OK, VTL wizards, I need your experience and advice...
About a year ago, I purchased a set of ca 2003 i.e. "old" style MB450 sigs to try with my Martin Logans. Since the original tubes were of unknown life expectancy, I immediately retubed with new octets of GL KT88's, NOS 6350 Sylvania Blackplate D-getter and NOS Telefunken ECC81. In extended listening tests vs. a pair of Rogue M150's, I found the Rogues provided a better high end, while the VTL's provided better instrumental separation on large orchestral pieces. In the end, I set the VTL's aside and used the Rogues.
Some months later, a friend with a pair of Soundlab M1's (non-PX) was interested in hearing the VTL's in his system. He's using Bryston 7BSST's (non-squared), with an ARC Ref 3 and Ayre C5XE. In his system driving the Soundlabs, the VTL's simply couldn't cope and the high frequencies were badly distorted. Disappointment all 'round.
Because of some shipping damage, one of the two VTL monoblocks was thoroughly gone thru by VTL when I first received it, so I can't imagine there's anything fundamentally wrong with the amps. Could this be bad tube choice or is it simply a synergy thing? Can't speak to the Soundlabs episode, but I'd heard nothing but great things about VTL+Martin Logan.
About a year ago, I purchased a set of ca 2003 i.e. "old" style MB450 sigs to try with my Martin Logans. Since the original tubes were of unknown life expectancy, I immediately retubed with new octets of GL KT88's, NOS 6350 Sylvania Blackplate D-getter and NOS Telefunken ECC81. In extended listening tests vs. a pair of Rogue M150's, I found the Rogues provided a better high end, while the VTL's provided better instrumental separation on large orchestral pieces. In the end, I set the VTL's aside and used the Rogues.
Some months later, a friend with a pair of Soundlab M1's (non-PX) was interested in hearing the VTL's in his system. He's using Bryston 7BSST's (non-squared), with an ARC Ref 3 and Ayre C5XE. In his system driving the Soundlabs, the VTL's simply couldn't cope and the high frequencies were badly distorted. Disappointment all 'round.
Because of some shipping damage, one of the two VTL monoblocks was thoroughly gone thru by VTL when I first received it, so I can't imagine there's anything fundamentally wrong with the amps. Could this be bad tube choice or is it simply a synergy thing? Can't speak to the Soundlabs episode, but I'd heard nothing but great things about VTL+Martin Logan.