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Post by mossback on Dec 27, 2007 13:41:47 GMT 7
The past five months I have exclusively used 6V6 or EL-84 PP amps with my Harbeth LS3/5A. The speakers are positioned near field similar to James has at six feet apart and six feet to my ears. The sound is very pleasing. IMO 6V6/EL-84 are some of the very best sounding tubes very natural and sweet.
Today I changed over to a pair of Eico HF60’s with KT77’s. And a pair of Lafayette LA-75 KT88 amps. What I hear from the more powerful amps is an improvement, not dramatic but definitely better. The speakers seem clearer and more dynamic at the same volume. The speakers are in an untreated room 12x18 feet.
I’m curious what the BBC specified for amplification power. I have heard LS3/5A speakers powered by 2w 2A3 SET up to 200 SS amp’s and still seem to sound good. Is there a preferred power sweet spot for our LS’s? It seems that many of our experts use vintage vacuum tube amps of ~20w.
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odaey
Junior Member
Posts: 62
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Post by odaey on Dec 27, 2007 16:05:00 GMT 7
Hi mossback,
I'm no expert but as a guide for tube amps, i use 20 watts for the Ls alone and 40 watts when used with an Ab-1. Rogers has it specified at 25 watts for both the 11 and 15 ohms in it's label at the back while harbeth has it at 30 watts for speech and music but i have tried 2a3 tubes for soft music as well as 250 tube watts when used with an Ab-1.
BTW, i also use KT-77 but mine are just the JJ's. except for crooked pins so far no reliability issues yet and they do sound wonderful.
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Post by mossback on Dec 28, 2007 0:30:10 GMT 7
Thank you for your reply. I’m just starting out with my pair of Harbeth so am not an expert by any means. “Just” JJ KT77? ;D I love those JJ KT77’s!  Perhaps the crooked vacuum envelope adds to the sound? They have replaced high quality vintage tubes in my collection. It’s very gratifying that we now have quality new tubes available at reasonable prices. A very good friend demonstrated a Sun 2A3 through LS’s several years ago. Not a perfect match but I was very surprised how good it sounded. |
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Post by splendor on Dec 28, 2007 7:40:55 GMT 7
Dan your room is 2 feet deeper than my room, hence a more powerful amp than the 6V6 and el84 will definitely help make the LS more expressive. But beyond power, each tube type will also have a characterestic tone that kind of make us like it some more. On the LS, my brain seems to prefer the richer tone of 6V6. Maybe those Mark IVs on KT77s will flatter some more?
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Post by mossback on Dec 28, 2007 10:00:06 GMT 7
For the LS3/5A I would highly recommend the JJ KT77 in the Mk IV amps. I like how they sound with the Dynaco speaker too.  Rich tone! An apt description of the 6V6 tube. Dan your room is 2 feet deeper than my room, hence a more powerful amp than the 6V6 and el84 will definitely help make the LS more expressive. But beyond power, each tube type will also have a characterestic tone that kind of make us like it some more. On the LS, my brain seems to prefer the richer tone of 6V6. Maybe those Mark IVs on KT77s will flatter some more? |
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Post by mossback on Jan 18, 2008 20:06:32 GMT 7
Update;
I returned to PP EL-84 with my Harbeth this morning. Sounds nice. Lasted about an hour and back to KT88 KT77 amps, into the music again.
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Post by splendor on Jan 22, 2008 5:37:12 GMT 7
That was the swing I use to do. El 84 amp which has a little more power than the 6V6 but I keep going back to the 6V6 using a stromberg carlson 220. I guess one needs to fine tune the LS with the "right" combination of tone and power vis-a-vis room size. This is always an audiophile's working "sickness" to improve on sound, more so when you have several vintage amps at your stable like Dan! But even if one does, it ends up with some favorite.
Where have all the LS lovers gone? No post to read save this!
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Perhaps the crooked vacuum envelope adds to the sound? They have replaced high quality vintage tubes in my collection. It’s very gratifying that we now have quality new tubes available at reasonable prices.