Good speaker for new tube setup

mca · « **on:** 30 Jul 2003, 12:53 am »

Hi all! I am new here, but have been reading this site for quite some time now. From some of the great things that I have read, I just made the switch from solid state to a new Dodd Audio 50wpc tube integrated. The amp finally arrived and is quite a beauty! Now it's time to start looking for a great pair of speakers to mate up with it. I will be using the system for a lot of late night low level listening, but I also get the urge to crank it when the music calls for it! Not sure if I want to go with a full range higher sensitivity floorstander, or try the standmount/subwoofer route? I do like my bass and like to listen to a wide variety of music. Any suggestions would be appreciated! Almost forgot, I would like to stay in the 2 - 2.5k range.

Hantra · « **Reply #1 on:** 30 Jul 2003, 01:13 am »

Cain and Cain's Abby is the best speaker I have ever heard in that range, or even near it. . . Fantastic dynamics, and smooth, sweet BIG sound. Not too smooth, not too bright. . . It's a very very nice imager, and very sensitive. . .

Go hear if you can!

B

gld · « **Reply #2 on:** 30 Jul 2003, 02:11 am »

You should try Danny's Delucio's, they are awsome with this amp. Give Danny at GR a call and audition a pair.
gl

bubba966 · « **Reply #3 on:** 30 Jul 2003, 02:27 am »

Well, I always hear the VMPS 626R sounds best when run on tubes. I've yet to see/hear a pair yet. So I can't relay any personal experiences with them.

BikeWNC · « **Reply #4 on:** 30 Jul 2003, 02:42 am »

Sorry this is OT, but I'd really like to hear about that amp. How does it compare with your old amp? What speakers do you have with it now? I've been really tempted to give it a try.

Andy

Sedona Sky Sound · « **Reply #5 on:** 30 Jul 2003, 02:55 am »

I brought my VMPS 626Rs to the last Lonestar Bottlehead meet and they actualy handled tubes better than I thought. Most of the time it was hooked to the 8 watt SET X-amp. At slightly higher volumes it sucked the amp dry but for most music it was nice (mids were great but the 8 watts just wasn't enough to control the bass IMHO. Most of the tube guys thought the bass was fine however). Your 50W Dodd should handle the 626R pretty well. Here are a few pics:

http://www.wardsweb.org/LSB/06-07-03/SA.html

Julian
www.sedonaskysound.com

mca · « **Reply #6 on:** 30 Jul 2003, 03:54 am »

Thanks for the info so far. The Abby looks like a pretty interesting speaker and I hope to track it down somewhere to get a listen.
I started off with a Creek 5350SE and did not like the sound at all, then I moved up to a Unison Research Unico. Things got better, but it still lacked that sweet midrange that I was after. The Dodd overall sounds the best yet, great detail, great midrange and suprisingly good bass for tubes. A little bright, but the tubes are brand new and the amp itself has about 120 hours on it so far. I do notice the 30 watt difference as the Dodd does not seem to play as loud as the Unico. It is also a great looking amp, it's pretty mesmerising sitting in the dark looking at that great tube glow. I also had Gary add a remote volume control, that was a must since I'm always fussing with the volume!
Right now I am using Vienna Acoustics Mozarts, I bought them about a year ago (before I found this site) and never really liked them. To me, they have always sounded lifeless and a little thin. They are supposed to be rated down to 35 hz, but they don't sound like they get anywhere close to that. They are also rated at 90 db sensitivity. so I figure something around 92 db or up should give me the additional volume that I am looking for.

Tyson · « **Reply #7 on:** 30 Jul 2003, 05:10 am »

The 626R's w/tubes sound amazing. Among the best soundstage and palpable presence I've ever heard. They are super transparent to boot, and the ones w/the auricap upgrade are dynamic as all get out.

BikeWNC · « **Reply #8 on:** 30 Jul 2003, 05:28 am »

mca,

I currently have VA Mozarts, but will get a pair of GR Diluceos very soon. I can give you a comparison when they come. One thing about the Mozarts is they tend to really like power. They came to life when I added Odyssey Extreme Monos to the system. They are on the laid-back side though. In my room, I wouldn't call them thin and I have measured bass to 35 Hz. I found the Mozarts can be difficult to place to achieve good focus and coherence. I did like the GR Criterions over the Mozarts and I expect the Diluceos will be even better.

Here is my Criterion and Mozart comparison.

[/url]http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=2046[url]

Al Garay · « **Reply #9 on:** 30 Jul 2003, 05:32 am »

If you are interested in DIY, consider some of Dennis Murphy's designs, such as:

Usher 2-way (kit around $350)
http://murphyblaster.com/content.php?f=usher2way.html
http://www.madisound.com/cgi-bin/discuss.cgi?read=261215
http://www.euphase.com/default.asp

Ellis Audio 1801 (kit around $700)
http://www.ellisaudio.com
He has a forum here in AudioCircle.

Jim Salk's Veracity (not a kit yet) uses Seas Excel W18EX001 and G2 tweeter
http://www.audiodiycentral.com

If you are set on having really high SPL, check out www.e-speakers.com. Andre has very nice kits using PHL, Focal, ESG, Raven, etc.

Al

Double Ugly · « **Reply #10 on:** 30 Jul 2003, 06:27 am »

I'm new here as well, but if you can go just a bit higher ($2,850), I'd give the Gibbon 8 serious consideration:

Here's a recent article from MSNBC: http://msnbc.com/news/943606.asp?0cv=CB20&cp1=1

And the manufacturer's website where you'll find links to a couple of fairly compelling reviews: http://www.devorefidelity.com/

DU

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #11 on:** 30 Jul 2003, 08:11 am »

Quote from: Sedona Sky Sound

I brought my VMPS 626Rs to the last Lonestar Bottlehead meet and they actualy handled tubes better than I thought. Most of the time it was hooked to the 8 watt SET X-amp. At slightly higher volumes it sucked the amp dry but for most music it was nice (mids were great but the 8 watts just wasn't enough to control the bass IMHO. Most of the tube guys thought the bass was fine however). Your 50W Dodd should handle the 626R pretty well. Here are a few pics:

http://www.wardsweb.org/LSB/06-07-03/SA.html

Julian
www.sedonaskysound.com

Very good quality photos !! THANKS ! !

Mad DOg · « **Reply #12 on:** 30 Jul 2003, 09:24 am »

If you're considering monitors, I would highly recommend a pair of Onix Reference 1s from www.av123.com. I started off with solid state on these and thought they were simply amazing only to realize that they respond absolutely incredible to tubes!

jackman · « **Reply #13 on:** 30 Jul 2003, 05:14 pm »

I'd check with Danny at GR Research. He has as much experience with Dodd amps as anyone. I bet his Criterions would sound very good with that amp. Also, you may want to test out some crossverless speakers from Omega. Lou has a great return policy and makes some beautiful speakers. For your budget, you could probably get some top of the line Omegas and have money left over for a nice sealed, powered sub or even a VMPS sub. Just a thought.

Jack

mca · « **Reply #14 on:** 31 Jul 2003, 08:19 pm »

Just wondering, with all the great talk about VMPS speakers on this forum and all the awards they had received at the CES shows, why are there no reviews in print or in the online mags?
Another speaker line that I have read about and sounds to be a good match with tubes is Coincident Technology. Anyone have any experience with these speakers?

Sedona Sky Sound · « **Reply #15 on:** 31 Jul 2003, 11:56 pm »

Hello mca,
There are actually quite a few very flattering reviews of the VMPS speakers:

http://www.vmpsaudio.com/wulf.htm
http://www.iar-80.com/page47.html
http://www.vmpsaudio.com/listener.htm

There are also several more for the older VMPS designs. Brian has mentioned that several reviews are currently in the works as well.

Julian
www.sedonaskysound.com

BikeWNC · « **Reply #16 on:** 1 Aug 2003, 12:32 am »

From what I've read about Coincident Tech speakers, they are made for tubes. They are about 14 ohm/95 db/w/m up and down the model line. I think they would really work well with low powered tube amps.