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Post by ajski2fly on Aug 12, 2021 7:55:36 GMT
A friend currently has Tannoy Kensington GRs being driven by 300b SET Valve amp, having heard my system with the Krell amp he now feels that the bottom end is a bit “woolly” in his. I take this to mean his amp is loosing control of the drivers and is struggling with the Tannoys.
I have suggested he tries various amps, but his dealer has pointed him down the road of a not inexpensive KT120 integrated valve amp. I know this will have more power output, but I am not convinced it will have the necessary damping for the Tannoys and may be a repeat of the above but a slightly different sonic flavour.
Any advice/views would be appreciated, if you have a pair of Kensington’s what do you use?
thanks in advance.
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Post by MartinT on Aug 12, 2021 8:51:54 GMT
For tight control of big bass drivers, you need a good solid-state power amp, not valves.
It's about current delivery, not just big power. That's where my Belles SA-100 wins.
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Post by julesd68 on Aug 12, 2021 9:54:28 GMT
Yes SS amp preferable but otherwise Radford STA25 is a classic combo if tubes a must.
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Post by ajski2fly on Aug 12, 2021 13:54:55 GMT
Thanks Martin, as I thought, I have passed it onto to my friend.
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Post by ajski2fly on Aug 12, 2021 13:57:43 GMT
Yes SS amp preferable but otherwise Radford STA25 is a classic combo if tubes a must. Jules, thanks for your reply, as I thought a SS would be best, I am trying get him to borrow a good SS at the same time he has the valve amp on loan, then he can compare side by side, at least he will be able to hear the difference and how they work with his Tannoys before he parts with his hard learnt cash. |
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Post by julesd68 on Aug 12, 2021 16:24:44 GMT
I had a pair of 12" HPD's for a relatively long time but never had quite the right amp for them.
The hybrid amp I owned certainly wasn't 'best of both worlds' - too soft in the treble and not enough grip in the bass.
I was shocked what a difference an inexpensive Sony ES integrated made in terms of drive and grip - that led me to buying a Philips ss power amp that did a very respectable job.
Like Martin says, a current delivery monster is what is really required.
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Post by daytona600 on Aug 15, 2021 20:29:04 GMT
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Post by ajski2fly on Aug 20, 2021 14:01:38 GMT
Crikey they are big buggers, and a big price, I find it hard to get my head around amplifiers that cost more that £20K. I can justify £20K in my head in terms of high quality components costs and manual build costs, along with return on design and test costs but beyond this I find it very hard to come to terms with. My friend is arranging to trial a new KT170 Push pull valve amp, puts out about 60w/channel in triode mode, or 100w/channel otherwise (its switchable) in September and will also have on trial from another dealer a McIntosh MA9000 SS 2-CHANNEL INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER 300 Watts x 2 channel. I am planning to go to his place and have a good listen with him, as another pair of ears, we have similar aural landscape tastes and he like how my system now sounds, although Wilson Benesch are a rather different animal to Tannoys. |
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