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Tube Amp for GR Research LS-6

So, I am looking to sell my current SS amplifiers, and move onto to something tube perhaps...

I feel like I am overly sensitive to SS sound; even the slightest bit of glare or edginess drives me crazy.

I am confused about tube amplifiers, and how they relate to performance goals...

I like to listen to music pretty loud; 90-95 DB average with peaks in the 105-110 area...

My speakers are 90DB/1 W/M.

I am assuming that I need something in the 200 watt area to achieve this goal via the math on paper correct?

So, that limits my choices based on budget correct? Looking to spend around 4K.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
kingdeezie
kingdeezie OP
92 posts
 
Maybe glare is the wrong word for it, but in the end, I crave a little bit more liquidity from my setup that I don't think I can obtain with a SS amplifier.

That calculator for how loud will it get is only flawed because a Line Source speaker drops off differently then a point source, apparently 3 DB per doubling as opposed to 6 DB per doubling.

So, it assumes that at my 11 feet distance away from the speaker, I am losing 10 DBs of volume, where, in actuality, its only 5 DBs or so.

In that instance I am looking at peaks of 112 DBS, which I think is sufficient.

I was just hoping to gather some suggestions.
riley804
1,224 posts
 
what amp and preamp are you currently using ?
philjolet's avatar
philjolet
2,305 posts
 
What speakers are you using? Specs can be very misleading so it is better to know firsthand what we are dealing with.

Something from VTL or Audio Research or even Rogue should fit your needs

fwiw the last few hi fi shows I went to I never really enjoyed any room that was driven with SS, I always preferred tubes, even when I did not know beforehand what I was listening to. That just confirms what I discovered at home....
kingdeezie OP
92 posts
 
My speakers are GR Research LS-6s. They are a 14 driver per side, two way, line source.

Each speaker houses 6 BG Neo 8 planars, and 8 peerless india 6.5 inch woofers.

My current preamp is a custom Response Audio BellaMax "Ultramax."

Right now I am using an Emotiva XPA-5 (Yuck), because there was a compatability issue with my Odyssey Stratos Mono Extremes Glass Ceilings (largely why I am having to search out for something else.)
riley804
1,224 posts
 
here is some info regarding your speakers

http://www.gr-research.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=126

for those that dont want to read the whole thing, this is said ( and might be useful information ):

Sensitivity level of these speakers is high, but the 1 watt/1 meter level can be misleading. They are 93db with 1 watt/1 meter, but a line source does not lose sensitivity with doubling of distance like a typical point source. With a 1 watt input at 2 meters they are equal to a point source that is 96db at 1 meter. At 4 meters with a 1 watt input they are equal to a point source that is 99db at 1 meter/1 watt

These speakers are easy to drive and can be driven with low powered SET amps, but an amp with a high dampening factor and good driver control is recommended.
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