I've been doing a lot of reading on tube amps lately and I think that I might eventually do a small bedroom tube system when I get a house. The only question I have concerns Single Ended Triode (SET) and Pentode designed amps. From all my reading, the SET is the superior design. The problem is that they're WAY more than I'd ever spend on an amp ($1000 - $3000). On the other hand, many Pentode amps seem to be quite affordable (Antique Sound Labs and Jolida). My question is this. In terms of sound quality, does a SET amp really outperform a Pentode amp enough to justify double and in some cases triple the cost of a Pentode amp? From what I remember reading, SET amps are better at even ordered harmonics and supposedly this is why they give a more musical reproduction of sound. I would love to audition some tube amps to see the difference in sound between the two designs. Sadly, there's nowhere to hear a tube amp around here. *sigh*

Ola ST

I have an Antique Sound Labs MG S1 15DT tube amp, 5 watt per channel in Single End Triode mode, 15 watts per channel in Pentode mode. I've tried both modes, and just leave it set to SET 5 wpc. Sounds better to me - more liquid mids.

I have to say that BigWill did not get a fair dose of SET goodness this past Sunday. My new neighbors (directly from hell) were moving in, making a racket and playing Marriacci music loud on their boom box while we were listening to Loreena McKennett. I should have put in the new Diana Krall CD, sounds incredibly good.

Do Over, BigWill!

BTW, you can pick up a nice MG S1 15DT (integrated so you won't need a separate preamp) for under $700 probably for closer to $600 if you shop well - much less for used.

No pictures? Got to have pictures.

OK, wid

Here's the Antique Sound Labs MG S1 15DT

Now thats better.You da man.

I thought your tube system was pretty excellent, 2x6! The Getz CD was probably not a good choice for demo-ing, but WTF. We should have played one of my discs, but even at that the differences between what I hear at your place and what I hear at mine can always be chalked up to some of the other variables.

After hearing a tube amp, I would not criticize anyone for choosing that type of equipment (though a HT receiver appears to be a way cheaper, more versatile piece of equipment ).

Save that beer for me and I'll pop by again soon.

How about some filets next time? and jumbo shrimp on skewers! JK

I'll save the beer, and fillets if you like, but I'm a tri-tip guy and have given up bottom feeding crustaceans.

2x6spds,
What Axiom speakers are you using with your MGSI 15 DT? Also I was woundering if you personally prefer Tube to SS for Stereo music.
Thanks

You're new around here, aren't you?

You can check out these affordable SET amps.

SE9 $399.98 shipped
SE18 $795 shipped

They also have some new ones coming out soon:

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I know nothing about tubes in general or these particular ones other than having read some good things about them in other forums and reviews. Perhaps a tube expert like 2X6spd has an opion...

Good luck,Jag

Since we're talking tube amps...

How many "TUBE WATTS" would one need to comfortably power a pair of M60's

Thanks, Jag

I'm no tube expert, that's for sure, but I do prefer a good SET tube amp for stereo music listening. I've litened to both M3Tis and M22Tis with this 5 wpc tube amp, and I think the M3s are a great match. I currently use a pair of M50 like Michaura M66s and think they are a magical match for the ASL MG S1 15DT, same for the Michaura M55s (very much like the M22Tis). I've tried both M22s and M50s with the 5 wpc tubie and interestingly, neither is magical match. Dunno why.

I haven't listened to the nOhr tube amps, but Enjoy the Music a decent reviewer didn't like the SE9. http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/archives/

Kcarlile,
I've been around this board for a long time mostly reading Posts, not posting unless I have a significant question or answer that needes to be addressed.

Jag,
Thanks for the information I appreciate it.

I believe kcarlie was making an attempt at humor so don't be offended. It's hard to get 2x6 to shut up about his "Axiom-like Micauras".
Seriously, though they sound alot like Axioms but with a more subdued tweeter and possibly a little less upper midrange. They look great with their high gloss finishes - maybe Axiom should make the high gloss finish a std feature?

Dry humor... gets me in trouble all the time. Yeah, I was joking about 2x6 being a tube aficianado. He is. Very much so.

Didn't mean to make you feel unwelcome or anything like that.

Kcarlile,
I was not upset I was just making a statement. I am curious how the Antique Sound Labs MG SI 15DT sounds with M80Ti'S? Thanks

Lee, since no tube experts have addressed your specific question, and since the application of basic audio engineering principles should be adequate, I'll give it a try. The bottom line would be that although the 15DT can't of course improve the sound of your M80s(despite the fact that it uses Russian KT 88s, Rachmaninoff won't sound any better), neither is it likely that it would be audibly degraded at moderate listening levels. Although the 15DT has an extremely low damping factor of about 1.3(compared to typically around 100 for solid state amps), as speaker designer Dick Pierce explains in this excellent article,even such a low factor has relatively small negative effects. This would especially be the case when a speaker has a relatively flat impedance curve(as the NRC results show for the M80)and the amp wouldn't have to "follow" it much up and down.

Of course there's a possible distortion problem with low powered SETs if an attempt would be made to play at very high levels(see the discussion by John Murphy linked in an earlier reply). However, 5 watts is adequate most of the time(1 watt supplies a comfortably loud basic level)and distortion wouldn't be a significant problem if the listening is confined to moderate levels with material that doesn't have a very wide dynamic range.