Keith's Dream Amplifier Thread

[christoph]

But Keith added a tube preamp as well?
That was what several suggested from the beginning but Keith insisted in keeping his passive attenuator as a fix point iIrc

 

[harleyguy]

tenor audio

 

[jeff1225]

But Keith added a tube preamp as well?
That was what several suggested from the beginning but Keith insisted in keeping his passive attenuator as a fix point iIrc

Yes Keith added a tube preamp from LTA.

 

[rbbert]

So will this thread be revived? Any thoughts on Vitus? DarTZeel? tubes?

 

[thedudeabides]

Bill Parrish / GTT Audio uses Audionet.

 

[musicfirst1]

After extensive North American travel to hear multiple home based, manufacturer and dealer showroom based systems as well as too many shows to mention, I would recommend two diametrically opposed amplifier brands to auditon:

Aries Cerat

Audionet

I also think Pilium may also be very good, but I heard it in a system with unfamiliar components.

I have both AC and Audionet in my personal/reference system.

 

[213Cobra]

Keith has new speakers coming. We will reset a reference on amps as a result and then Keith will decide what motivates him. -Phil

 

[andromedaaudio]

May be keith is also going retro / vintage .

 

[213Cobra]

May be keith is also going retro / vintage .

Well, ultimately that's up to him. Right now Ampzilla has to be beaten, which it could be. He's moving to higher-efficiency / lower drivers-crossover-complexity speakers. This opens up viability for lower-power, more reliable tube amplifiers. So much remains to be settled in the reset. Keith is inclined to SS for good practical reaons, but I'll be bringing around some custom tube amps -- single-ended-pentode, push-pull triode and pentode/UL to gauge interest and satisfaction with against mainstream options. Greater speaker efficiency / reduced xover-drivers complexity yields more practical, musically-attantable options.

We're 14 minutes apart in normal traffic, even in Los Angeles, so comparisons like this happen sometimes.

Phil

 

[andromedaaudio]

This opens up viability for lower-power, more reliable tube amplifiers.

I had 1 tube failure in 6 years on a 100 watts CAT power amp ( 50 euros cost )

 

[213Cobra]

That's my experience too. For about 50 years, but really more. I've never been shut down for music access because of a tube failure. However it is decidedly not Keith's experience. So the outcome may very well not be tubes-fueled.

Phil

 

[Lampie519]

Still waiting for a tube failure in my amps (salvaged tubes from old TV sets 30 years ago).
PL519 tubes, naturally ;-)

 

[213Cobra]

Still waiting for a tube failure in my amps (salvaged tubes from old TV sets 30 years ago).
PL519 tubes, naturally ;-)

I get it. PL 519. TV sweep tubes unchallenged by hifi. Julius Futterman thought the same way for his OTLs.

Vacuum tubes chosen well for a circuit are incredibly durable despite the visual vulnerability of being glass enclosed. Example: In place of 5687 tubes I sometimes use 6900s. This tube was developed for ICBMs, with a Nonex glass envelope (non-expansion glass) and 500Gs survivability. It looks as vulnerable as any other glass envelope small signal triode, but it's nearly indestructible in use.

Phil

 

[Lampie519]

In my amps they drive my ESL's directly (5KV p-p). No stress for these guy's what so ever.

Unfortunately i had to replace some in a Futterman based OTL the other day (after 15 years of use).

 

[KeithR]

as far as tube trials and tribulations, i've probably had a half dozen issues over the past decade. if I was to try one it would be the matching LTA amp. but honestly, i prefer SS at this point.

 

[Lampie519]

I think the LTA amp could be a nice addition, at least try it once.

Failure of equipment is no fun but the pleasure it can give if all works at its peak is rewarding.

Nobody complains about replacing tires on a car, or even if it breaks down.

If you love your car you repair it , over and over again.

Funny that this is not the case with audio stuff.

 

[KeithR]

I think the LTA amp could be a nice addition, at least try it once.

Failure of equipment is no fun but the pleasure it can give if all works at its peak is rewarding.

Nobody complains about replacing tires on a car, or even if it breaks down.

If you love your car you repair it , over and over again.

Funny that this is not the case with audio stuff.

I would agree, but you are likely not disabled and require help to get things fixed such as myself. The LTA is only 15lbs so its possible I could do it.

 

[Lampie519]

Beeing disabled is something else (i did not take this into account).

It is true that i am able to fix most audio stuff myself. Not so with cars (and i am unfortunate to love my car).

I think that Zotl is the answer to lightweight audio nirvana....

 

[rbbert]

Any new amplifier thoughts now that the Fynes are dialed in?

 

[steve59]

bump, The Mc611 are solid and very dynamic at low volumes and in todays market priced within reason for what they offer,