45 SET amps???

[spkrman57]

Brian,
I browsed your selections. I saw ASL 2A3 SET amps, do you carry any 45 amps, or could the ASL's be configured for 45's????
Ron:(

[BrianB]

Hi Ron,

The new-and-improved ASL Tulip, which has just hit our shores, will accept both 2A3s and 45s without having to make any internal mods - all you need to do is reset the bias. And this little amp sounds SWEET with 45s! You can find it listed in THE AUDIOKARMA SHOP above...

I'll also be getting in my first Yamamoto Sound Craft A-08 45-based SET amps soon, but these will retail for about twice as much as the ASL Tulip.

Cheers,
Brian

[spkrman57]

Thanks Brian,
I was not sure if the output tranny used for the 2A3 would be fine-tuned for the 45 also. I also was looking at the MGSi-15 (KT88 single ended) amp also. I am getting my ideas down so if I take a trip to see the store, I will have done my homework. Sometimes it is easier to make a decision when seeing the amp in person(and listening also) than just a pic and description. I currently am running a Norh SE-9 that just sounds too good for the $400.00 but looking to see other amps I want to try out. I hope after the holidays I can take a trip to Bloomington to visit. It is only around 4 hours from Columbus, Ohio if I am guessing right.
Thanks, Ron

:grnbounce :grnbounce :grnbounce :grnbounce

[BrianB]

Ron, it would be great if you could pay a visit to my little shop in the near future! And yes, Bloomington is about three and a half hours from Columbus.

[gonefishin]

do I hear some audio meetings in the future???

;)

[spkrman57]

GF,
You know that sounds like a great idea. I would like to meet some folks when I make the Bloomington trip. After the holidays(looking at 2004 that is), maybe I can see who wants to travel with me from Ohio for the visit. I am looking at the KT66 single-ended amp with switchable triode/pentode operation. I already own a Norh SE-9 with EL34 single ended output and figure that the ASL might have some better iron for outputs. Hard to tell my girlfriend I am broke when I keep talking about buying new toys.
Regards, Ron

:nutz: :nutz: :nutz: :nutz: :nutz:

[BrianB]

gonefishin: Yes, I'd LOVE to host some organized audio meetings! Let's keep in touch about this...

Ron: You've already accused me of tempting you with too many affordable tube amp alternatives, but here's another line to consider that I will have added to my roster by year's end:

Almarro (http://www.almarro.com)

Happy listening!

[spkrman57]

Brian,
too many amps, so little time and money. Still looking at the MG SI 15 by ASL w/KT66 outputs. If you know anyone who has this unit, I would like to hear opinions.
Thanks, Ron



Maybe a good time when I come over to have a mini-fest.

[BrianB]

Originally posted by spkrman57
Still looking at the MG SI 15 by ASL w/KT66 outputs. If you know anyone who has this unit, I would like to hear opinions.

You mean aside from myself? ;) Well, I believe that 2x6spds also owns the Antique Sound Labs MB SI 15 DT...

[spkrman57]

Brian,
If you own one of these, please give me a quick summary of what you think are the strong points, and the weak points of this amp vs maybe some SET amps you have been exposed to!!! I noticed that this amp like most new build tube amps come with 4 ohm and 8 ohm taps. Don't the manufacturers know that most of us using single-ended tube amps like vintage speakers and most of them ARE 16 ohm. I am currently using my SE-9 amp with 16 ohm drivers on the 8 ohm taps. I can tell at times where the amp has lost loading abilities on certain notes, but not so bad that I quit using my 16 ohms drivers. There are so many advantages to 16 ohms systems, I am waiting for the tube amp manufacturers to come to their senses.
Thanks for listening!!! Please send me your comments!!!
Ron


:)

[Jack G]

His Avatar is a pic of a 45 SET he sells.

>>>Don't the manufacturers know that most of us using single-ended tube amps like vintage speakers and most of them ARE 16 ohm.<<<
I wished someone had told me, since I have 3 sets of SET freindly speakers, and none of them are 16 Ohm. I guess, I'll have to throw them all away now.

Perhaps out of the 5 or 6 SETs I have at home, only one has a 16 Ohm tap. That is my ASL Layla. Perhaps other ASL amps have 16 Ohm amps.

Jack

[spkrman57]

Jack,
I guess what I was saying is that a lot of my collection is 16 ohms drivers and such. I do like the 16 ohm drivers more for their laid back sound, where I have 8 ohm and 16 ohm versions of the same speaker system, i have found that the 8 ohm systems will draw more power, but tend to be more forward than I prefer.

So in essence, I must be part of a small crowd that have more 16 ohm speaker systems than 8 ohm on hand. I prefer the much older vintage systems unless I need concert level performance and bring out the bigger tube amps, but then i am bringing out the newer speaker systems also.

I guess I would like to see 8 ohm and 16 ohm offered than 4 ohm and 8 ohm. Just my 2 cents worth!

Ron

[BrianB]

Originally posted by spkrman57
Brian,
If you own one of these, please give me a quick summary of what you think are the strong points, and the weak points of this amp vs maybe some SET amps you have been exposed to!!! I noticed that this amp like most new build tube amps come with 4 ohm and 8 ohm taps. Don't the manufacturers know that most of us using single-ended tube amps like vintage speakers and most of them ARE 16 ohm. I am currently using my SE-9 amp with 16 ohm drivers on the 8 ohm taps. I can tell at times where the amp has lost loading abilities on certain notes, but not so bad that I quit using my 16 ohms drivers. There are so many advantages to 16 ohms systems, I am waiting for the tube amp manufacturers to come to their senses.
Thanks for listening!!! Please send me your comments!!!

Well, most of the single-ended amps that I've owned or auditioned have cost quite a bit more than the MG SI 15 DT, so the comparisons wouldn't be exactly fair. Nevertheless, I would have to say that this amp's strongest point is its decidedly non-hi-fi sound - sweet, slightly laid-back, and a bit on the warm side. The amp never calls attention to itself, and it's always a pleasure to listen to. It also sounds more immediate and direct than most comparably-priced push-pull tube amps.

In terms of weaknesses, this is by no means the most neutral-sounding single-ended amp I've heard - while its warmth may be quite pleasant, it's still a coloration. And in comparison to pricier single-ended amps sporting massive, ultra-high-quality output transformers, the MG SI 15 DT sounds a bit rolled off at the frequency extremes (although the new version of this amp, with its upgraded transformers, is certainly better in this regard than the old version).

And finally, although the MG SI 15 DT offers a very nice dose of that single-ended "midrange magic", the sound does not have that almost spooky transparency or "inner glow" that only true directly-heated triodes seem to offer...

No, the MG SI 15 DT does not have 16 Ohm taps. However, most of ASL's more expensive integrated and power amps - including the Tulip - do come with 16 Ohm taps.