Polk Speakers with passive subs.
engtaz
Posts: 7,664
I honestly will tell you that tube amps or tube emulating SS amp do an incredible job. Tubes are known for sweet highs and soft bass but with the Polks and passive woofer the subs have incredible punch. Between my 3.1TL and my Monitor 5b's and the Carver T version amps the sound is glorious. Every day I appreciate my system more and more.
engtaz
engtaz
engtaz
I love how music can brighten up a bad day.
I love how music can brighten up a bad day.
Post edited by engtaz on
Comments
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Here here. I also have been enjoying the tube-PR combo and my ears thank me daily!
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yep. i've got a tube pre-amp with my newly glorified SDA 2B TL's. Man oh man....Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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You've got yourself a sweet system there, nspindel. I've heard MillerLiteScott's 2BTL's and they are at least a couple of notches above my stock 2B's. Hell, I think they sound better then 1C's with RDO-194's.
Getting tubes into my system one way or another is the next big step I'd like to take. Just not certain which way, though.Wristwatch--->Crisco -
I'm really impressed with the Little Dot. The sweet spot of their line is the MKIII. It's only $199. I've seen it - you wouldn't believe this piece of gear is only $199. Plenty of tube rolling options, and great customer service. Check it out:
http://www.little-tube.com/forum/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=97&posts=1&start=1
$199!!!Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance. -
Agreed. I've had SS preamp and amplifier, and when I added the tube CD player my jaw hit the floor. I had no idea the sound would improve so much. I'd like to aquire a tube preamp next.....I've got VTL in my dreams, but they cost serious quan.SDA SRS 2.3
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I didn't think Little Tube sold the power amps here. I definitely want to make sure that deal is legit before you'd go buy it. I'll email David and find out.Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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Not saying they won't send you the amp, I'm just not convinced that it's not grey market. I emailed David from Little Tube, let's see what he responds.Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance.
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By the way, there's a huge thread on head-fi about tube rolling in the Little Dot MKIII. There are loads of options as far as tubes for that amp. Have a look:
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/little-dot-mkiii-tube-rolling-276757/Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance. -
Agreed. I've had SS preamp and amplifier, and when I added the tube CD player my jaw hit the floor. I had no idea the sound would improve so much. I'd like to aquire a tube preamp next.....I've got VTL in my dreams, but they cost serious quan.
You can get a used VTL 2.5 tube pre for around $800.00 or so without the phono stage. Another to consider would be the early '90's vintage Super Deluxe, but no remote. If you can find one, it'll run about $600.00.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 -
Here's the tracking results:
Label/Receipt Number: 0103 8555 7493 4322 4691
Detailed Results:
Processed, June 07, 2008, 12:17 am, KEARNY, NJ 07032
Processed, June 05, 2008, 8:23 pm, KENT, WA 98032
Electronic Shipping Info Received, June 03, 2008
Kearny NJ is like 12 miles from me, Maybe tomorrow or Monday
Oh, I'm not saying that they're not sending you anything. I'm just worried it might be grey market. For example, one thing to be concerned with when buying grey mareket Chinese tube equipment is that someone other than the manufacturer is doing voltage adjustments to get it to work in the US. Or that if you have a problem, the manufacturer doesn't recognize the warranty.
They're claiming on that site that they are an authorized Little Dot reseller. I just want to make sure that's true for you before you buy LD stuff from them. I was under the impression that LD didn't have any resellers, you had to buy direct from them...Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance. -
Sal, I heard back from David at Little Dot. Yes, OBAD is legit. They haven't shipped much product to them lately, but anything sold through OBAD is fully supported by Little Dot. I'd still advise you to talk directly to LD though before you buy though. Email David at little.tube@gmail.com, tell him your the guy from Club Polk that was looking at the T150 from OBAD....
You'll find the customer service from LD is amazing, I think once you correspond with David a bit you'll find that you'd rather be a direct customer than to have a 3rd party in between.Good music, a good source, and good power can make SDA's sing. Tubes make them dance. -
You can get a used VTL 2.5 tube pre for around $800.00 or so without the phono stage. Another to consider would be the early '90's vintage Super Deluxe, but no remote. If you can find one, it'll run about $600.00.
Thanks F1, The 2.5 is the Pre that I am holding out for.... If I find one at $800, its a done deal.SDA SRS 2.3 -
There's usually one or two on Audiogon, but none right now other than a modded one that just sold at $1150.00.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 -
If tube influence is what you are looking for try Ebay and a seller listed as Indeed Hifi I purchaced a small tube buffer amp from this guy ( a real gentlemen ) as an experiment for $65 aud not expecting to much. I currently have it installed between my Audio Analogue Maestro CD and Stax CAY preamp then a Rotel RB-1090 power amp to a pair of Vifa driver two ways ( also an experiment ) as my SDA-SRS project is still not finished.
To say this little unit was a wake up is an understatement, the sound stage just filled out, more depth stability placement and bass that just has no business coming from speakers of this design or size.
This without doubt has been the best value for money upgrade I have ever made the transformation just has to be listened to to be believed, shipping was very quick really happy.
I have ordered a more upmarket dual tube unit also along with a pair of tube preamps a SACD and a HDCD tube CD player and a couple of other items that were just to reasonable to pass up.
Christmas must have come early, just waiting on the last resistors for the Polk X overs to finish them also.
Will post my progress. -
I've never really considered using a tube buffer, but it sounds like you have had a good experience. Please keep us updated on your progress and thanks for the thoughts.
