[Cheers!]

Perhaps my question is too specific and may not get an answer... But I'm on the hunt for my 1st pair of Hi-Fi speakers. My best buy clearance home theater package just plainly sucks... It's fine for movies and hockey but that's it.

I have my eye set on:

-Mapletree Audio's Stealth 60 EL34 Tube amplifier with their preamp.
-Marantz CD5001 cd player
-and a pair of speakers...

I would like something that performs well with jazz with a fairly detailed sound. I started a post over at the "Two-channel Audio" circle (http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=34299.0)

Fellow forum members suggest I venture over here to Ellis Audio and do some researching. I'm a 100% DIY guy, graduated with a bachelor's of applied science in engineering physics and electrical engineering. I plan on getting cabinets from http://www.diyspeakercabinets.com/ and building the rest of the speaker myself.

My question is... How will the Ellis 1801s sound playing jazz with a tube setup fed by a CD player and/or mp3s? with the occasional rock/alternative song mixed in?

Thanks,
Jason

[DavidS]

Cheers

I have Ellis speakers.  Used to run a mapletree preamp (2ase) with a Jolida 100 cdp into my Ellis' and thought the sound was pretty good especially for price of the mapletree.  I find the Ellis speakers very detailed and true to the source and therefore a nice combination with tube gear.  I have since upgraded and no comparison now with Modwright Sony player and Audio Note preamp.  My experience is the Ellis speakers will just get better the better gear you can throw at it...I have been thinking for two years about upgrading my PS Audio amp but can't make up my mind about what to try. 

Didn't know Mapletree made an amp - I run my Ellis' with 150 watts and think they do well with lots of power (have heard them with lots of other amps as well).  I have a new Audio Zone Amp 1 that is only 40 watts per side that I am using to run more efficient speakers (Audio Note) in a 2nd pc based system that I need to try with the Ellis' to see how they do with less power.  Dave Ellis seems to think the speakers need at least 50-70 watts although if mostly small scale music in a smaller room less power would probably still give you the detail you want just less bass and dynamics than I get.

David

[David Ellis]

Thanks for the query.

Regarding amplifier flavors, I suggest you read this string.  It's quite long, but there is some fairly solid commentary therein:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=11808.0

I generally recommend @35wpc tube (i.e. El34 Push Pull) or 60wpc SS.  IMO, Good quality amps are better than high wattage amps.  I used a Jolida 302b for @ 3 years with very good satisfaction.  I currently use a 55wpc AKSA or Golden Tube SE40SE (40wpc).

My question is... How will the Ellis 1801s sound playing jazz with a tube setup fed by a CD player and/or mp3s? with the occasional rock/alternative song mixed in?

Jazz - yes, yes, yes

Rock - maybe

Alternative - it depends

The 1801 is a low distortion speaker.  The difference between mediocre and good recordings will be very obvious.  I still listen to an occasional pop-music recording.  The toe-tapping happens initially, then the reality of the grunge sets-in after a few songs.  The music that daily remains in my CD player is the good stuff.

Dave