LSi's with tube integrated

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jderdock
jderdock Posts: 131
edited April 2006 in 2 Channel Audio
Does anyone have any experience running a tube integrated amp into LSi speakers?

I heard a pair of Dali Suites powered by a Jolida 502b a couple years back and loved the sound. I've been planning on upgrading from my NAD integrated for a while now and am torn between a higher powered solid-state amp and a tube integrated.
Rega P3 > Parasound Zphono > NAD C320BEE > Polk LSi 15
Post edited by jderdock on

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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited April 2006
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  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,363
    edited April 2006
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    My bud Normanality ran his LSi15's wih a 75 WPC push pull tube amp and they sounded wonderful.
    Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited April 2006
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    SCompRacer wrote:
    My bud Normanality ran his LSi15's wih a 75 WPC push pull tube amp and they sounded wonderful.
    Same speakers now sound better than wonderful on 500 watts of SS amp though.... :D:D:D

    Michael
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,363
    edited April 2006
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    McLoki wrote:
    Same speakers now sound better than wonderful on 500 watts of SS amp though.... :D:D:D

    Michael

    Drag it out. Wanna go for pinks, cash or grins?:D
    Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited April 2006
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    SCompRacer wrote:
    Drag it out. Wanna go for pinks, cash or grins?:D

    Only if I can have Arnie's GTO,:D
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
  • malikarshad
    malikarshad Posts: 527
    edited April 2006
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    I run LSi15 with Cary Audio Tube Amp (280SAV-12r) and Dared SL-2000A Pre-Amp (Mullard 12AT7).
    There really sound sweet with no sub.

    Speakers=>Salk Soundscape 8, Soundscape Center,Surrounds-Dali Rubicon LCR, Lsi7
    PreAmp, Amp => Marantz AV8801, ATI 6007 amp, Oppo HA-1 DAC
    Source => Sonore MicroRendu, Oppo BDP-103, Mede8er 600XD, Dune HD Smart D1, Synology DS1813+(16TB)
    Sub - JTR Captivator S2 (Dual 18")
    Power - Furman IT-Ref20i on dedicated 30Amp circuit with Furutech GTX-R outlet
    Screen=> JVC RS-45 projector Da-Lite HP 133" 2.35
  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,363
    edited April 2006
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    Only if I can have Arnie's GTO,:D

    Your gonna have to spot me some cars and I want the bust.:D
    Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
  • Normanality
    Normanality Posts: 297
    edited April 2006
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    McLoki wrote:
    Same speakers now sound better than wonderful on 500 watts of SS amp though.... :D:D:D

    Michael

    LOL but you're comparing a multi-thousand dollar SS to a $900 tuber!
    Maybe if I connected both my MC's in biamp it would be a fair fight ;)

    I'm gonna have to drive out there one of these days to hear them on your amp!
  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited April 2006
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    LOL but you're comparing a multi-thousand dollar SS to a $900 tuber!
    Maybe if I connected both my MC's in biamp it would be a fair fight ;)

    I'm gonna have to drive out there one of these days to hear them on your amp!
    remember, it is a 6 channel amp so bi-amping is legal for me as well... :)

    Thanks again for the great deal Norm. I am loving the 15's.

    Michael

    BTW - running only 4 of the channels, it would be closer to 650watts/drive array with over 1200 watt peaks - good luck to you in this race... :D
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,363
    edited April 2006
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    LOL but you're comparing a multi-thousand dollar SS to a $900 tuber!
    Maybe if I connected both my MC's in biamp it would be a fair fight ;)


    Yeah, guess we're really in the slums with this gear. Might have to give up listening.:rolleyes:

    Truth is you can run an LSi with either a tube amp or SS amp and get high SPL with fantastic sound. One amplifies voltage, one amplifies current. All it takes is spending to get the quality.
    Salk SoundScape 8's * Audio Research Reference 3 * Bottlehead Eros Phono * Park's Audio Budgie SUT * Krell KSA-250 * Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ * Signature Series Sonore Music Server w/Deux PS * Roon * Gustard R26 DAC / Singxer SU-6 DDC * Heavy Plinth Lenco L75 Idler Drive * AA MG-1 Linear Air Bearing Arm * AT33PTG/II & Denon 103R * Richard Gray 600S * NHT B-12d subs * GIK Acoustic Treatments * Sennheiser HD650 *
  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited April 2006
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    SCompRacer wrote:
    Truth is you can run an LSi with either a tube amp or SS amp and get high SPL with fantastic sound. One amplifies voltage, one amplifies current. All it takes is spending to get the quality.
    Agreed. The LSi series is good enough that you can run some pretty high end electronics before you reach the limits of the speaker. I personally love the tube sound, there is just not alot of options for a tube home theater processor (or multi channel amp) though and HT is where my system is currently at.

    If I was more looking at it for 2 channel work, I would look hard at alot of tube options. For my situation, a 6 channel SS amp works great. For other situations, your mileage may vary

    Get what you want, as long as it is decent quality, you will get great sound.

    Michael
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
  • jderdock
    jderdock Posts: 131
    edited April 2006
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    I run LSi15 with Cary Audio Tube Amp (280SAV-12r) and Dared SL-2000A Pre-Amp (Mullard 12AT7).
    There really sound sweet with no sub.

    Nice. Have you compared the Dared pre to any other tubed pre-amps?
    Rega P3 > Parasound Zphono > NAD C320BEE > Polk LSi 15
  • malikarshad
    malikarshad Posts: 527
    edited April 2006
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    jderdock wrote:
    Nice. Have you compared the Dared pre to any other tubed pre-amps?
    Not yet. But i would like to compare it with Dodd ELP and MLP if I get a chance. I don't know of any CP member locally.

    Speakers=>Salk Soundscape 8, Soundscape Center,Surrounds-Dali Rubicon LCR, Lsi7
    PreAmp, Amp => Marantz AV8801, ATI 6007 amp, Oppo HA-1 DAC
    Source => Sonore MicroRendu, Oppo BDP-103, Mede8er 600XD, Dune HD Smart D1, Synology DS1813+(16TB)
    Sub - JTR Captivator S2 (Dual 18")
    Power - Furman IT-Ref20i on dedicated 30Amp circuit with Furutech GTX-R outlet
    Screen=> JVC RS-45 projector Da-Lite HP 133" 2.35