Hi all,
I'm not a tech, but appreciate that most of you on this forum are.
With that being said, I've recently acquired some big vintage Sansui SP-5000 speakers. I've done a full re-cap (the limit of my tech knowledge/ abilities) and am wondering about the suitability of tube amplification for these?
I know that low powered single ended amps can sound sweet with big vintage speakers due to there high sensitivity. The Sansui's are a very healthy 102dB@1w/1m. However, would a small SE Tube amp with 6w be okay to power these, as there are 7 drivers in each cabinet? Would all these drivers influence the amplifiers ability to drive them properly? Could I damage the drivers or the little amplifier with this kind of speaker?
Many thanks for any advice given in advance!
I'm not a tech, but appreciate that most of you on this forum are.
With that being said, I've recently acquired some big vintage Sansui SP-5000 speakers. I've done a full re-cap (the limit of my tech knowledge/ abilities) and am wondering about the suitability of tube amplification for these?
I know that low powered single ended amps can sound sweet with big vintage speakers due to there high sensitivity. The Sansui's are a very healthy 102dB@1w/1m. However, would a small SE Tube amp with 6w be okay to power these, as there are 7 drivers in each cabinet? Would all these drivers influence the amplifiers ability to drive them properly? Could I damage the drivers or the little amplifier with this kind of speaker?
Many thanks for any advice given in advance!
102db sensitivity means they will play loud for relatively little voltage input across the terminals.
The number of drivers in itself doesn't really cause issue, what does matter is the impedance of the speaker which I think is a nominal 8 ohm?? That isn't always the whole story though as that value can vary throughout the frequency range... as it does with any speaker of course. I would guess they are not to extreme all things considered.
One practical issue with a high sensitivity speaker is that background hum and noise become much more prominent should the amp be less than perfect in that regard, so that is something to consider with valve gear though.
You shouldn't cause any damage to either amp or speaker with a small amp.
Final thought... does it have to be a valve amp. I'm wondering about the ACA amp which is a small Class A design and thought very very highly of. If you are interested in that then check out the Pass Labs section of the forum.
The number of drivers in itself doesn't really cause issue, what does matter is the impedance of the speaker which I think is a nominal 8 ohm?? That isn't always the whole story though as that value can vary throughout the frequency range... as it does with any speaker of course. I would guess they are not to extreme all things considered.
One practical issue with a high sensitivity speaker is that background hum and noise become much more prominent should the amp be less than perfect in that regard, so that is something to consider with valve gear though.
You shouldn't cause any damage to either amp or speaker with a small amp.
Final thought... does it have to be a valve amp. I'm wondering about the ACA amp which is a small Class A design and thought very very highly of. If you are interested in that then check out the Pass Labs section of the forum.
SE tube amps have a high output impedance, which causes frequency response variations
when coupled to a speaker with a widely variable load impedance.
when coupled to a speaker with a widely variable load impedance.
Many thanks Mooly!
I already own a little Chinese Reisong A10 EL34 SE amplifier. It's very quiet in terms of background hiss, so hopefully won't present any issues in this regard.
The Sansui's are indeed nominal 8 Ohm, but I'm not sure what the lowest they'll go to??
Either way, as long as Im not doing damage, I will give it a shot.
I already own a little Chinese Reisong A10 EL34 SE amplifier. It's very quiet in terms of background hiss, so hopefully won't present any issues in this regard.
The Sansui's are indeed nominal 8 Ohm, but I'm not sure what the lowest they'll go to??
Either way, as long as Im not doing damage, I will give it a shot.
102db sensitivity means they have chosen the classic 1kHz frequency. In this speaker there are about 4 midrange drivers that might emit in that range, so a lot of output. Nowadays-about 30 years ago - a brand likeJBL would use 2 smaller mids and a single tweeter. I guess the sensitivity would be in the 94-95 dB then, which is the max sensitivity of a dome tweeter.
Later a midrange like the Audax PM 160 MO would eliminate the need for a second midrange.
Models like Pm160 Z0 suggest (might) that the market needs to be differentiated 😛A and Hifi....
Later a midrange like the Audax PM 160 MO would eliminate the need for a second midrange.
Models like Pm160 Z0 suggest (might) that the market needs to be differentiated 😛A and Hifi....
What Rayma said.
With a typically high Rout SE tube amplifier one has to pay as much attention to the actual impedance.
I have not found any actual measures of your loudspeakers (or similar) but i woul dgues sthat Sansui paid little attention to flat impedance when they did the design. XOs are the usual bad actors when it comes to having a loudspeaker with a rollercoaster impedance response. And this a 4 way.
With a high Rout amplifier the shape of the impedance curve will impress itself on the frequency response.
Also, i have a feeling that that little woofer either has issues keeping up with the top, or it does not go very low.
I have some of those tweeters (on my give-away shelf), they aren’t bad.
dave
With a typically high Rout SE tube amplifier one has to pay as much attention to the actual impedance.
I have not found any actual measures of your loudspeakers (or similar) but i woul dgues sthat Sansui paid little attention to flat impedance when they did the design. XOs are the usual bad actors when it comes to having a loudspeaker with a rollercoaster impedance response. And this a 4 way.
With a high Rout amplifier the shape of the impedance curve will impress itself on the frequency response.
Also, i have a feeling that that little woofer either has issues keeping up with the top, or it does not go very low.
I have some of those tweeters (on my give-away shelf), they aren’t bad.
dave
Reisong Boyuu A10 EL34 Tube Amplifier HIFI EXQUIS Single Ended Class A Lamp Amp BYA10H|lamp amp|amplifier hifia class amplifier - AliExpress
Inexpensive Chinese amplifiers are often “pre-built projects” screaming out for tweaks.
This one is not real cheap and the advert talks a decent story.
dave
The speakers are plenty sensitive.
The amp damping factor is not high.
Connect the 8 Ohm nominal impedance speakers on the 4 Ohm Tap.
That will double the effective damping factor.
The power out will be less, but you should still be able to make your ears ring!
Then turn the volume down and enjoy the music.
Try it, you may like it.
Done
The amp damping factor is not high.
Connect the 8 Ohm nominal impedance speakers on the 4 Ohm Tap.
That will double the effective damping factor.
The power out will be less, but you should still be able to make your ears ring!
Then turn the volume down and enjoy the music.
Try it, you may like it.
Done
Interesting... Ideally you would want a high Z load and a low Z(resistance) source.
Since the double drivers in the SP 5000 are 16Ohm for sure...
It would be 'factible' a 'simpler' speaker with just the 15"
Woofer(which will result louder) a midrange and a tweeter.. 🙄
Since the double drivers in the SP 5000 are 16Ohm for sure...
It would be 'factible' a 'simpler' speaker with just the 15"
Woofer(which will result louder) a midrange and a tweeter.. 🙄