Tube-like solid state amps
Audio500
Spendor 1/2 speakers. I seeking to get a "tube"like amp, without
actually getting tubes!! Suggestions I've received are the
following:
1) All older Classe
2) CJ MF series and Sonographe 250
3) Carver TFM series
Naturally, I'm looking to spend the least amount, but want honest
opinions from those who've owned or have listened at lenght to the
above amps. Which amp(s) would mesh the best with my system? Which
would be the better value? Any other candidates? I primarily listen
to Jazz via a Thorens TT, and am absolutely smitten with the lush,
harmonic, warm, etc., etc., midrange of classic tubes. Yet, I've
found my self wanting more control in the bass and slightly more
upper response, as well as just a touch more transparency (sounds
like everyone else, right!!) Thanks!
Russ Button
: I'm looking to match a solid state amplifier with a CJ PV-5 and
: Spendor 1/2 speakers. I seeking to get a "tube"like amp, without
: actually getting tubes!!
: 1) All older Classe
: 2) CJ MF series and Sonographe 250
: 3) Carver TFM series
: Naturally, I'm looking to spend the least amount, but want honest
: opinions from those who've owned or have listened at lenght to the
: above amps. Which amp(s) would mesh the best with my system? Which
: would be the better value? Any other candidates?
I've been running a B&K ST-140 for the past 10 years. It has a deserved
reputation of a tube-like quality in the mid-range. Compared to other
good solid-state amps, the low-end is a little weak, but it's going to
be better than a typical tube amp. They are very cheap. About $300
on the used market.
It might well be worth your while to explore the more recent vintage
B&K line. I would expect them to retain the lush mid-range and to
improve the low end. The ST-140 is a good 10 years old by now. There
were a number of mods for this amp, but I run mine stock. I get around
the weak low end by running sub-woofers with a separate amp and active
cross-over. The B&K ST-140 never sees anything under 125 hz anyway
and so I use it to advantage.
Russ Button
wwoof
of Llano A-50 mono blocks would do nicely. Very
smooth with plenty of punch for 50W per side.
-------------
Audio500 <audi...@aol.com> wrote in article
<6tm60q$i...@news01.aud.alcatel.com>...
Gary O.
>I'm looking to match a solid state amplifier with a CJ PV-5 and
>Spendor 1/2 speakers. I seeking to get a "tube"like amp, without
>actually getting tubes!! Suggestions I've received are the
>following:
>1) All older Classe
>2) CJ MF series and Sonographe 250
>3) Carver TFM series
>Naturally, I'm looking to spend the least amount, but want honest
>opinions from those who've owned or have listened at lenght to the
>above amps. Which amp(s) would mesh the best with my system? Which
>would be the better value? Any other candidates? I primarily listen
>to Jazz via a Thorens TT, and am absolutely smitten with the lush,
>harmonic, warm, etc., etc., midrange of classic tubes. Yet, I've
>found my self wanting more control in the bass and slightly more
>upper response, as well as just a touch more transparency (sounds
>like everyone else, right!!) Thanks!
I have no long term experience with tube amps other than guitar amps,
which were horrible for other than their intended purpose or for PA
stuff.
My very long term experience with high end amps is limited to the
various incarnations of my McCormack DNA-1 amp, which is currently
upgraded to SMc Audio's Revision Level A. I have had short term
experience with some very nice high end amps and some so so lower high
end amps when I was considering whether to dig deep to replace the
McCormack DNA-1 or the DNA-1 Deluxe with something else. And this
short term experience was with much lesser interconnects and cables
than I now have. To my budget and sensibilities, the more expensive
alternatives were not quite worth the expenditure and subsequent
scrimping that would have been involved.
I've been very enthusiastic about the Revision Level A when driven by
various digital souces through Audiotruth Diamond x2 RCS interconnects
and when connected to the speakers through Monster M2.4s bi-wire
terminated speaker cable. In short, It is Wonderful. It is
transparent, which may be a weakness to some. Inferior source
material leaves you wondering if the multitude of sublte differences
really justify the time and expense of the upgrade. Superior source
material reveals just how good the amp is. "Tiger" from Paula Coles
"This Fire" CD reveals some of both. While sounding very fine,
indeed, in the highs, there is still just the slightest bit of lack of
realism, a barest trace of hardness. But this CD is HDCD encoded, and
my Muse Model 2 DAC with Bessel Analog Reconstruction Filter option
does not have the HDCD option. On the other hand, I cannot imagine
the bass response being better. If the shaking weren't in tune, I'd
wonder if there wasn't some sort of earthquake with slightly higher
than normal frequency going when the bass starts showing you the
center of the earth. And, despite the preponderance of low frequency
dynamics, there is no clouding of the other portions of the
presentation. People laugh when I say that I get better sound from my
home rig than I hear at the state of the art stadium seating or IMAX
theaters. I don't laugh, but I do smile somewhat smugly. Since they
are assumedly playing CDs in those rare instances when music is played
during intermissions, I cannot explain the difference by referring to
the very good, but lossy compression schemes used in movie sound these
days. I'd have to assume that the CD setup just isn't optimized for
punching through the (sonically transparent) movie screen as
soundtracks are.
Gary O.
trac...@pacbell.net
fr...@easyaces.com
woman who can play football. Anyway, strained metaphor aside, why not
just look for a tube amp that fulfills most of your criteria? My
suggestion would be the ARC VT100. It certainly has all the midrange
lushness you want along with bass that is cleaner and faster than most
tube amps, and a highly resolved, "transparent" upper range without a
hint of traditional tube "glare."
In article <6tm60q$i...@news01.aud.alcatel.com>,
audi...@aol.com (Audio500) wrote:
> I'm looking to match a solid state amplifier with a CJ PV-5 and
> Spendor 1/2 speakers. I seeking to get a "tube"like amp, without
> actually getting tubes!! Suggestions I've received are the
> following:
>
> 1) All older Classe
> 2) CJ MF series and Sonographe 250
> 3) Carver TFM series
>
> Naturally, I'm looking to spend the least amount, but want honest
> opinions from those who've owned or have listened at lenght to the
> above amps. Which amp(s) would mesh the best with my system? Which
> would be the better value? Any other candidates? I primarily listen
> to Jazz via a Thorens TT, and am absolutely smitten with the lush,
> harmonic, warm, etc., etc., midrange of classic tubes. Yet, I've
> found my self wanting more control in the bass and slightly more
> upper response, as well as just a touch more transparency (sounds
> like everyone else, right!!) Thanks!
>
-----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==-----
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QXLMG
Although it has been a few years since I heard them,you should
highly consider B & K amps.They used to make a 70-100 watt per channel
amp for less than $700 that had the lushness of tubes.It even had some
of the electronic characteristics of tubes- it put out the same number
of watts into a 4 or 8 ohm load.I think the model number was the
ST-140.
Duane Barker
PAUL MACCA
>Looking for a s/s amp that sounds like tubes is like looking for a
>woman who can play football. Anyway, strained metaphor aside, why not
>just look for a tube amp that fulfills most of your criteria?
Maybe because he doesn't want to deal with tubes in the first place?
>My
>suggestion would be the ARC VT100. It certainly has all the midrange
>lushness you want along with bass that is cleaner and faster than most
>tube amps, and a highly resolved, "transparent" upper range without a
>hint of traditional tube "glare."
The new VT100 would certainly fit the bill, if the original poster is
open-minded towards buying a tube amp. The only caveat would be that
the VT100 mark II, at $5000, is significantly more expensive than the
amps he was thinking about buying (Carver TFM, Sonographe, or c-j MF
amps.)
Perhaps a more likely alternative for him (in terms of retail cost and
tube replacement expense) would be the VT50. But as with all ARC tube
products, try it out in your system first before deciding whether to
buy it or not.
Mark Cartier
That would definetly provide better overall performance than the Carver.
The CJ Son/250 if you can find one, used/demo, would be a couple of
hundred more than the B&K but may be the best w/tube pre & Spendor. I've
sold Spendor in the past and am very familiar with their rich full and
flat charactoristics. Matched with the right amplifier you will get
amazing depth and detail from these speakers.
If you can find an ST 140, the 105 X 2 version rather than original 70
wpc, the 105 is biased hotter, and has excellent low end control, very
close midrange (tube like), and fine extended highs.
Used in fair shape, should be about $250.00 - $300.00, and newer 1400
demo's, possible dealer show room units, more like $475.00 - $645.00.
The 250, will fetch more like $650.00 plus used/demo...
The one caution I have for you is that most older amps are a little
slower. You already have a tube preamp, so as long as you couple it with
a better solid state, like the CJ/B&K, you will get more pleasing
transiets, pace, and dynamics.
..and don't forget to allow some $$$ for appropriate interconnects.
Happy Listening
Audio by US; For those who believe it's the music which matters...API,
AR, Alchemy, B&K, Cal.,Cambridge, Celeste, HK, EDGE, Fried, Grado,
Jolida, Kimber, Magro, MS, Marantz Audio/Video, McCormack, NHT, Phillips
DVX8000, Sim, Snell, Synergistic, Home of the Ultimate CD Tower, Check
us out at audiobyus.com or 618 277 9500
Sean McClintock
basically, a beefier power supply than the regular line, and) which I
feel is, like their other amps, much more tube like in the mids than
most of the other ss amps i've heard in this price range; and it
still has real solid bass. I think it retailed for about $1,200 new,
but I know a friend of mine just found one used for around $550. I
think they are in general a real value.
I run mine in a second system, my primary system consisting of a much
pricier tube setup, and I've never been insulted by its sound (as I
was by the amp it replaced in that system, an Adcom GFA555)
There is nothing wrong with the St140 that has been suggested, which
can be had really cheap, except that it will be a little lighter in
the bass department, and won't meet the demands of less efficient
speakers, or very dynamic music.
enjoy,
Sean McClintock
Audio500 wrote in message <6tm60q$i...@news01.aud.alcatel.com>...
Mhde
>That would definetly provide better overall performance than the Carver.
>The CJ Son/250 if you can find one, used/demo, would be a couple of
>hundred more than the B&K but may be the best w/tube pre & Spendor. I've
>sold Spendor in the past and am very familiar with their rich full and
>flat charactoristics. Matched with the right amplifier you will get
>amazing depth and detail from these speakers.
>If you can find an ST 140, the 105 X 2 version rather than original 70
>wpc, the 105 is biased hotter, and has excellent low end control, very
>close midrange (tube like), and fine extended highs.
>Used in fair shape, should be about $250.00 - $300.00, and newer 1400
>demo's, possible dealer show room units, more like $475.00 - $645.00.
>The 250, will fetch more like $650.00 plus used/demo...
>The one caution I have for you is that most older amps are a little
>slower. You already have a tube preamp, so as long as you couple it with
>a better solid state, like the CJ/B&K, you will get more pleasing
>transiets, pace, and dynamics.
Thanks for the info. Several people have suggested B&K,and I'll look
for the ST140. Right now I'm listening with a friend's Carver M250t.
It sounds awfully good coupled with the CJ PV5 and Spendors! Not
totally tubeilike, but not sending the system in the other direction
either. Oddly,I dont like this amp and/or his system (All
Carver..1.5t/C1 pre/SDA 350 CD/JBL 112 speakers) at his house. There
it has a bit of etch. I suspect the Spendor/CJ combo has a lot to do
with elimnating that sound! I'll compare with the B&K when I find
it. Again Thanks!
Mike Morris
I might suggest checking out the new Audio Research 100.2 solid state
amp. Fi recently reviewed it and concluded that it had a lot of
"tube-like" qualities (as well as some of the limitations).
I've heard this amp and was very impressed--I may, in fact, purchase
one in the next month or so; however, since I've not really
auditioned tube amps, I won't vouch for how "tube-like" it was. All
I know is that it *sounded* very good, with a superb transparent
mid-range, and surprisingly good tight bass.
Cheers,
Mike
Mr. Steven L. Bender
>
> "Russ" suggested the classic B&K 140.
>
> wpc, the 105 is biased hotter, and has excellent low end control, very
> close midrange (tube like), and fine extended highs.
- I have a B&K ST-140 lying on my floor with blown 2SJ50 / 2SK135 output devices.
These Hitachi MOSFETS, were used in both the Hafler DH-200 and
possibly other models, as well as some B&K's amps about ten to
fifteen years ago. That I can't get the MOSFET replacement part to
repair it, is well, an inconvenience, I guess.
I note that the current B&K MOSFET amps using one pair of MOSFETS
are rated at 60 Wpc, so I suspect the early 70 Wpc rated ST-140 was
similar. Then later when B&K rebuilt and respec'd that unit to 105
Wpc, the ST-140 was probably using these devices beyond their rated
operating areas and hence the type of destruction found in the well
fused, but destroyed sample on my floor < yes, some fuses blew too >.
As theses MOSFET's haven't been generally available for like ten
years. and no-one has them in stock, or if they do, they aren't
talking, I'm wondering just what MOSFET devices is B&K is currently
using in the Amps they are selling now ? Does anyone have the
answer to that ?
Seems B&K isn't talking to me, as my Emails don't get replies.
So what to do ?
Anyone have any secret sources for these devices ???
- Steven L. Bender, Designer of Vintage Audio Equipment
Email: buq...@prodigy.com <or> SLBe...@juno.com
[excessive sig deleted -- deb]