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Joule Electra or Wolcott Tube Amps, or...?

Hi Folks:
I'm tempted to get either a pair of the Wolcott 220M monos or a pair of the Joule Electra VSN160 (both available used on A'gon). Does anyone have experience with both of these amps per chance, and have a preference?

For now, I'd be driving a pair of MBL 121 monitor speakers, which are quite inefficient at 83db. Hence, some folks may side with the Wolcott which are supposedly great at driving difficult loads. However, I got a lend of a VSN-80 from my friend for a week or two, and it proved to be great in my system. I was 'very' happy with it, across all types of music. So, somehow it worked, and if anything the VSN-160 monos would be even better. So, I'm most interested in other comparison factors beyond 'ability to drive difficult loads'. I think both will make the cut.

Anyways, let me know if you have thoughts or suggestions. I'm currently using Spectron, but am tempted to get back into tubes. I'm a tubeoholic.

Thanks,
John.
128x128outlier

Showing 1 response by spectron

spectron
130 posts
 
Hello John,

Efficiency of your MBL speakers has little effect on the performance of Joule-Electra power amps (if they are sufficiently powerful that is). The impedance behavior is much more important. I would suggest 2 Ohms as the limit for Joule-Electra and only because you can adjust output impedance of these family of amplifiers.

I am not familiar with Wolcott amplifiers so I should avoid answering your question. If these amplifiers are not OTL but regular tube amplifiers with output transform then, THEORETICALLY, you will introduce enormous amount of distortions into your signal. While all my life I was (and still am) tube-phile when there was need to high power outputs as your speakers demand I moved to switching amplifiers.

I wonder what Spectron amp or amps you have. It is possible to improve their performance too and make them even more life-like

Sincerely,
Simon
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