emlyn

jhermance wrote:

I have looked into these amps any thoughts on them
Mcintosh mc7100
Rotel 1080, 1075
outlaw audio 220m
any other's i should look into?

Parasound Halo A21 or A23. Probably wouldn't notice much of any difference between the two amps with the LSi9's. Used A21's are usually around somewhere for $1200 or less, but I think it's an overkill amp for the speakers.

jhermance

Are sophia electric baby amps any good?

Dennis Gardner

jhermance wrote:

Are sophia electric baby amps any good?

Not for the LSi line. Tube amps in the 50-100 watt range will be nice with the LSi 7. The 9s deserve even more.

Personally, I like tube preamps with solid state amp for most Polks. You can crank until the wife or neighbors complain then.

disneyjoe7

Dennis Gardner wrote:

Personally, I like tube preamps with solid state amp for most Polks. You can crank until the wife or neighbors complain then.

6 months or so ago....

Neighbors never complain yet, my wife has left the house.... I then crank until a blow something up (Polk Crossover) lessen learned a tad lower from now on :rolleyes:

venomclan

jhermance wrote:

I have looked into these amps any thoughts on them
Mcintosh mc7100
Rotel 1080, 1075
outlaw audio 220m
any other's i should look into?

Based on your other post, I assume you will be using the bookshelves for 2 channel. If so, the Rotel would probably be your best price-performance ratio of those 3. I have the Outlaw, very good for theater use but too neutral(sterile) for music imho. The Mac would be heads and shoulders above everything else, but at those prices I would get better speakers in the first place. The Rotel would work well and they can be had used at Agon or Ebay affordably.
Venom

jhermance

actualy i have found the mcintosh mc7100 for less than the rotel 1080

F1nut

Take a serious look at amps from Conrad-Johnson, BAT and Classe. They all make very nice gear.

madmax

The LSi's need lots of SS power. I tried my LSi9's and 7's with a 50 wpc tube amp and wasn't very impressed. Even though my typical play level is much less than many here I was totally unsatisfied with the output level. The LSi's really respond nicely to megawatt power.
madmax