Tubes and LSi9s

zingo
zingo Posts: 11,258
edited February 2008 in Speakers
I'm sorry if this has been posted before, but I looked for it and couldn't find anything.

I am about to start a tube amp build that will have an output of 16wpc and an output impedance or 4 ohms. This may present a problem because my B&Ws that I would use with this set-up are of the 8 ohm nature; and if I am correct, running this high impedance on that 4 ohm amp puts too much voltage across the amp and "stuff stops working". So, I decide to find some 4 ohm speakers to match the amp, and my first thought was Lsi9s. I know that they like LOTS of low impedance power, and the impedance matching is not a problem, but how about the 16wpc? I know that they are "tube watts", but I wouldn't want to buy a pair and find out it's not a good match. Does anyone have experience with LSis and tubes; good, bad, or indifferent?
Jake
Post edited by zingo on
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Comments

  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited February 2008
    LSi9's are actually closer to 6 ohms, LSi7's would be a better match impedance wise.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • dkg999
    dkg999 Posts: 5,647
    edited February 2008
    A Dodd ELP tube pre and a Marsh A200 ss amp made my LSi9's absolutely sing! I haven't found a tube power amp I like the sound of yet, but I love what a tube pre and a ss amp do together.
    DKG999
    HT System: LSi9, LSiCx2, LSiFX, LSi7, SVS 20-39 PC+, B&K 507.s2 AVR, B&K Ref 125.2, Tripplite LCR-2400, Cambridge 650BD, Signal Cable PC/SC, BJC IC, Samsung 55" LED

    Music System: Magnepan 1.6QR, SVS SB12+, ARC pre, Parasound HCA1500 vertically bi-amped, Jolida CDP, Pro-Ject RM5.1SE TT, Pro-Ject TubeBox SE phono pre, SBT, PS Audio DLIII DAC
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  • beardog03
    beardog03 Posts: 5,550
    edited February 2008
    I run 9`s with my tubes..

    I love the 7`s, but would suggest a small sub with those

    I am going to get a second set of 7`s, as mine are currently working as HT rears


    I often wonder if 8ohm speaks would work better with tubes, rather than 4ohm...

    I will let those with more tube experience chime in though

    I do know that with my SS amp, and my Cary 98F1 pre, the 9`s work real well together
    Cary SLP-98L F1 DC Pre Amp (Jag Blue)
    Parasound HCA-3500
    Cary Audio V12 amp (Jag Red)
    Polk Audio Xm Reciever (Autographed by THE MAN Himself) :cool:
    Magnum Dynalab MD-102 Analog Tuna
    Jolida JD-100 CDP
    Polk Audio LSi9 Speaks (ebony)
    SVS PC-Ultra Sub
    AQ Bedrock Speaker Cables (Bi-Wired)
    MIT Shotgun S1 I/C`s
    AQ Black Thunder Sub Cables
    PS Audio Plus Power Cords
    Magnum Dynalab ST-2 FM Antenna
    Sanus Cherry wood Speak Stands
    Adona AV45CS3 / 3 Tier Rack (Black /Gold)

    :cool:
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited February 2008
    Ya, these would be LSi9s (or whatever I choose to get) and my DIY integrated tube amp for near field listening. Ok, carry on with the chatter and thanks for the input thus far.
    Jake
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  • mulveling
    mulveling Posts: 505
    edited February 2008
    I don't see why an 8-ohm speaker would pose a problem from the 4-ohm output of a tube amp. My speakers are 6-ohm nominal, 3-ohm minimum, and I can run them from 4 ohm or 8 ohm output taps no problem. Usually the lower impedance speaker is the more difficult load.

    I've got a 20Watt tube amp myself, unfortunately I don't have the LSi9 around anymore. However on my 6ohm, 91db speakers, I've gone up to the upper 80's/low 90's in SPL at a distance of about 9ft, and not yet heard any nasty distortion. The LSi9 are about 3db less sensitive, but if you're sitting closer that should make up for it, or more (halving the distance gets you an extra 6db).
    Tannoy Dimension TD10, SOTA Star Sapphire, Heathkit W4A's, McIntosh MC2100, Eddie-Current Zana Deux, Singlepower SDS, Sennheiser HD650, Audio-Technica L3000, Sony Qualia 010
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited February 2008
    I don't think you would have a problem with the 8 ohm B&W's. However, if you are looking for speakers for use with the amp then look for some efficient speakers. Look for something between 96db @1watt to 103db@1watt.
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • beardog03
    beardog03 Posts: 5,550
    edited February 2008
    Put it this way...

    I`m going through my cd`s to see what gets rotated out...
    Rasputens (sp) has a deal where you can trade in, or sell music , so.....

    I just put in a CD (Candy-o by tha CARS) at almost 9 0`clock, I thought the speakers were going to blow out o the cabinets..!!!
    :eek::eek::eek:
    The 9`s held up, but I think it`s time for some floorstanders !!!

    oh, and I`m using 100w of tube power with the Cary 12...:D

    :cool:


    with the Cary SLI-80, you have the option of 40w triode (sweet.:p..mids to die for), or 80w UL...:) very much everything one would want in music...sweet sound and solid punch..and the 9`s...40hm

    I haven`t used 8ohm speaks in a while, but I think the Sonus Fabers I want are 8ohm

    In my office the 9`s handled them very nicely...especially near feild listening...which is most of my listening lately
    Cary SLP-98L F1 DC Pre Amp (Jag Blue)
    Parasound HCA-3500
    Cary Audio V12 amp (Jag Red)
    Polk Audio Xm Reciever (Autographed by THE MAN Himself) :cool:
    Magnum Dynalab MD-102 Analog Tuna
    Jolida JD-100 CDP
    Polk Audio LSi9 Speaks (ebony)
    SVS PC-Ultra Sub
    AQ Bedrock Speaker Cables (Bi-Wired)
    MIT Shotgun S1 I/C`s
    AQ Black Thunder Sub Cables
    PS Audio Plus Power Cords
    Magnum Dynalab ST-2 FM Antenna
    Sanus Cherry wood Speak Stands
    Adona AV45CS3 / 3 Tier Rack (Black /Gold)

    :cool:
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  • Ron Temple
    Ron Temple Posts: 3,212
    edited February 2008
    beardog03 wrote: »
    Put it this way...

    I`m going through my cd`s to see what gets rotated out...
    Rasputens (sp) has a deal where you can trade in, or sell music , so.....

    I just put in a CD (Candy-o by tha CARS) at almost 9 0`clock, I thought the speakers were going to blow out o the cabinets..!!!
    :eek::eek::eek:
    The 9`s held up, but I think it`s time for some floorstanders !!!

    oh, and I`m using 100w of tube power with the Cary 12...:D

    :cool:


    with the Cary SLI-80, you have the option of 40w triode (sweet.:p..mids to die for), or 80w UL...:) very much everything one would want in music...sweet sound and solid punch..and the 9`s...40hm

    I haven`t used 8ohm speaks in a while, but I think the Sonus Fabers I want are 8ohm

    In my office the 9`s handled them very nicely...especially near feild listening...which is most of my listening lately
    Stop playing around with those little "boutiqikee" speakers and get a pair of Fred's SDAs :p.

    Combo rig:

    Onkyo NR1007 pre-pro, Carver TFM 45(fronts), Carver TFM 35 (surrounds)
    SDA 1C, CS400i, SDA 2B
    PB13Ultra RO
    BW Silvers
    Oppo BDP-83SE
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  • beardog03
    beardog03 Posts: 5,550
    edited February 2008
    Me thinks I need to try something else..

    Fred....speakers please..!!




    actually, I am slowly saving, and starting to look at speaks again...

    First I have to get the Cay 306 SACD, then...


    Sorry for the de-rail..

    I`ll start another thread..."Cary" on...:D
    Cary SLP-98L F1 DC Pre Amp (Jag Blue)
    Parasound HCA-3500
    Cary Audio V12 amp (Jag Red)
    Polk Audio Xm Reciever (Autographed by THE MAN Himself) :cool:
    Magnum Dynalab MD-102 Analog Tuna
    Jolida JD-100 CDP
    Polk Audio LSi9 Speaks (ebony)
    SVS PC-Ultra Sub
    AQ Bedrock Speaker Cables (Bi-Wired)
    MIT Shotgun S1 I/C`s
    AQ Black Thunder Sub Cables
    PS Audio Plus Power Cords
    Magnum Dynalab ST-2 FM Antenna
    Sanus Cherry wood Speak Stands
    Adona AV45CS3 / 3 Tier Rack (Black /Gold)

    :cool:
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited February 2008
    beardog03 wrote: »
    I`ll start another thread..."Cary" on...:D

    He he...
    Jake
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