Ron’s New System

[Lagonda]

My whole life I wanted a ML Statement E2. If the E2 had been a current production model in 2016, I might very well have ordered it instead of the Pendragon.

I think the midbass coupler array is the right transition between electrostatic panel and woofer towers. Better still would have been the E2 design but with cabinetry and finishing quality upgraded to the level of the Neolith (including resin instead of wood).

The only thing that is made of wood are the 2 trim plates on each speaker. The transition tower is made of a 7 cm block of MDF holding the 16 mid-bass drivers. Everything else is made of resin
( Loganite) including every part of the sub-bass towers and panel frame.

 

[morricab]

The reason I say this is by your logic, a 300b should be much more midrange centric and lush than both KT90 and EL34. yet, it will be far more agile, see through to recording, better bass on the right speaker, better midrange and highs, more nuanced, than both of them. One thing it will not be is the 300b amp will not have more power or grip than them for more inefficient speakers.

So I will never make such statements. You will have to try both different amps on their appropriately suited speakers, and put the right tubes in. I do know I don't like any of the KT based amps any more.

A 300b is a much more linear tube than either pentode…it’s all about implementation

 

[bonzo75]

Ron, look how many on the horizon thread are preferring the EL34s to KT88, 120 and 150

 

[Alrainbow]

Regarding cross over stats they are not accurate in what’s said and happening if we did imp
Curves and actual measurements In a room at a greater distance than 1 meter you would see a very different result.
my irs can be changed a bit at cross overs as well as woofer integration
how it sounds varies plenty depending on seat positioning
mid bass range is difficult on stats worse in some ways they my planners
but placement and seat greatly effect results I feel.

 

[Alrainbow]

Ron, look how many on the horizon thread are preferring the EL34s to KT88, 120 and 150

Explain ?

 

[KeithR]

Yes, there appears to be a strong consensus about this. The KT90s appear almost unanimously to be on the objective/cooler end of the sonic spectrum.

I definitely want to explore EL34. Perhaps I will find it to be gauzy or too lush. Or I might love it with vocals.

I preferred Siemens EL34s to the EI KT90s in the JA30s. The KT90s weren’t cool though at all. Iirc they were softer. Phil actually preferred them.

if you think EL34s are lush and soft, the Siemens are going to surprise you.

 

[KeithR]

Ron, look how many on the horizon thread are preferring the EL34s to KT88, 120 and 150

But that’s a dac not amplification.

 

[bonzo75]

But that’s a dac not amplification.

my point is you can’t make generalisations of tube character on neutral Vs lush. As a follow up from my earlier post my patient was ask any of those who preferred the EL34 did they choose so just because it lush?

 

[DasguteOhr]

But that’s a dac not amplification.

Exactly, there the tubes are at less than 50% of their potential. You only get to know the true character of the tube when you operate the tube at a high operating point. Below 50%, the high distortion potential determines the sound. But everyone hears differently or has a different ideal sound.

 

[morricab]

I preferred Siemens EL34s to the EI KT90s in the JA30s. The KT90s weren’t cool though at all. Iirc they were softer. Phil actually preferred them.

if you think EL34s are lush and soft, the Siemens are going to surprise you.

I told Ron to give Siemens or RFT (East German tubes) a try as they are rather neutral sounding.

 

[bonzo75]

I preferred Siemens EL34s to the EI KT90s in the JA30s. The KT90s weren’t cool though at all. Iirc they were softer. Phil actually preferred them.

if you think EL34s are lush and soft, the Siemens are going to surprise you.

the telefunken dual getter are extremely clean, transparent. But if this was the logic, Ron should have been on solid state like spectral with Lyra.

there are just many who preferred Mullards to tele, in amps

 

[Ron Resnick]

Ron, look how many on the horizon thread are preferring the EL34s to KT88, 120 and 150

That totally makes sense to me. That is why I feel I have to experiment with EL34s.

Did I ever say I like KT120 or KT150? Between 6550 and KT88 I chose KT88 for the Siegfried IIs.

What is your point?

 

[Ron Resnick]

I told Ron to give Siemens or RFT (East German tubes) a try as they are rather neutral sounding.

My original plan was to try NOS Siemens in the JA100s. But then I learned the JA100 is optimized for KT90.

NOS Siemens or RFT EL34s are the only EL34s around in a quantity of 20 -- if I set my sights on JA200 Mk. IIs calibrated for EL34s.

 

[bonzo75]

That totally makes sense to me. That is why I feel I have to experiment with EL34s.

Did I ever say I like KT120 or KT150? Between 6550 and KT88 I chose KT88 for the Siegfried IIs.

What is your point?

KT88 and 66 are not good either. In fact once 4 of us preferred EL34 to KT66 in the same SET amp (it had a switch and you could swap between both.

I took particular exception to you generalizing you could consider valve A neutral and B lusher of the two when there are just so many differences between them. Do you think it would be fair for someone to say you took Zyx only because it was more colored compared to say Lyra or vdh?

 

[microstrip]

That totally makes sense to me. That is why I feel I have to experiment with EL34s.

Looking at the curves of both tubes it is apparent that swapping them in a fixed cathode auto bias circuit can change significantly the operating point. If you want to test it, connect the amplifier through a cheap power meter and compare the power consumption in both conditions.

If you prefer the EL34's why choosing an amplifier optimized by the designer to be operated with KT90's? For example you could have picked a pair of the old conrad johnson Premier 8 XS operated in triode mode with EL34's, that some people consider the Rolls Royce of the push pull EL34 amplifiers around 100W. https://conradjohnson.com/vintage-conrad-johnson-products/

 

[Ron Resnick]

the telefunken dual getter are extremely clean, transparent. But if this was the logic, Ron should have been on solid state like spectral with Lyra.

This doesn't make any sense. Whether clean and transparent or warm and slightly fuzzy tubes have a "wetness" which solid-state does not.

You are aspiring to logic, while comparing different tubes to solid-state amplifiers versus tube amplifiers?

 

[bonzo75]

This doesn't make any sense. Whether clean and transparent or warm and slightly fuzzy tubes have a "wetness" which solid-state does not.

You are aspiring to logic, while comparing different tubes to solid-state amplifiers versus tube amplifiers?

EL34 is going to better than the KT90, period. Keith confirmed that to you too. Not sure why apply random attributes trying to give specious logic. either try both, or if taking a chance, take El34.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Do you think it would be fair for someone to say you took Zyx only because it was more colored compared to say Lyra or vdh?

"Colored" is my least favorite word in the audio glossary. You have never seen me use it.

I can imagine someone who likes the Lyra Atlas or the vdH describing the ZYX as colored. But I would not countenance such person's failure to recognize that he is mistaking his mere personal preference for something objective.

 

[Folsom]

"Colored" is my least favorite word in the audio glossary. You have never seen me use it.

I can imagine someone who likes the Lyra Atlas or the vdH describing the ZYX as colored. But I would not countenance such person's failure to recognize that he is mistaking his mere personal preference for something objective.

It's not a particularly useful term since there is little congruencey about what it means.

 

[Ron Resnick]

EL34 is going to better than the KT90, period.

This, essentially, is all I said in the first place!