Is anybody using tubes with their RM 40's?

zybar · « **on:** 15 Nov 2003, 04:12 pm »

I am contemplating getting the RM 40's (first I need to find a local person in the NYC area so I can hear them)...

Is anybody using tubes to runn them?

If so, are you using tubes full range or bi-amping?

I currently have Kora Cosmos Reference mono blocs which are 100 watt class triode. Not sure if these will work with the RM 40's in a full range config.

Also, how low does the impedance on the 40's go? I don't think these amps are going to like things much below 4 ohms.

Thanks,

George

ekovalsky · « **Reply #1 on:** 15 Nov 2003, 04:56 pm »

Nice setup there!

I use solid state but your tube amps are excellent and should work well. I don't think impedance of the 40's drops significantly below for 4 ohms. You could use the Koras full range, but if you have a way to match levels they would best be used for the mid/treble with a solid state brute on the bottom end.

You have a dealer in NYC. I know he has the RM/x and may have 40's too. Even if he has sold the 40's there should be enough of a family resemblence for you to make a decision.

ROOP Audio Labs LLC
150 Spring St. Floor 4
New York, NY 10012
(vists are by appointment only, please)

telephone
vox: 212.925.9448 Monday-Saturday 8a-6p
fax: 212.925.1513
email
technical support: support@roopaudiolabs.com
general knowledge: inquiry@roopaudiolabs.com

warnerwh · « **Reply #2 on:** 15 Nov 2003, 10:02 pm »

I believe the minimum impedance of the 40's is 3.5 or 3.6 ohms. You can ask Brian what he thinks if you're still nervous.

John Casler · « **Reply #3 on:** 16 Nov 2003, 01:48 am »

Hey George,

I beleive Kevin (in FLA I think) is using the Koras (although they might be the larger ones) and he swears by them.

I wouldn't doubt but he'll see this thread and jump in.

I think his screen name is Meilekev or something like that.

zybar · « **Reply #4 on:** 16 Nov 2003, 01:51 am »

Mine are the large ones...

meilankev · « **Reply #5 on:** 16 Nov 2003, 05:33 am »

Hello George.

What John said is true (thanks for the intro, John). I own KORA Cosmos monoblocks (without the reference upgrade), and I have RM40s (w/ TRT cap upgrade). I feel they match very well together - certainly in a smallish listening room like mine (16'W x 15'D x 8'H - completely enclosed).

The RM40s replaced Thiel CS-3.5 speakers in my main system, and betters them (in my system) in almost every possible way. I still own the Thiels (relegated to my wife's DVD/Karaoke system), as I think they can be a wonderful speaker.

AS to trying amps in my system, I haven't kept my head in the sand - I have had friends bring over 3 different SS amps to try in my system, but the KORAs were just better. Those amps were :
> Audire Audio Parlando (the best of the bunch)
> Classe' Audio CA-301
> McIntosh 225W amp (I don't recall the model)

I even tried biamping with the McIntosh amp - I spent 2 days tweaking the sound to wring the best out of the KORA/McIntosh combo. But the McIntosh owner and myself both felt the RM40s sounded best (in my system) with no SS equipment in the path. Note that I use a KORA Eclipse as my preamp.

I've written my impressions of my system many times, so I don't want to bore the other readers by repeating myself yet again. Feel free to e-mail me, and I can go into detail about how I feel the RM40s match with KORA equipment. And I am not alone - the most recent visitor from the Tampa audiophile club posted (on Home Theater Talk) that my system is simply the best system he has ever heard - at any price.

Also, if you live in NYCity, there is a VMPS RM40 owner who posts here named JoshK, who used tubes full-range for a time (before switching over to SS full-range). His experiences could be beneficial to you - he could inform you why he preferred a SS amp. And of course, he could help balance out my biased viewpoint. Who know, perhaps you could lug the KORA stuff over to his house for a listen (remembering to adjust all variables on the RM40s away from his current settings for his SS amp).

Let me know how I can help. Good luck to you.
Kevin

John Casler · « **Reply #6 on:** 16 Nov 2003, 07:07 am »

Hi Kev,

Sorry for not getting your screen name correct.

I've seen it many times, but never written it.

Glad you saw the thread. I knew you'd have valuable input

meilankev · « **Reply #7 on:** 17 Nov 2003, 11:49 am »

John,

No problem on the screen name - it's not something that would be easy to remember. Actually the screen name comes from combining my wife's name (Mei-Lan) to mine. Hence, the impossible-to-spell "meilankev".

Kevin

JLM · « **Reply #8 on:** 24 Nov 2003, 11:49 am »

My local VMPS dealer swears by tubes, but there is no (really NO) support for tubes in our backwards neck of the woods.

So I've never heard them on tubes.

With all the tube interest in SETs the development of high quality, yet reasonably priced 50 - 100 wpc tube amps seems somewhat limited.

JLM · « **Reply #9 on:** 24 Nov 2003, 11:51 am »

My local VMPS dealer swears by tubes, but there is no (really NO) support for tubes in our backwards neck of the woods.

So I've never heard them on tubes.

With all the tube interest in SETs the development of high quality, yet reasonably priced 50 - 100 wpc tube amps seems somewhat limited.

audiochef · « **Reply #10 on:** 25 Nov 2003, 04:05 am »

Tube preamp. Audible Illusions L1 /caps switched off.

I feel this is as dramatic as power amp. I've had ss preamps in the set up , no comparison in open and sweetness.