EL34, 300B and so forth?

kawizx9r

Well, as many of you know I've parted with pretty much my entire system. All that's left is my amplifier, but even that has a potential buyer. I'm looking to not break the bank that much but plan on spending a good 1,500 on my next amp.

I'm looking at tube amps, both stereo and monoblocks. Don't worry, I might try a different type of speaker like Magnepans, so no common ground required for SDA's.

What I've gathered is alot of these higher-rated amps use EL34's or 300B's, and still being new to the tube-world....is that good? Would I be able to roll tubes much more than other tube amps? I've been looking at amps from BAT, VTL, Cary, Wright Sound, Jolida and more. If anyone can help me out a little bit further and steer me in the right direction it'd really help a bunch. Trying to get 'my money's worth' I guess you can say, but aren't we all? I want to get a tube amp that'll give me the option to cycle through a variety of power hungry speakers. Nothing like 1.2's or 2.3's but you catch my drift.

If anyone out here has an amp that might suite my needs, toss me a PM. Would like to get a good deal on something if possible, let me know what you have. Otherwise I'll keep my eye out on the gon for any recommendations posted here.

-Freddy

kawizx9r

2 Different amps I have been looking at - http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstube&1260564483&/Wright-Sound-Wpa-Mono-8--300b-

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstube&1258579318&/Cary-AES-SE-1-300B/2A3/6B4/183

Ricardo

300B's will only give you a few watts (like 5 WPC) and should be used with very high efficiency speakers (like horns). Not a very versatile amp.
The EL34 family will give you more power (like 40WPC and up) and can be used with a wider variety of speakers.

george daniel

Like Ricardo says,, if you are driving a very efficient speaker,,then either one of those amps would fit the bill,, if it were me,I would go with the Wright,only because I'm more familar with the company and George's(RIP) build quality,PTP and such.Good luck

kawizx9r

Sounds good.

I'd grab that Wright now but I still got another check going to the CA. address and by the time I'm there with my check this thing will probably be gone. I just wanted to make sure I'd be able to run non-efficient speakers...something in the 85-88 range. Would hate to think I bought a nice amp just to have to buy another.

Ricardo

Not sure yo got it....The Wright will drive low efficiency speakers, but at only 8 WPC, don't expect too much out of it. You need a different type of tube i(like the EL-34)if you want to drive low eff speakers at decent levels.

george daniel

kawizx9r wrote: »

Sounds good.

I'd grab that Wright now but I still got another check going to the CA. address and by the time I'm there with my check this thing will probably be gone. I just wanted to make sure I'd be able to run non-efficient speakers...something in the 85-88 range. Would hate to think I bought a nice amp just to have to buy another.

I don't think that you will be happy with those Wrights UNLESS you are gonna drive a Single Driver Speaker,(Hornshoppe,ete),or a very efficient pair of say Horns,(Klipschorn),etc.You get the idea.Good luck

organ

You didn't mention what speakers you're using.
The 300B is my favorite output tube but they need very efficient spakers. If you have any Polk RT speakers, they will sound fantastic. But to get the most out of them, you should use very efficient speakers. Mine sounded best with a pair of Klipsch La Scala.

kawizx9r

organ wrote: »

You didn't mention what speakers you're using.
The 300B is my favorite output tube but they need very efficient spakers. If you have any Polk RT speakers, they will sound fantastic. But to get the most out of them, you should use very efficient speakers. Mine sounded best with a pair of Klipsch La Scala.

I didn't mention any speakers I'm using because I don't own any speakers anymore (check the recent F/S threads posted by me).

I did mention though that I would like to drive anything like a pair of Magnepans, which I've been wanting to try out now so if that gives you an idea....yes Maggies that I don't own just yet.

thsmith

kawizx9r wrote: »

I didn't mention any speakers I'm using because I don't own any speakers anymore (check the recent F/S threads posted by me).

I did mention though that I would like to drive anything like a pair of Magnepans, which I've been wanting to try out now so if that gives you an idea....yes Maggies that I don't own just yet.

Maggies are in efficient speakers and will need closer to 100wpc to drive in a fair sized room. At least that is a friend of mine experience. He has 1.6s I think and is using Manley Snappers.

You really need to decide on the speaker to match AMP or visa versa.

madmax

The 300B, 2A3, 45 and other "triode" tubes are only a few watts. Did anyone mention you need horns or something of a similar efficiency speaker with any of the above.

As a rough estimate here are the typical wattages, usually in a push pull style amp, usually 4 big tubes:

EL34 40wpc, speaker efficiency 92 or higher
EL84 16wpc, 93 or higher
6550, KT-88 60wpc, 90 or higher
300B, 8wpc, 96 or higher
2A3, 3wpc, 98 or higher
(these are baselines only and there are a lot of other power tubes out there).

When you see a lot more big tubes you may be between 100 to 200wpc. 87 or higher eff.

All of them sound good.

madmax

beardog03

There is a very good deal on a Cary V12 on the `Gon

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstube&1259622599&/Cary-Audio-Design-V12-cad-280s

No affil.......just ran across the ad this morning

I may still have to part with mine also....tryin not to though

george daniel

madmax wrote: »

The 300B, 2A3, 45 and other "triode" tubes are only a few watts. Did anyone mention you need horns or something of a similar efficiency speaker with any of the above.

As a rough estimate here are the typical wattages, usually in a push pull style amp, usually 4 big tubes:

EL34 40wpc, speaker efficiency 92 or higher
EL84 16wpc, 93 or higher
6550, KT-88 60wpc, 90 or higher
300B, 8wpc, 96 or higher
2A3, 3wpc, 98 or higher
(these are baselines only and there are a lot of other power tubes out there).

When you see a lot more big tubes you may be between 100 to 200wpc. 87 or higher eff.

All of them sound good.

madmax

Very good information Max,, thanks,, using my rig as an example,,SDA1C==90 db efficiency,, I'm running a Quicksilver GLA with EL-34 output tubes,, with the 60 watt trannies,,the amp is spec'd at 40 watts/channel,, so I'm boderline,, I did get my ears on some Hornshoppe single driver speaks that were powered by a 1.5 watt SET amp,, I cannot remember their efficiency rating, but it's gotta be up in the high 90's.

kawizx9r

Geez, so I should just stick with what I have then. Well regardless I'm book marking this site because there's a ton of great info.

Ok some of you guys might kick me in the nuts, but things will work out here between the wife and I. Seeking counseling and, well we don't know why we didn't do it before.

Anyone have a pair of Maggies for sale near me?

organ

DON'T get the triode tubes for Maggies.
Why not a tube pre and SS amp?

george daniel

Would his Moscode 300 be able to drive them?

madmax

kawizx9r wrote: »

I want to get a tube amp that'll give me the option to cycle through a variety of power hungry speakers. Nothing like 1.2's or 2.3's but you catch my drift.

Just a FYI to point you in the right direction. Bigger speakers can be more efficient than small ones. For example the 1.2's are around 92 db eff. Many much smaller speakers are 87 to 90 db efficient. Lets say you pick out one that is 89. To get the same volume level it will take twice as much amplifier power to drive the 89 than the 92.

I know when you look at all those drivers in the 1.2's you are assuming a hard load. Not true at all.

madmax

beardog03

is it the same between 4 and 8 ohms also ?

kawizx9r

george daniel wrote: »

Would his Moscode 300 be able to drive them?

I've heard a bone-stock (even had the original power cord) 300 run a pair of maggies and it sounded NICE. I would like to do the same since I'm planning on sticking with 2 channel.