Flea powered, single-ended tube amps

[laughingwillow]

I've spent the last year or so listening to music from a tube-based stereo system of 20 watts. And I really like the change in sound from solid state to tubes.

So, we're looking at setting up another system in an other part of the house and I'm seriously considering using a single ended triode amp of 2-6 watts, running high efficiency, single-driver speakers (no crossovers) made of hemp.

Anyone else digging the less is more sound system approach these daze?

lw

[senorsalvia]

I fully agree that there is generally a certain warmth, a certain ineffable tonality in a tube set-up as opposed to solid state....  I'm betting most musicians would agree, as well;  look at all the new style "modeling amps" that use state 'o the art digital processing to try and achieve that 'fabled, 'ole timey', tube sound....   Side note :shock:  :lol: ----  It could only be our brother Willow that is looking into hemp speakers :wink: ---  It's the debbil I say!!!!    Yeah well; there goes the neighborhood :roll:  :roll: ---

[laughingwillow]

LOL Good to see you around sal.

They say the hemp drivers in the Omega speakers take at least a couple of hundred hours to break in and that they often sound like shee-aht in the process. I've heard tales of guys who set them up new in the basement facing each other and play them continuously for ten daze or so. Often, they get sent back down for more "reeducation "hehe. But in the end, it is reported to be worth the hassle and wait. We'll see..... maybe.

Tubes rule!

lw

[JRL]

That brings a whole new meaning to the phrase "I smoked my speakers"

Single drivers? How does that sound? I am partial to 3 way cabs, with my hearing loss the added detail from the mid speaker really helps.

[laughingwillow]

The single driver is all about mids. There is no crossovers to suck down the power supply. I was more worried about the top end, but an email or two from Omega owners have lessened that worry some.  

On the downside, folks say it takes a few hundred hours to break those hemp cones in. And I guess they can sound a little funky until things smooth out. But with efficiency ratings of 96 db, it doesn't take much power to wind them up, apparently.

Of course, there will be aother sub somewhere in da mix.

lw

[laughingwillow]

Btw, I'm not sure I'm going with another tube amp for the kitchen, now. I've been reading about a solid state amp put out by redwine audio that has me intrigued for sure. Its an integrated  battery powered class d tri-path.

The guy is also developing a battery powered tubed pre-amp with usb dac. And with all the press and alcolades hissss aaamps are getting, I'm guessing a person can trust him when he says his dac makes tunes from a computer sound incredible.

lw

[JRL]

That does make sense. Passive crossover disapate a lot of power as heat. 96db at one watt?  That would not be real effiecent for a MI speaker, I think my cabs are about 101. I don't know that much about home stereo.

Enjoy the velvet tones of tubes!!!

[laughingwillow]

Most of the home speakers are in the low to mid 80's range. I consider 90 to be the low end of efficient for home speakers. Our silverline two-ways are 90's and the manley putting out 20 watts pushes them just fine.

There are some high end horns that push 101 db for home use. But they are sure to magnify any unwanted noise coming from an amp, and a person has to spend way over my budget to get into the equipment required to do those things justice in da home, imo.

lw

[laughingwillow]

...another aspect of the single driver theory involves the fact that multiple drivers mean splitting the signal into pieces which are then put back together  before reaching the ear. A single driver powered by a single ended tube using zero negative feedback is a direction I'm interested in exploring, as that method appears to be about the simplest way to provide a natural sound with the least amount of manipulation to the original signal.

lw

[JRL]

Makes sense. Thats why I stopped using biamped bass rigs. I would just hear the hi cabs with no lows on stage. It sounded harsh and unbassley, and the lows from the 18 incher would just blow by my legs.

[laughingwillow]

LOL But I bet it sounded pretty good about 30 feet from da stage with the 18"er, eh?

lw

[JRL]

That's what they tell me. It wasn't super high power. I had 400 watts solid state for the lows and the power amp from an ampeg V4 guitar amp with 4 EL34s at 120 watts for the highs.

Now I got 700 Gallien Kruger watts pushing 2 12s and 4 10s plus 2 compression driver horns for the sparkle.

[JRL]

But if you want a really bitchin stereo you could get a sound system like my friend and employer Steve has:

Midas Board, 2400 Watt QSC power amp just for the monitors (Meyer Sound 12s) choice of either one powered sub (EAW with two 15s) or the "little" system two subs with 2 12s in each (EAW), 2 powered mid-high cabs(EAW) biamp 400 +100 with time alignment and other proccessing.
We haven't done any gigs where we could really open her up, but let me tell yah when we play James Brown on the breaks it's like nothing you ever heard. He's got about 30k in it, and he won't pay the guys till we help him load it out. People ask me if I've been working out, but I say no, just loading Foster's PA a couple times a week.

[laughingwillow]

My Manley uses 8 el 84's for 20 glorious watts. I'm still not sure what tubes the kitchen system will use. I be thinking a triode SET, but a couple places are currently strapping (pentode) el 34's and 84's in triode configuration for great results.

Btw, the 8" enclosed sunfire sub with dual drivers we're using is powered by a 2200 watt ss amp the size of a snickers bar. Its signal response is flat down to 18 Hz. And it integrates with most any system like a dream.

Omega is now making a hemp based 8" bottom-firing sub with a 200 watt amp but the specs say its response is flat (only) down to 26 Hz and I'm not sure that would do Phil justice.

The lack of negative feedback apparently is what makes the tube sound so glorious. I do know that the sound has great bloom and the long decay which I've grown to love this last while.  

lw