Tube Amp for EL70 ?

[cogitech]

It is an amp question, yes, but I figured there are more EL70 listeners here and I know many of you are running tube amps, soooo...

Right now I am driving my dual-EL70 microTowers with a Grant Fidelity B-283 tube buffer (with NOS Mullards) + Yamaha R-S300 receiver.

It sounds fantastic. I am very, very happy with it and people comment all the time about how incredible my system sounds. I think the receiver is better than some might expect from a "mid-fi" unit.

Having said all this, I am growing more and more tempted to try a tube amp.

I have pretty-much decided already to buy the Musical Paradise MP-301 MkIII, and I just wanted to run this by you knowledgeable folks to see if you think this amp would be a good match with my EL70 towers.

Thoughts? Other suggestions in this price range? ($300)

[cogitech]

Some nagging questions in the back of my mind:

1) Will I really be able to tell the difference?
2) Will I miss the remote control, tone controls, continuously variable loudness control, etc. from my modern "ampliceiver"?

[planet10]

I am sure it will sound noticably different. I was just looking at one of thise amps for a friend that just picked up a set of uFonkenSET. If i had the spare cash, i'd already have one of those here.

dave

[cogitech]

Originally Posted by planet10

I am sure it will sound noticably different. I was just looking at one of thise amps for a friend that just picked up a set of uFonkenSET. If i had the spare cash, i'd already have one of those here.

dave

The option of rolling in some psvane KT88 tubes is very attractive!

Spare cash is an issue for me as well. I may actually have to sell other gear in order to justify the tube amp purchase (she's always watching!)

[planet10]

Originally Posted by cogitech

Grant Fidelity B-283 tube buffer (with NOS Mullards)

What tube are you using? I have a tubeless one of those here.

dave

[cogitech]

Originally Posted by planet10

What tube are you using? I have a tubeless one of those here.

dave

Tubeless?

I don't understand. It works without tubes?

It supports 6J1(P), EF95, 6AK7, CV4010 variants.

Mine came with Chinese 6J1 and I purchased a bunch of different ones from e-bay. Sylvania, Mullard, Raytheon, Russian Army ones, etc.

The NOS Mullards are my favourite so far. Very smooth. The Sylvanias are lively and "fast". The Raytheons are flat and fat (I think they are dead). The Chinese and Russians are OK, but I tend to run the Mullards all the time now. Just bought 2 more pair.

These are the Mullards I just bought... http://www.ebay.ca/itm/290466468755

[planet10]

Originally Posted by cogitech

Tubeless?

I don't understand. It works without tubes?

I bought it used cheap with no tubes, with the original idea of using it as a donor for a tube buffered phono preamp.

dave

[cogitech]

Originally Posted by planet10

I bought it used cheap with no tubes, with the original idea of using it as a donor for a tube buffered phono preamp.

dave

Ah, I see.

If you want, I can send you a few pairs of the tubes I have no use for any more...

[chrisb]

To address the original post's question - until I starting having issues with two different P/P EL84 amps that has since been quesstimated as bad rectifiers ( Sovtek 5AR4) and undersized fast blow fuse, I was driving my Castle / Towers with a Tubelab P/P ( Psvane 6BQ5 and 12AT7s- worth every penny as far as I'm concerned) at 12W and a DIY hack-job class A EL84 P/P at about 3.5W - neither ran out of juice for my needs.


I'll waffle a bit with the standard disclaimer "room/music/required SPLs" but I'd hazard a guess that if the MP301 is a real 6.5W of SE bliss, that'd quite probably be fine.

[chrisb]

Originally Posted by cogitech

Tubeless?

I don't understand. It works without tubes?

Originally Posted by planet10

I bought it used cheap with no tubes, with the original idea of using it as a donor for a tube buffered phono preamp.

dave

that's Dav-lish for you