AudioCircle
Industry Circles => Salk Signature Sound => Topic started by: TKonrad.NOLA on 25 Mar 2020, 12:44 am
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I am seriously thinking about making my next amp a tube amp and thinking of going with a Rogue Cronus III or Primaluna. Thoughts? Recommendations
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I have the Vinnie Rossi LIO with Directly Heated Triodes (TAK 300B’s) in the preamp stage, the. 25wpc mosfet output stage. All I can say is WOW. Very musical and drives my Salk Songtower RT’s just fine and I have a room on the large side with 12ft ceilings.
For reference before I had a modwright swl 9.0 pre and PS Audio BKH250 which was a very solid combo. There is of course a high degree of subjectivity in folks preferences and for certain things I may prefer the slam of the BHK250. But I really have never been happier with my setup than I am now with the LIO DHT integrated.
I was a hardcore separatist for years but I got tired of all the wires and component matching and generally wanted to simplify. I know sometimes that part is half the fun, but I wanted to get dialed in and explore and discover music and stop tinkering with tweaks in my system. I’m certain the tweak bug will come back but this integrated with the 300B’s should keep me on the straight an narrow far longer than any previous system.
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I am seriously thinking about making my next amp a tube amp and thinking of going with a Rogue Cronus III or Primaluna. Thoughts? Recommendations
I used a Primaluna Dialogue One (original Dialogue series) with my Song3's and loved it. Upgraded to a Line Magnetic LM508 and its even better. I highly recommend either brand. I also know Jim uses a McGary tube amp, but I don't think its an integrated.
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I've used a Rogue Cronos Magnum integrated amp with my HT@-TL speakers with excellent results. The amp uses 4 KT120 tubes and produces about 90 watts/channel.
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I'm waiting for my first pair of Salk SS6Ms. I'm investigating amps. I started with the presumption of integrated and read a bunch. The Rogue Sphinx and Vincent 237 seemed like affordable ways to do tube/solid state. I didn't investigate much further, but the McIntosh MA252 is another along these lines.
Those interested in an amazing deal right now should take a look at Cary Audio. They cut prices by thousands on the SLI-100, from $6k to $3500. I'm very, very tempted. There are similar deals.
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I am seriously thinking about making my next amp a tube amp and thinking of going with a Rogue Cronus III or Primaluna. Thoughts? Recommendations
Sorry to post so blatantly off topic...I saw the headline topic and didn't read the full OP :duh:. My bad - good luck in your search!
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I'm waiting for my first pair of Salk SS6Ms. I'm investigating amps. I started with the presumption of integrated and read a bunch. The Rogue Sphinx and Vincent 237 seemed like affordable ways to do tube/solid state. I didn't investigate much further, but the McIntosh MA252 is another along these lines.
Those interested in an amazing deal right now should take a look at Cary Audio. They cut prices by thousands on the SLI-100, from $6k to $3500. I'm very, very tempted. There are similar deals.
A VG synergy should be had with the Carey. Decisions, decisions. NOT a Carey dealer.
charles
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VG = very good?
Are you saying
(a) a very good synergy SHOULD be achieved with Salk/Cary
or
(b) a very good synergy WOULD be achieved with Salk/Cary?
One is a prescription, the other is a prediction. Which did you mean?
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Think I am going to order the Primaluna EVO 300.
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What lead you to that choice? Runners up?
Anyone try the Basie integrated by Erhard? Seems like a sweet little integrated.
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I’ve been using an Audio Research VS115 tube amp for 10 years with my Salk’s with great results. My first pair were HT2-TL. I recently picked up the new SS 9.5 speakers. The ARC 115 seems to be a good match so far. I’m in NOLA also. Once all the madness settles down here in town you’d be welcome to come check it out
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So nice of you to offer!
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In a word “is.”
As in, there is VG (very good) synergy with Salk/Cary?
SQ is spectacular with my Cary SLP-05 and Rogue M180 monos. Pick one or both and they go great with HT2-TL‘s
Previously, I had the good Song Towers in Hell Fire Red. Beautiful. Great sound
If you really want to dig deep, throw a Rythmik into the mix and you’ll be happy for years to come
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Thanks for clarifying and for the additional info.
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I'm waiting for my first pair of Salk SS6Ms. I'm investigating amps. I started with the presumption of integrated and read a bunch. The Rogue Sphinx and Vincent 237 seemed like affordable ways to do tube/solid state. I didn't investigate much further, but the McIntosh MA252 is another along these lines.
Those interested in an amazing deal right now should take a look at Cary Audio. They cut prices by thousands on the SLI-100, from $6k to $3500. I'm very, very tempted. There are similar deals.
Thanks for this. I assumed that Cary would be out of my price range. I am giving them a call tomorrow.
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Let us know how it goes!
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Let us know how it goes!
Ordered and SLI-100 in Black. Now I wait.
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Hope it goes well. Cheers and happy listening!
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Is there any experience with the Raven Avian series of integrated amps driving Salk speakers? Reviews of these integrated amps are uniformly good, though comparatively scarce. The Avian series is pretty low in terms of rated power output (20 for the Nighthawk and Blackhawk or 30 Watts for the Osprey) but they do seem to perform more powerfully than the ratings would indicate.
I am thinking about one of these (or an off-topic SS Wells Majestic) to replace the Parasound Halo to drive my Song3s.
Stay safe, all.
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Hi Folks,
Has anyone experience with any of McIntosh's series of integrated amps driving Salk speakers? I own the Sound Scape 8s and have been reading up on the MA 352 integrated (am mostly interested in this model). I like the idea of the tube pre and SS amplifier, anyone have experience with this integrated in particular? There is a place in Ann Arbor, about 80 minutes away from me, they have this model in their showroom so there's always that.
Jeff
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Jeff,
I used a MAC6700 when I had SS8's. I'd been through 4 or 5 Pass amps before I got it. I really liked it as it had a built in DAC. It sounded good with the SS8's, and of course had the VU meters! I'd always wanted to own a McIntosh and that was my fix. I still look at them (am right now in fact along with Pass again) but whenever I think about getting one I remember how much they weigh! I'm sure the Mac will match well with your SS8's.
John
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I had a tube pre-amp made by Gary Dodd, the battery powered one, and solid state amps, Symphonic Line mono 400's powering HT3's and it sounded glorious. Gary asked if I would sell him the pre-amp back and since he was dying at the time I did.
A tube pre and nice solid state amps is a good combo best of luck, hope you find that integrated.
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Anyone have any experience with the Salks and (a) Pass (b) Sugden (c) Belles (d) First Watt? I would pair these with a Quicksilver tube line stage. Thanks.
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Depends on which Salk. One size doesn't fit all.
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Good point. I am merely curious for anyone with any Salk who has some comparison experience with any of those amps. I'm looking for commentary about differences between the amps, especially, but any interesting observations will be good to hear.
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My only offering in this regard. I drove the original Songtowers for years with a Latino ST70. Eventually added an ACI Titan sub to the mix. A general rule of thumb. (but still painting with a wide brush) The 2-way Salk's have a great chance to work quite well with tubes. The more complex 3-ways, probably solid state would be a better choice. Looks like most of your choices except Belles are lower power class A designs. There's a case where you might prefer the less complex load of a 2-way, but once again, just a guess. I have nothing but tube amps these days, so I'm stuck in the mindset of seeking out speakers with fairly benign impedance curves that stay nicely above 4 ohms. Given those parameters, however, I believe about any amp will give you the best it has to offer.
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Should probably mention that efficiency is also a key parameter if your choices lean to 20-25 watt class A designs.
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Thank you kindly, Mick. I'm happy with my tube amps and the Salks work well with them. I was thinking that there's a certain magic my speakers might exhibit with good quality class A power; something to swap in and out for variety, and I've never heard them myself. Hearing a bit about them is a way toward understanding their character, vis a vis my 87 db Salk SS 6Ms.
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Should be fine, but really depends on how big the room and how loud you listen. In a perfect world, maybe find an in home addition for one of your candidates. Although not listed and it's defined as quasi-class A, the Schiit Aegir could be a possibility. Plus they offer a 15 day audition period.