Tubes -vs- SS on SDA's

treitz3
treitz3 Posts: 19,211
edited April 2009 in Vintage Speakers
Ok, I have heard SDA's on both and I have my own observations on both and will reserve my opinion of both until later on in this thread. I was just wondering what your observations as to bringing out the best that SDA's have to offer. What do you prefer and if you don't mind me asking, why?

All tubes from source to speaker? Tube pre with SS amp, tube source? No tubes at all? What have you had [not read about] that gave you the best synergy when it comes to SDA's?
~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
Post edited by treitz3 on
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  • ND13
    ND13 Posts: 7,601
    edited March 2009
    The best my SRS 2s ever sounded was with Dodd ELP and Anthem Amp One(40wpc).
    "SOME PEOPLE CALL ME MAURICE,
    CAUSE I SPEAK OF THE POMPITIOUS OF LOVE"
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  • engtaz
    engtaz Posts: 7,664
    edited March 2009
    What I listen to at Caverfest, I would say tubes hands down.
    engtaz

    I love how music can brighten up a bad day.
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,211
    edited March 2009
    Noel, I'm expecting to get that very same [the actual] Anthem amp you had shortly and I'm looking to have a Dodd tubed pre in the mix as well. This will be teamed up with the Jolida JD100 and augmented with a VMPS Larger sub powered by an Odyssey Stratos and the Velo SMS-1 to integrate everything.

    At least that's the plan.
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited March 2009
    Tubes,, specifically,,Noel's Anthem,,with upgraded Jenzen PIO caps,,winged "C" EL-34's,Brimars and NOS RCA,,Dodd MLP and believe it or not an old Rotel 855. Tubes,at least in the pre and power components.:)
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,461
    edited March 2009
    for me, it would be a combination of a ss amp driving the midbase drivers and tubes on the tweets. I remember seeing a setup like that at shellys audio in L.A.
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,211
    edited March 2009
    *clears throat*
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,794
    edited March 2009
    Tubes, stupid! You've heard them and now ask others for justification! Grow a set Tom and damn the torpedoes. My sons will tell you what you want to hear tomorrow. Chump!
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited March 2009
    george daniel wrote: »
    Tubes,, specifically,,Noel's Anthem,,with upgraded Jenzen PIO caps,,winged "C" EL-34's,Brimars and NOS RCA,,Dodd MLP and believe it or not an old Rotel 855. Tubes,at least in the pre and power components.:)

    Well George after hearing the EL34's at my place I have had a different feeling about tubes. Agian it was an experience I will never forget.
    Ben
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • erniejade
    erniejade Posts: 6,321
    edited March 2009
    On the SDA, I prefer tube on the pre vs my SS pre. The sda are bright to begin with and the tube pre helps to calm it down a bit and make the warmer sounding.

    I can't comment on a tube amp becuase I don't own one yet..
    Klipsch The Nines, Audioquest Thunderbird Interconnect, Innuos Zen MK3 W4S recovery, Revolution Audio Labs USB & Ethernet, Border Patrol SE-I, Audioquest Niagara 5000 & Thunder, Cullen Crossover II PC's.
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  • gdb
    gdb Posts: 6,012
    edited March 2009
    erniejade wrote: »
    On the SDA, I prefer tube on the pre vs my SS pre. The sda are bright to begin with and the tube pre helps to calm it down a bit and make the warmer sounding.

    I can't comment on a tube amp becuase I don't own one yet..

    Erniejade, do your SDAs still have the original tweeters, or the RDO replacement ones ?? The RDOs take away a lot of the brightness,at least they did on mine, and my setup is all SS. (no tubes yet)
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited March 2009
    lightman1 wrote: »
    Tubes, stupid! You've heard them and now ask others for justification! Grow a set Tom and damn the torpedoes. My sons will tell you what you want to hear tomorrow. Chump!

    Sig material here,,,"tubes,,stupid"
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited March 2009
    ben62670 wrote: »
    Well George after hearing the EL34's at my place I have had a different feeling about tubes. Agian it was an experience I will never forget.
    Ben

    You are right,, it just all came together,, it's difficult to explain,, you had to be there to understand.Even my brother,who is very familar with my gear,was blown away,,he thought that I was auditioning/evaluating a NEW amp,, Nope,, 40 watt;s of tube power,,,eh,, you just had to be there.Lastly,,, to borrow a term from RT1 and Manley


    Tubes Rule
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • ND13
    ND13 Posts: 7,601
    edited March 2009
    Say it ain't so George!!!!
    "SOME PEOPLE CALL ME MAURICE,
    CAUSE I SPEAK OF THE POMPITIOUS OF LOVE"
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  • NJPOLKER
    NJPOLKER Posts: 3,474
    edited March 2009
    lightman1 wrote: »
    Tubes, stupid! You've heard them and now ask others for justification! Grow a set Tom and damn the torpedoes. My sons will tell you what you want to hear tomorrow. Chump!

    Beautiful
    Welcome back!
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  • AudioGenics
    AudioGenics Posts: 2,567
    edited March 2009
    using digital sources - Solid State

    using analog sources such as records - Tubes
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited March 2009
    ND13 wrote: »
    Say it ain't so George!!!!

    not to worry,, Tom and I have an arrangement,it will not be leaving the "family",,,,FWIW,, my wife almost cried when it left,,she helped me install the Jenzens in it,,it is a very "magical" amp.
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • ND13
    ND13 Posts: 7,601
    edited March 2009
    nevermind, it's useless
    "SOME PEOPLE CALL ME MAURICE,
    CAUSE I SPEAK OF THE POMPITIOUS OF LOVE"
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  • NJPOLKER
    NJPOLKER Posts: 3,474
    edited March 2009
    ND13 wrote: »
    nevermind, it's useless

    Come on Noel ya can't give up!!
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  • erniejade
    erniejade Posts: 6,321
    edited March 2009
    joseph.v.chen wrote: »
    using digital sources - Solid State

    using analog sources such as records - Tubes


    I am going to have to disagree on this one. I use a tube cd player and it sounds way better then the unit I got rid of and I was even using a theta dac!!


    I still have the original tweeters in the 1.2 and the 2.3 Looks like I need to change them!!
    Klipsch The Nines, Audioquest Thunderbird Interconnect, Innuos Zen MK3 W4S recovery, Revolution Audio Labs USB & Ethernet, Border Patrol SE-I, Audioquest Niagara 5000 & Thunder, Cullen Crossover II PC's.
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  • ND13
    ND13 Posts: 7,601
    edited March 2009
    Chen hasn't a clue. He doesn't use his ears. Instead, he'd rather believe a piece of paper.

    Analog=audio bliss
    digital=video bliss

    Just my take on things.
    "SOME PEOPLE CALL ME MAURICE,
    CAUSE I SPEAK OF THE POMPITIOUS OF LOVE"
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  • NJPOLKER
    NJPOLKER Posts: 3,474
    edited March 2009
    There ya go!!
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  • AudioGenics
    AudioGenics Posts: 2,567
    edited March 2009
    Thank you. What tube CD are you using ?
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  • Dennis Gardner
    Dennis Gardner Posts: 4,861
    edited March 2009
    I prefer a pre with 6922s or 12AX7s with my Stratos amp. The tube preamp allows for tonal flexibility and a solid SS amp adds the damping control that I haven't found with tube amps unless uber $$$ are spent.

    I also tend to find it too much of a good thing when you try to use tube source/DAC, tube preamp, with tube amps. I find it mushy and soft sounding without the clarity I require.......just my opinion of course.

    Now if you are talking about high efficiency speakers....... I feel differently. The more tubes the better, to rid horns of harshness.
    HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable

    2 Channel Thorens TD 318 Grado ZF1, SACD/CD Marantz 8260, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, Audio Mirror PP1, Odyssey Stratos, ADS L-1290, ICs-DIY Twisted , Speaker-Raymond Cable
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  • bluecomet
    bluecomet Posts: 1,118
    edited March 2009
    I have never heard tubes before but I have read that the solid state gear I am using is close to tube like. It is the Luxman M117 amp with a Luxman TP 114 pre amp. I think it is awesome. Like I said having never heard tubes I can't comment on there sound. If someone can't afford a tube set check out Luxman. It's the best solid state I have heard in two channel.
    Polk HT system 1: LSIC, LSI25 mains, LSI F/X rears, Lsi F/X rear centers,
    Yamaha RX-V2500 System, Carver A753 3 channel amp.

    Polk HT system 2: , SRT system with f/x 1,000's rear speakers on 7.1 system currently using Onkyo TX-RZ820 receiver, powered by Sunfire Grand Theater amp

    Polk Speaker collection: SDA SRS 1.2tl x 2, SRT system, SDA SRS 2 P/B, SDA 2A, SDA 1C Studio, SDA CRS+, Monitor 7B & 4, SRS 3.1tl, RTA 15tl, LS90, LSI 9
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,794
    edited March 2009
    Reluctantly delivered the Anthem to Tom today. After letting her warm up a bit and biasing the tubes, the magic happened! I listened to what he had running before and then with the amp1. NIGHT AND DAY! I'm positive that after letting the amp and cables settle in it will only sound better. Two thumbs up on the way the 1C's and the Anthem work together. I tried to get my sosns to sucker punch him so I could snag the amp and run.

    No dice. So Tom, shut up,sit down and listen to the sweetness.
    lightman
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  • inspiredsports
    inspiredsports Posts: 5,501
    edited March 2009
    joseph.v.chen wrote: »
    using digital sources - Solid State

    using analog sources such as records - Tubes

    The original poster qualified the task as "what you have had, not what you have read". Will you be so kind as to share what equipment you owned when you made your observations?
    VTL ST50 w/mods / RCA6L6GC / TlfnknECC801S
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 w/mods
    TT Conrad Johnson Sonographe SG3 Oak / Sumiko LMT / Grado Woodbody Platinum / Sumiko PIB2 / The Clamp
    Musical Fidelity A1 CDPro/ Bada DD-22 Tube CDP / Conrad Johnson SD-22 CDP
    Tuners w/mods Kenwood KT5020 / Fisher KM60
    MF x-DAC V8, HAInfo NG27
    Herbies Ti-9 / Vibrapods / MIT Shotgun AC1 IEC's / MIT Shotgun 2 IC's / MIT Shotgun 2 Speaker Cables
    PS Audio Cryo / PowerPort Premium Outlets / Exact Power EP15A Conditioner
    Walnut SDA 2B TL /Oak SDA SRS II TL (Sonicaps/Mills/Cardas/Custom SDA ICs / Dynamat Extreme / Larry's Rings/ FSB-2 Spikes
    NAD SS rigs w/mods
    GIK panels
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  • michaeljhsda2
    michaeljhsda2 Posts: 2,186
    edited March 2009
    Ok, I'll bite and take the plunge into tubes....any suggestions for a beginner...
    SDA SRS 2.3TL's
    Silk Audio MS-90-BT integrated tube amp
    Yaqin MS-20L integrated tube amp
    SDA 2B TL's
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,794
    edited March 2009
    michaeljhsda2 wrote: »
    Ok, I'll bite and take the plunge into tubes....any suggestions for a beginner...

    Radii. Tasty little amps that pack a whollop. Look for good used ones on the bay or audiogon.
    Good luck to you young padawan. It's a life altering experience.
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  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,133
    edited March 2009
    Good to have Russ back...
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,794
    edited March 2009
    Conradicles wrote: »
    Good to have Russ back...

    It's all about the love...
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