Tube Amp or Solid State

2»

Comments

  • halo
    halo Posts: 5,616
    edited August 2006
    madmax wrote:
    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
    You da man but I don't agree with ya here. 60, 75, or 100 tube wpc (from the tube amps I've heard) are plenty to make the LSi's sing IMO.
    Audio: Polk S15 * Polk S35 * Polk S10 * SVS SB-1000 Pro
    HT: Samsung QN90B * Marantz NR1510 * Panasonic DMP-BDT220 * Roku Ultra LT * APC H10
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited August 2006
    Halo wrote:
    You da man but I don't agree with ya here. 60, 75, or 100 tube wpc (from the tube amps I've heard) are plenty to make the LSi's sing IMO.

    Maybe, but 50 didn't do it... :D

    And seriously, I don't listen very loud. Maybe it was just that massive power did them so much better. You know me, I'm a tube guy all the way too... They became full of life, aggressive and very large sounding with high power. Of course everything depends on everything. :)

    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • venomclan
    venomclan Posts: 2,467
    edited August 2006
    jhermance wrote:
    actualy i have found the mcintosh mc7100 for less than the rotel 1080

    If you found a great deal on the Mac, it is a very capable amp and should last through a lot of upgrades. I would go Mac over Rotel, different league.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,093
    edited August 2006
    I've run my LSi9's on a 30wpc tube integrated and was quite impressed with the results.

    That said, all things being equal, I'd opt for tube pre/SS amp.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited August 2006
    I'll chime in as another who enjoys ss amp/tube pre in thier rigs. The aforementioned nearfield tube amp rig was quite nice in that more intimate setting, certainly tickled my ear bones.

    RT1
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • BlueMDPicker
    BlueMDPicker Posts: 7,569
    edited August 2006
    I'll chime in as recommending a serious look at digital/switching amplification with either a tube preamp, or passive preamp and tube output CDP.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Midnite Mick
    Midnite Mick Posts: 1,591
    edited August 2006
    It would also depend on your personal sonic preferences. Whether you prefer an overall warmer heavy sound (tubes), or a detailed and possibly more transparent sound (SS). Although I am not so sure transparency would be an lsi strong point. One thing I would say that if you do go with tubes don't select any that roll off the highs at all given that the Vifa is naturally soft spoken.

    If one was to choose to go with tubes first I don't think the lsi's would be the speaker of choice. I think they were designed to warm and tame the harshness of the modern digital world.

    Mike
    Modwright SWL 9.0 SE (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Consonance cd120T
    Consonance Cyber 800 tube monoblocks (6Sons Audio Thunderbird PC's with Oyaide 004 terminations)
    Usher CP 6311

    Phillips Pronto TS1000 Universal Remote
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jhermance
    jhermance Posts: 214
    edited August 2006
    Well thenn i have to find some tube amps to compare to.
    Samsung UN46C7000
    Cambridge Audio 640R
    Sony BDP-S570
    Magnepan MMG's
    Totem Dreamcatcher Center
    Eleganza™ Bella 1200 High Performance Subwoofer
    Polk R15 Surrounds
    Audioquest Cables
    Panamax 5510-PRO AC Regenerator
    Monster Cable HTS 2500 MKII power cleaner
    Nordost Blue Heaven Interconnects
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter