Tube Amp in a digital world

[dumbass]

Currently using a QSC RMX850 with a pair of University dual concentric monitors. Other than the top end noise of the QSC, it all sounds fine.

So, in the digital age, does it make sense to switch to a tube amp?

What about amps like the DC300 or Bryston 4B?

[Knastratt]

As a complement I'd say yes. For surgical monitoring - perhaps not.

[FajitaTone]

Currently using a QSC RMX850 with a pair of University dual concentric monitors. Other than the top end noise of the QSC, it all sounds fine.

So, in the digital age, does it make sense to switch to a tube amp?

What about amps like the DC300 or Bryston 4B?

there are 4B's in many high end studios. I'm trying to talk my wife into letting me buy one for my home studio.

[Mixerpuppet]

there are 4B's in many high end studios. I'm trying to talk my wife into letting me buy one for my home studio.


Me too....


So far...


It aint working....


All she hears is blah blah blah blah $1000 Blah blah Blah....


Yeah their cheaper on Ebay but......


After my last Ebay purshase it's pick-up only..


May you have better luck...

[dumbass]

Me too....


So far...


It aint working....


All she hears is blah blah blah blah $1000 Blah blah Blah....


Yeah their cheaper on Ebay but......


After my last Ebay purshase it's pick-up only..


May you have better luck...

I hear ya' on the "blah blah blah blah $1000 Blah blah Blah"... 'cept at my place it's more like "blah blah blah blah $3000 Blah blah Blah". Sure, she get's a bit hairlipped, but I found the secret to it... I call it; "Bait-n-Switch-the-Bombshell" (It's taken directly from their own playbook!!!)

You start talking about getting a short framed 8090 or a Legacy at $125,000 plus $12,500 for install and soon, $25,000 don't sound too damn bad!

But where's a 4B for a G-note?!? I'd be able to get by on that... couldja' hook a brother up wouldja'!?!

DA

[dumbass]

So anyone got recommendations for a really decent monitoring amp like the Bryston... maybe something more readily available?

DA

[FajitaTone]

Hafler

[dwoz]

Currently using a QSC RMX850 with a pair of University dual concentric monitors. Other than the top end noise of the QSC, it all sounds fine.

So, in the digital age, does it make sense to switch to a tube amp?

What about amps like the DC300 or Bryston 4B?


Well...I had a DC300a until one of the main supply caps (cans, really...) went dead-short. It was only about 25 years old, so rather than repair/redeploy, I opted to buy a Bryston 3B.

I definitely noticed a substantial difference in the high mids...much more "surgical". My monitors run ribbon tweeters, so the high freq impedance signature back to the amp is sort of tweaky...can get pretty low.

Took a few days to get used to the new mid characteristic, but thereafter felt great.

I've since done a bit of work on the monitor crossover, to smooth out the frequency/impedance load seen by the amp.

I think that, for the most part, amp choice is dependent on what kind of load is presented by the monitors. If the load is essentially resistive, then just about any old amp will do. If the load is mostly reactive, then amp choice becomes sonically significant, especially if you've got ribbon transducers that can show .1 ohms to the amp at certain frequencies, and look like a dead short at low frequencies (i.e. crossover design becomes critical for amplifier choice.)

I like the Bryston a lot, good specs, good power, clean, problem-free. I have anecdotally heard good things about higher end hafler amps.

By the way, a DC300 is essentially class C, all silicon, and the Bryston is A/B, again, no glowie things.

dwoz

[otek]

I have no specific recommendations on tube amps for the moment, I would just like to try and dispell the notion that tube amps by design would be less dynamic or somehow more "mushy" than solid-state designs. A well-designed, well built tube amp can be every bit as dynamic and tight, and tremendously detailed.

[Fortunate Son]

Don't listen to dwoz. He cheats every time he does a bicep curl.

Actually I'm kidding. He knows a lot (more than me) about amps.
BUT, he does cheat on the bicep curls.

[dwoz]

Don't listen to dwoz. He cheats every time he does a bicep curl.

Actually I'm kidding. He knows a lot (more than me) about amps.
BUT, he does cheat on the bicep curls.


What are you, on fucking crack or something? The only time I EVER do bicep curls is when a camera is rolling. Then later we're talkin' ibuprophen and ice packs. and plenty of pity sympathy.


NEWS FLASH: Left channel on the Bryston has popped a fuse. Danger, will robinson. I think its the monitor. The tweeter is blown, it might be shorting. more later.

dwoz

[dumbass]

I don't cheat on the bicep curls... do em' as often as I can... 12oz at a time!! (I get no fucking sympathy...)

Sux about the tweeter...

Pretty sure the University's are presenting themselves as a resistive load... and I see a lot of the "audiophile twinks" going on about resistive load drivers being "better matched" to all class A tube amps, yet there's gack out there about the older amps like the DC's handling the resistive loads better than the the newer "current-based" amps that like lower impedance loads.

Hard to distingush the hyperbole from the bullshit.

[mousdrvr]

All she hears is blah blah blah blah $1000 Blah blah Blah....


There it is!
:lol: :lol: :lol: