Author Topic: Tube amp for metal/rock genre (Read 6853 times)

armymanhaha · « **on:** Oct 03, 2011 at 09:24 PM »

Do tube amps in general go well with the metal/rock genre? No, I dont mean those heavily artifacted records that came fresh from the 'loudness war' scene (so keep your snobby comments to yourself!

). I'm talking about artists like Porcupine Tree and Transatlantic here, which have good mixing on their albums.

I really haven't much experience listening to tube amps. Actually, I'm just looking to upgrade my T-amp. I'm fairly new to this hobby and it just happened that I got curious about tube amps and now I'm looking for supplemental comments from you guys. Any input(s) will be greatly appreciated.

Oh BTW if you care enough to recommend a specific tube amp, I have a budget of 25k. Will be used with speakers @ 6ohms.

Mr.T.one · « **Reply #1 on:** Dec 11, 2011 at 09:27 PM »

I know Manley and EAR tube amps can rock but way beyond your budget. Andrew Sevilla can build 6550 tube monos to fit your needs.

armymanhaha · « **Reply #2 on:** Dec 12, 2011 at 05:48 AM »

How can I contact this person, sir?

George SJ · « **Reply #3 on:** Dec 13, 2011 at 02:19 AM »

sir, try all these fine diy tube amp makers...

Andrew Sevilla Kinetic audio
2nd floor robinson's pioneer
687-4805...710-3432

TonyT of pasig
0932-5095191

Mang Rod - Trodt Audio @ +632-5221696, Conchu St. cor.Zobel Roxas, Makati.09182583107.

or baka may for sale sa WATTS HiFi makati square...

Nelson de Leon · « **Reply #4 on:** Dec 13, 2011 at 02:22 AM »

Or you might want to audition the tube amps first as to how it would sound on your favorite tracks. Bring your speakers na din.

Stagea · « **Reply #5 on:** Dec 13, 2011 at 07:48 AM »

Quote from: Nelson de Leon on Dec 13, 2011 at 02:22 AM

Or you might want to audition the tube amps first as to how it would sound on your favorite tracks. Bring your speakers na din.

I agree. It may or may not be to your liking kasi.

rexFi · « **Reply #6 on:** Dec 13, 2011 at 11:46 AM »

^ yes iba iba rin, lalo na Daming subGenre ng Metal, di ko pa natatry pero hula ko mga Powermetal, Goth (eg. Nightwish, Dragonforce, Stratovarious) would sound good sa Tubes.

^ Hula ko lang ito ha. ^_^

Mukhang maganda naman mga Post-Trash e.g. Pantera, Lamb of God sa full setup(with SVS subs siguro) and solid states.

^ ito tried ko na. pero not on Tubes though.

bass_nut · « **Reply #7 on:** Dec 13, 2011 at 12:16 PM »

i have tube preamp and tube mono amps (150wpc) custom built for me by AMX (Andrew Sevilla).. these trio deliver very good SQ for my rock listening hours... ultra fast attacking transient and wide&deep soundstage per my ears/gears/listeningroom. but the cost for the tube mono amps is a bit higher than your scheduled budget.

rock, new wave, pop, new age music, ost, etc.. i enjoy listening to evanescence, nightwish, deep purple, led zep, Alice in Chains, The Mission UK, soft cell, etc

Mr.T.one · « **Reply #8 on:** Dec 13, 2011 at 01:45 PM »

Quote from: MajorKonig on Dec 13, 2011 at 02:19 AM

sir, try all these fine diy tube amp makers...

Andrew Sevilla Kinetic audio
2nd floor robinson's pioneer
687-4805...710-3432

TonyT of pasig
0932-5095191

Mang Rod - Trodt Audio @ +632-5221696, Conchu St. cor.Zobel Roxas, Makati.09182583107.

or baka may for sale sa WATTS HiFi makati square...

Andrew Sevilla relocated to 23C President,s Avenue, Cristabel Bldg., BF Homes Paranaque. Tel 491-6332

rexFi · « **Reply #9 on:** Dec 13, 2011 at 03:00 PM »

Quote from: bass_nut on Dec 13, 2011 at 12:16 PM

i have tube preamp and tube mono amps (150wpc) custom built for me by AMX (Andrew Sevilla).. these trio deliver very good SQ for my rock listening hours... ultra fast attacking transient and wide&deep soundstage per my ears/gears/listeningroom. but the cost for the tube mono amps is a bit higher than your scheduled budget.

rock, new wave, pop, new age music, ost, etc.. i enjoy listening to evanescence, nightwish, deep purple, led zep, Alice in Chains, The Mission UK, soft cell, etc

+1

someone with "earsperience" hehe

armymanhaha · « **Reply #10 on:** Dec 13, 2011 at 09:22 PM »

Thanks for the reply guys. I posted this topic last October pa. More than double na budget ko ngayon kaya siguro magpagawa nalang ako dun sa contact na binigay nyo sakin

bass_nut · « **Reply #11 on:** Dec 14, 2011 at 12:06 AM »

Quote from: rex.reyesiii on Dec 13, 2011 at 03:00 PM

+1

someone with "earsperience" hehe

thanks, sir rex.reyesiii

samples here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb2dlQFN5-c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCVehuXlJxk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdZn7k5rZLQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R82paQbF0Yo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb9iCz5P1LU

i prefer around 85~87dB SPL (measured on my listening spot).. 2.1 speakers deliver massive amount of pleasing music.. mids aggressiveness.. ample yet tight bass.. smooth decay on highs.. wide&deep soundstage

enjoying da music !!

rexFi · « **Reply #12 on:** Jan 17, 2014 at 05:35 PM »

Quote from: armymanhaha on Dec 13, 2011 at 09:22 PM

Thanks for the reply guys. I posted this topic last October pa. More than double na budget ko ngayon kaya siguro magpagawa nalang ako dun sa contact na binigay nyo sakin

Sorry for bumping the thread, but what happened to your project sir?

Nelson de Leon · « **Reply #13 on:** Jan 17, 2014 at 07:23 PM »

Quote from: rex.reyes3 on Jan 17, 2014 at 05:35 PM

Sorry for bumping the thread, but what happened to your project sir?

Hulaan ko, Triple na ang budget niya.

armymanhaha · « **Reply #14 on:** Jan 18, 2014 at 07:58 AM »

Haha wala, di na tube amp ang pinursue ko. Simula palang ako sa hobby that time (2011) and wala pa ko masyado alam nun kaya I thought these cheap tube amps were pleasant sounding. I was fresh out of College nyan, exploring other hobbies besides PC gaming.

Nag evolve na tastes ko din, In my system, I look for maximum transparency with tonal accuracy. As of now, my current speakers dip below 2ohms so high-current SS amp na ang gamit ko.

Hmm..Triple budget? I am deferring my audio budget as I am officially on NAP time this year. (No Audio Purchases)

tony · « **Reply #15 on:** Jan 18, 2014 at 08:04 AM »

Quote

dip below 2ohms so high-current SS amp na ang gamit ko.

a Pilyo amp.....

i am designing a 500watt into 1ohm amplifier here....http://www.elab.ph/forum/index.php?topic=32688.0

qguy · « **Reply #16 on:** Jan 18, 2014 at 09:44 AM »

What speakers are those that dip below 2 ohms ?

melbourne · « **Reply #17 on:** Jan 18, 2014 at 11:55 AM »

I think its the PSB Synchrony One B. Am I right brader Francis?

fredreadrick · « **Reply #18 on:** Jan 18, 2014 at 12:18 PM »

Quote from: armymanhaha on Dec 13, 2011 at 09:22 PM

Thanks for the reply guys. I posted this topic last October pa. More than double na budget ko ngayon kaya siguro magpagawa nalang ako dun sa contact na binigay nyo sakin

I have AMX Forte Series 2, sayang di ko nabasa agad ang post mo. Sana na-audition mo bago ko kinuha. Ok din sa genres na nabanggit mo.
http://www.pinoydvd.com/index.php/topic,15773.5100.html

Gino · « **Reply #19 on:** Jan 18, 2014 at 12:39 PM »

May false lure ang affordable tube amps. Soon you realize that in this category, you also get what you pay for. That only applies to you if your ears had developed enough exposure and appreciation for the finer nuances of sound reproduction. By "you" I refer to anyone in the mentioned situation.

Know what you want and set a reasonable plan on how to get it.

To the OP, congrats. You found what suited you.

tony · « **Reply #20 on:** Jan 18, 2014 at 04:43 PM »

Quote from: fredreadrick on Jan 18, 2014 at 12:18 PM

I have AMX Forte Series 2, sayang di ko nabasa agad ang post mo. Sana na-audition mo bago ko kinuha. Ok din sa genres na nabanggit mo.
http://www.pinoydvd.com/index.php/topic,15773.5100.html

you can ask Andrew to replace your output transformers with secondaries that can be configured for 1 or 2 ohms or even 4 ohms.....

power alone is not enough, it is the ability to swing output at low ohms is the key...

with the right OPT's there is nothing a solid state amp can do that a tube amp can not,
it is just a matter of getting the hardware right.....

tony · « **Reply #21 on:** Jan 18, 2014 at 04:52 PM »

Quote from: melbourne on Jan 18, 2014 at 11:55 AM

I think its the PSB Synchrony One B. Am I right brader Francis?

6 ohm nominal, 4 ohm minimum....http://www.psbspeakers.com/content/130129093350-13-014_PSB_Synchrony_One_English_Specifications.pdf

wonder why they are building speakers that are challenging for the amps these days....

tony · « **Reply #22 on:** Jan 18, 2014 at 04:54 PM »

Quote from: armymanhaha on Jan 18, 2014 at 07:58 AM

Nag evolve na tastes ko din, In my system, I look for maximum transparency with tonal accuracy. As of now, my current speakers dip below 2ohms so high-current SS amp na ang gamit ko.

sorry what i really wanted to ask is what ss amp are you using now?

Pilyo amps was the first thing that came to mind....

Nelson de Leon · « **Reply #23 on:** Jan 18, 2014 at 05:05 PM »

Quote from: tony on Jan 18, 2014 at 04:52 PM

wonder why they are building speakers that are challenging for the amps these days....

Yan din ata ang tanong ng Klipsch company.

Well, for me, baka dynamics. Masmabilis huminto ang woofer kapag wala nang signal perhaps?

tony · « **Reply #24 on:** Jan 18, 2014 at 05:10 PM »

aba eh dapat i shoot out na yan....

kaya marami rin ang nahuhumaling sa mga FR, hindi matakaw sa amp....

armymanhaha · « **Reply #25 on:** Jan 18, 2014 at 05:43 PM »

Yes, its a humble PSB Synhrony One B. Sorry I meant 'dips below 4-ohms'. I've read in a review somewhere that it does dip below 4ohms. Below 2ohms would be appalling even for a good amp i guess. Sorry I am suffering from a bad hangover today :|

I'm using a fairly reasonable integrated amp: the NAD 375BEE. Planning to get a Plinius pero baka not this year muna, like I mentioned earlier.

I guess speaker designers are taking advantage of the fact that watts are cheap nowadays.

tony · « **Reply #26 on:** Jan 18, 2014 at 05:47 PM »

Quote from: armymanhaha on Jan 18, 2014 at 05:43 PM

Yes, its a humble PSB Synhrony One B. Sorry I meant 'dips below 4-ohms'. I've read in a review somewhere that it does dip below 4ohms. Below 2ohms would be appalling even for a good amp i guess. Sorry I am suffering from a bad hangover today :|

I'm using a fairly reasonable integrated amp: the NAD 375BEE. Planning to get a Plinius pero baka not this year muna, like I mentioned earlier.

I guess speaker designers are taking advantage of the fact that watts are cheap nowadays.

no need to apologize you got it right when you chose an amp with 2 ohm capability.....wise choice...

the NAD 375BEE is a class H type amp, with low program demand, psu rail is low, switching to a higher rail when program demands require.....the technology used in this amp is what we see on professional amps with power in the kilowatt range...it is also efficient..

Quote

POWERDRIVE
To meet the diverse requirements of high current drive and high dynamic power, our patented PowerDrive amplifier circuit will build further on our reputation for amazingly effective power. By adding a second high-voltage rail to our well regulated high-current power supply, we get an "overdrive" that can nearly double the continuous power on a short term dynamic power basis. This is a further development and refinement of our renowned Power Envelope circuit, utilized by NAD in the 80's and 90's. PowerDrive differs from Power Envelope in that it offers greater amplifier stability and low impedance drive capability, resulting in less distortion when driving real speakers with real program material.

like i said in another thread, it is better that you have it and not seem to need it,
than need and not have it.....

rexFi · « **Reply #27 on:** Jan 18, 2014 at 08:29 PM »

^ Ahhh hehe yun pala acronym meaning ng PD nakasulat sa harap ng 375 na amp.

tony · « **Reply #28 on:** Jan 19, 2014 at 08:13 AM »

Quote from: rex.reyes3 on Jan 18, 2014 at 08:29 PM

^ Ahhh hehe yun pala acronym meaning ng PD nakasulat sa harap ng 375 na amp.

to the layman, the description may not be obvious....

high current drive at lower rail voltage is more viable if you want reliability at the same time...
of course high current drive at higher rail voltages are always possible, it can be done...
but the question is "at what price range?" so the the resulting amp is so costly that only
millionaires can afford them....