New amp for ht & 2ch

[ezc]

I have been looking for that sound that I wanted from my system, tried different sources, cables,& tweak. I just couldnt get my LSi15 to give me the sound I was searching for. Just purchased a Balanced Audio Tech. BAT VK60 tube amp for the front mains. The sound is very very very close to what I have been searching for! Yes tube amp for HT & 2ch. I have never heard my 15's sound soo good. I have tried some SS amps & the sound was better than direct from my Rotel RSX 1065, but not anywhere close to the BAT. The BAT has given my a much wider, taller, & deeper with more air around each instrument & more dynamic during HT. 60 watt tube amp has no problem driving the 15's at reference 85db & still have 20+db head room. The improvement is like the system just got diled in & the cloud infront of the 15's has been lifted. This has been the best upgrade in the past 2 years.

[F1nut]

Hmmmmm....VK60, nice amp!

[dorokusai]

A SS slave finally finds value in tubes ;) I will presume you don't read much here Ace.....where have you been hiding?

[organ]

Welcome to the world of tubes. Watch out, there's no going back. Wait until you get a tube pre in the chain. Congrats on your new amp. Glad you're enjoying it so much.

Maurice

[ezc]

Doro,

Been busy at work & havnt had time to log on daily. I was almost ready to sell my LSi's, I just couldnt find the sound I was looking for. But after breaking down & going tube I finally found what I wanted! Redbook cd have now come to life & dvd's sound much more full! I liked the ease of use of a SS amp, trigger input & output & low maint. I didnt want to use tubes beacuse it makes my system slightly harder to use. With tubes there is no just puch one button to turn on the whole system. With tubes I need to power the system than manually turn on the amp & let it warm up till the led's are on than start using the system. I guess its a trade off much better sound but more steps to turn the system on. My wife still needs to learn how to use the system! By having the system turn on with one button it couldnt be easier to use. But as you can see I picked quality over ease of use! Hope the WAF dosnt bite me in the ass with this upgrade!

[jrlouie]

This is an interesting read for me. I have an Lsi setup and for the most part, when reading anything about tubes, I just somewhat let it go in one ear and out the other because I've always read that the Lsi's need lots of current/power wherein SS provides better than tubes.
Maybe this ideology isn't always true? Sounds like you really like your tubes.
I've often thought about getting a tube pre (to allow for SS amplification but "tube" sound), but just never bit the bullet. Always that thought, "do I really need that?"

[dorokusai]

A couple of those suggestions about power come from those who never had adequate power in the first place....it's about quality, not quantity.

I personally prefer a Tube/SS combination....tube warmth on the output stage, and hardcore SS power....never fails.

[reeltrouble1]

Originally posted by dorokusai

I personally prefer a Tube/SS combination....tube warmth on the output stage, and hardcore SS power....never fails. [/B]

This WORKS for me.

RT1

[jmierzur]

Originally posted by dorokusai
A couple of those suggestions about power come from those who never had adequate power in the first place....it's about quality, not quantity.

Thanks for saying this. It would be nice if more understood this concept.

[Zero]

Tubes are good - they have their benefits thats for sure.

That VK-60 is a serious amplifier you got there. Congrats on a remarkable piece. Did you happen to buy this from Audio Lab ?

[ezc]

I purchased the 60 from a friend who was using it for 2ch. My initial intention was to use it for a dedicated 2ch system but after installing to my system I think it will stay there & be used for 2ch, dvd, sacd, & dvda. What I did notice is I cant plug the amp into my Monster htps7000 power cond. When plugged in to the 7000 the sound stage shrinks, starts to sound harsh, & the top end becomes grainy. I also tried plugging directly into a regular outlet & it was about the same as plugging into the HTPS 7000 may be just slightly better. Plugged into a dedicated outlet audio outlet the amp just sings! Dedicated outlet is 30amp breaker with duel romex 10 awg & wattgate 381 outlet. This amp likes current & if you give it what it wants it sings! Pic of one of the dedicated outlets being installed. I would like to change all the wires to stranded 10awg in the future to all my dedicated outlets.

[Tour2ma]

Originally posted by ezc
Plugged into a dedicated outlet audio outlet the amp just sings! Dedicated outlet is 30amp breaker with duel romex 10 awg & wattgate 381 outlet. This amp likes current & if you give it what it wants it sings!

30 ampere Dual 10 AWG... LOL... IF that doesn't satisfy it...

Was just looking at your V60's brochure on the BAT website and noted its "Power Supply Energy Storage" spec: 450 joules! That's in the same league as my 5 x 400 wpc Sunfire and it's in "a little" 60 wpc stereo amp.

If you're in the mood, it might be interesting to hear how your old SS amp performs on this circuit, but I suspect you'd run back to the BAT post-haste... ;)

[ezc]

Tour,

I have tried my SS amps plugged directly into one of the dedicated dedicated circuits. Yes it is better than being plugged into a regular home circuit or the HTPS 7000, But I still dont get the sound that I want from my system. With the vk60 its like everything clears up from lower vol to higher vol. The tubes sound much warmer & not as harsh as the SS amps Ihave tried. I know one thing for sure, any amp or system will sound better with dedicated outlets one for each price of equipment, & sound even better & better as more cable is used. In the future the next upgrade is a dedicated 100 amp sub panel next to the system & I will run four 10awg cables to each outlet, either 4 10awg romex or best would be 4 hot 4 neut & 1 ground (total 9ea 10awg wires) stranded 10 awg wire to each outlet. Right now I have only two romex 10awg to each outlet. My system is kinda like my race car the faster I want to go the more fuel (electricity)is needed, bigger fuel line or more wire to the outlets! The search continues for better picture & sound!

[jmierzur]

Interesting future upgrade plans. Just curious, what you are planning on running off a 100 amp sub-pannel?

[mantis]

Nice man,

I'm still liking that Rotel rsx1065 you got there. I love that piece.
Thats the receiver that started my love for Rotel.

Dan

[ezc]

Thanks Dan The Rotel has been a very very good receiver! Its just time to try & find a better sound for my system. Once I put the panel in it will be dedicated for my AV system only. Each peice of gear will have its own outlet. I already have the panel which is a small comercial GE panel. Still debating on building an extension which would be a dedicated media room, If we decide to go that way the panel will go into the media room, if not it will go into the existing room. One thing I have proved over & over for the best preformance you need good electricity and plenty of it!