Re: M80V2 and Tube Amps.........
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,236
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,236 |
I agree with 2x6 completely and would add that the biggest difference I hear when switching back and forth is usually in percussion instruments.
M3 and M80
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Re: M80V2 and Tube Amps.........
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,210
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,210 |
John, that McIntosh MC275 tube amp is really nice.
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Re: M80V2 and Tube Amps.........
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 853
aficionado
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aficionado
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 853 |
Hey Rick, the McIntosh MC275 is one of the all time great classic amps judging by the length of time its been in production. Its a great amp to use with the M80s especially when listening to strings or female vocals. I prefer it with Classical music or jazz. Its bass reproduction is pretty good for a tube amp because of its high input impedance but still not as good as most SS amps.
The big downside of tube gear is maintenance. Failing or noisey tubes can be a PITA. I've found that Telefunken tubes sound best in the Macs and are more reliable.
John
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Re: M80V2 and Tube Amps.........
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,210
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,210 |
John I listened to that amp along with some McIntosh speakers and I have never heard BB King sound so good, the $7,500 price tag for the system was *the* only thing holding me back.
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Re: M80V2 and Tube Amps.........
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 853
aficionado
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aficionado
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 853 |
The MC275 is built like a tank that lasts forever. New ones are too pricey. I've seen used MC275s change hands for around $2500 on audiogon. A similar sounding tube amp is the more powerful MC2102 which uses much of the same design as the MC275 and comes with those great blue metres. The Mac speakers are OK but way overpriced IMO. For price/performance the Axioms are much better performers. I'd bet dollars to donuts BB King plays Lucille better with the MC275 driving the M80s.
John
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Re: M80V2 and Tube Amps.........
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,210
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,210 |
Oh I would imagine that would be a nice combination indeedy, I think I saw a used MC275 for $3,600 a while back, what do they run brand new?
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Re: M80V2 and Tube Amps.........
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 853
aficionado
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aficionado
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 853 |
Around $4500 new and half that used. There are a few available asking $2350 on audiogon.
John
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Re: M80V2 and Tube Amps.........
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,488
axiomite
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axiomite
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,488 |
"Telefunken" is still one of the greatest words ever.
The M80's are already pre-wired for biamping, right?
Couldn't a person drive the woofers with a SS amp and the rest of the network with a pretty modestly-powered tube amp and get what they're after?
bibere usque ad hilaritatem
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Re: M80V2 and Tube Amps.........
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,569
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,569 |
Couldn't a person drive the woofers with a SS amp and the rest of the network with a pretty modestly-powered tube amp and get what they're after?
That would be an interesting thing to try.
3M80 2M22 6QS8 2M2 1EP500 Sony BDP-S590 Panny-7000 Onkyo-3007 Carada-134 Xbox Buttkicker AS-EQ1
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Re: M80V2 and Tube Amps.........
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,654
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,654 |
Tom, if you're thinking that the bass frequencies necessarily use the most power, that isn't the case; frequency isn't a factor in power requirements. It's simply a question of sound level, and although a bass passage may often be the loudest, this isn't necessarily the case and recordings differ in the distribution of maximum sound levels between frequency ranges. For a simple example, consider that a big double bass playing its lowest 41Hz note at a 70dB loudness level requires a tenth of the power to reproduce it that a little violin playing a 410Hz note at 80dB would need.
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Enjoy the music, not the equipment.
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