valves and metal cones= bad mating?

PreSapian · 7th May 2010, 04:13 AM

i'm wanting to get a tube amp for my pair of jim holt's statements. i've been coming across a comment or two about how the metal cone wouldn't be the best match for a tube amp due to it's revealing characteristics that seems to make the mids noticeably stand out. have you guys found this to be the general rule? the tube amp i have in mind is ming da 34-AB. Unit well reviewed for it's superb compatibility with just about any demanding speakers. however i do have it's 'micro' brother ming da 84a hooked up to the statements and it does sound nasally which i hope and suspect is due to it's lack of power (12w x2). what do you guys think? should i try out a full sized tube amp or go with a tried and approved mosfet+tube preamp? any experiences in running a tower with tube amps? please let me know. thanks.

DougL · 7th May 2010, 05:18 AM

I have heard the Modula with a ARC VT50 that sounded fabulous.
I do not see any rules I would carve in stone.

Doug

andyjevans · 7th May 2010, 07:48 AM

On the contrary - I think valves and metal cones are the best combination I've heard. You get the clarity of the metal cones without the hard edge of solid state amps with loads of feedback. I've heard and owned a few such systems - a good 300b SET into Jordan JX92 speakers is a great sounding combination, for instance. The best sound of all is a PP 300b amp into Apogee ribbons - again metal, though in this instance panels.

If you don't have a huge room, then look at a single unit speaker, and check out some offerings from Jordan and Mark Audio for instance, over on that forum. Then you can go for one of the many 300b amps available.

Andy

SY · 7th May 2010, 09:09 AM

Quote:

i've been coming across a comment or two about how the metal cone wouldn't be the best match for a tube amp

People say all kinds of incorrect things.

7th May 2010, 04:13 AM	#1
PreSapian diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: seoul	valves and metal cones= bad mating? i'm wanting to get a tube amp for my pair of jim holt's statements. i've been coming across a comment or two about how the metal cone wouldn't be the best match for a tube amp due to it's revealing characteristics that seems to make the mids noticeably stand out. have you guys found this to be the general rule? the tube amp i have in mind is ming da 34-AB. Unit well reviewed for it's superb compatibility with just about any demanding speakers. however i do have it's 'micro' brother ming da 84a hooked up to the statements and it does sound nasally which i hope and suspect is due to it's lack of power (12w x2). what do you guys think? should i try out a full sized tube amp or go with a tried and approved mosfet+tube preamp? any experiences in running a tower with tube amps? please let me know. thanks.

7th May 2010, 05:18 AM	#2
DougL diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Wheaton IL. Blog Entries: 25	I have heard the Modula with a ARC VT50 that sounded fabulous. I do not see any rules I would carve in stone. Doug __________________ Scienta sine ars nihil est - Science without Art is nothing. (Implies the converse as well) Mater tua criceta fuit, et pater tuo redoluit bacarum sambucus

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7th May 2010, 07:48 AM	#3
andyjevans diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: London	On the contrary - I think valves and metal cones are the best combination I've heard. You get the clarity of the metal cones without the hard edge of solid state amps with loads of feedback. I've heard and owned a few such systems - a good 300b SET into Jordan JX92 speakers is a great sounding combination, for instance. The best sound of all is a PP 300b amp into Apogee ribbons - again metal, though in this instance panels. If you don't have a huge room, then look at a single unit speaker, and check out some offerings from Jordan and Mark Audio for instance, over on that forum. Then you can go for one of the many 300b amps available. Andy

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