Tubes for Lsi9's

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Bass_Pedal
Bass_Pedal Posts: 196
edited May 2008 in Electronics
I’m very happy with my Lsi9's. Currently I am bi-amping them with an Adcom GFA 555 for low frequencies and a HK AVR 8000 for the highs. While pleased with the finished product I just know that I could get warmer highs by swapping out the HK with something better. I have always thought about tube amps as an option. I was wondering if anyone had any feedback on tube amps under $1000(used) and for those using tube amplification on Lsi speakers now, what you might suggest. My listening area is a living room on the small side, I listen to a wide variety of music mostly classic rock and jazz. I'm not looking to blow off the barn doors :)

Thanks
Mains - Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grand
Subs - Rel T5 x 2
Amplification - Bryston 3b cubed
Pre Amp - Marantz Sc11-1
SACD - Marantz Sa11-1
Stream - Cambridge Audio CXN v2
Dac - Marantz Dac-1
TT - Pro-Ject RPM 9.1 w/ Ortofon 2M Black Cartidge
Phono Stage - Project Tube box DS
Post edited by Bass_Pedal on
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited May 2008
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    This may work. http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstube&1216519125

    I'm just curious, what kind of cables are you using?
    "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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  • Bass_Pedal
    Bass_Pedal Posts: 196
    edited May 2008
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    Thanks Face I will check out the listing.

    I'm using Signal cable ultra wires and monster THX standard interconects.
    Mains - Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grand
    Subs - Rel T5 x 2
    Amplification - Bryston 3b cubed
    Pre Amp - Marantz Sc11-1
    SACD - Marantz Sa11-1
    Stream - Cambridge Audio CXN v2
    Dac - Marantz Dac-1
    TT - Pro-Ject RPM 9.1 w/ Ortofon 2M Black Cartidge
    Phono Stage - Project Tube box DS
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  • Bass_Pedal
    Bass_Pedal Posts: 196
    edited May 2008
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    Any other ideas for tube amps?
    Mains - Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grand
    Subs - Rel T5 x 2
    Amplification - Bryston 3b cubed
    Pre Amp - Marantz Sc11-1
    SACD - Marantz Sa11-1
    Stream - Cambridge Audio CXN v2
    Dac - Marantz Dac-1
    TT - Pro-Ject RPM 9.1 w/ Ortofon 2M Black Cartidge
    Phono Stage - Project Tube box DS
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,634
    edited May 2008
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    The TAD-60's are great amps and are not too expensive. They show up once in a while.

    http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstube&1216431833

    What's wrong with running both highs and lows from the 555? That amp has more than enough juice to drive those 9's, and I would think it should sound a lot better than the AVR....
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  • Ern Dog
    Ern Dog Posts: 2,237
    edited May 2008
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    What's wrong with running both highs and lows from the 555? That amp has more than enough juice to drive those 9's, and I would think it should sound a lot better than the AVR....


    I had the same thought.
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  • Bass_Pedal
    Bass_Pedal Posts: 196
    edited May 2008
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    I just replaced my Adcom 545 for a 555 over the weekend, I just switched one out for the other not considering that the 555 could handle the load on it's own. When I got home today I did some rewiring and now the 555 is powering the LSI'9s on their own, guess what... They sound awesome. I pushed them harder than I ever had before and they knocked me on my a$$. The highs are as smooth and detailed as they were before but now there is just more of it. Thanks guys, for helping me step back and realizing that I was over thinking the situation. That being said, I'm still on the lookout for a some tubes as I have been curious about them for some time.
    Mains - Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grand
    Subs - Rel T5 x 2
    Amplification - Bryston 3b cubed
    Pre Amp - Marantz Sc11-1
    SACD - Marantz Sa11-1
    Stream - Cambridge Audio CXN v2
    Dac - Marantz Dac-1
    TT - Pro-Ject RPM 9.1 w/ Ortofon 2M Black Cartidge
    Phono Stage - Project Tube box DS
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited May 2008
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    Just a curiosity question. Did you ever try running just the 545 like you now have your 555 hooked up?
    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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  • Bass_Pedal
    Bass_Pedal Posts: 196
    edited May 2008
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    I did when I first brought them home. They sounded good, as I was replacing a pair of RTIA7's at the time so I was very happy. I then tired the bi-amping with the HK (a couple of days later), as the person I purchased the speakers from suggest I did. At low volumes I could hear no difference but when I opened them up to the 10 o'clock position on the preamp they had a more full sound and seemed a little warmer. Luckily most of the gear I'm using now is several years old so there were no break-in issues to take into account. I'm sure the 545 could have done the job on it's own but I preferred the bi amped approach at the time.
    Mains - Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grand
    Subs - Rel T5 x 2
    Amplification - Bryston 3b cubed
    Pre Amp - Marantz Sc11-1
    SACD - Marantz Sa11-1
    Stream - Cambridge Audio CXN v2
    Dac - Marantz Dac-1
    TT - Pro-Ject RPM 9.1 w/ Ortofon 2M Black Cartidge
    Phono Stage - Project Tube box DS
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited May 2008
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    Bass Pedal,
    Don't get tubes for your LSi9. I've tried my pair of LSi9 with many tube amps and none of them could power the LSi properly. I only get about 10% of the tube magic with LSi9's.
    The RT series are amazing on tubes however.

    Cool to see a Torontonian here. I'm in TO also.
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  • Bass_Pedal
    Bass_Pedal Posts: 196
    edited May 2008
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    Thanks for the heads up Organ.

    That's a bit of a surprise because I was told the original owner of my 9's used a tube amp and a tube pre and a Jolida tube CDP, although he did sell them for some reason... I could only imagine how tubey that set up would be. I wonder if anyone has had a similar experience with tubes and LSI speakers?
    Mains - Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grand
    Subs - Rel T5 x 2
    Amplification - Bryston 3b cubed
    Pre Amp - Marantz Sc11-1
    SACD - Marantz Sa11-1
    Stream - Cambridge Audio CXN v2
    Dac - Marantz Dac-1
    TT - Pro-Ject RPM 9.1 w/ Ortofon 2M Black Cartidge
    Phono Stage - Project Tube box DS
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited May 2008
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    I can possibly let you know next week. I may be borrowing a pair of LSi9's and have a couple of tube amps here(18 & 35 wpc).
    "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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  • Bass_Pedal
    Bass_Pedal Posts: 196
    edited May 2008
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    Thanks Face,

    That would be much appreciated if you share your findings on those tube amps.
    Mains - Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grand
    Subs - Rel T5 x 2
    Amplification - Bryston 3b cubed
    Pre Amp - Marantz Sc11-1
    SACD - Marantz Sa11-1
    Stream - Cambridge Audio CXN v2
    Dac - Marantz Dac-1
    TT - Pro-Ject RPM 9.1 w/ Ortofon 2M Black Cartidge
    Phono Stage - Project Tube box DS
    · Share on Facebook