Suggestions for a first CJ tube amp?

[pstrisik]

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

Peter,
Is that a Thorens TD-160?

Regading the 6CG7, I would recommend getting a pair of Mazdas (from Upscale or other vendors)...I liked those in my Premier 11A.

Regards,
Stephen

Hi Stephen,

Thanks for the tip on Mazdas.

Good eye on the turntable. Close guess - it's a TD145 MkII. In fairness, I picked up a "for parts" Thorens on ebay for the wood base which I refinished. The 145 came with a metal veneered particle board base.

..........Peter

[Puma Cat]

Thanks, Peter, I couldn't tell exactly given the viewing angle of your TT from your photo of your rack. Nice 'table, you did a really nice job refinishing it. Looks like a Quadraspire rack?

[pstrisik]

It's a Salamander rack. Pretty basic with threaded posts and mdf shelves.

[CDLehner]

Originally Posted by pstrisik

Hi Chris,

Just one 11A. I do have the 2250A more permanently integrated. Current configuration is just a couple of days old, so we'll see how it does and whether I stay with it.

I am bi-amping using the 11A to power tweet and mid and the 2250A to power woofers. I have 3db line level attenuation from Parts Express. Some concern about impact on audio quality, but no degradation detected - or at least benefit outweighs any negative.

The attenuation helps balance the gain and, in fact, reduces the tweet/mid gain a bit more than that to suit my ears. So far so good. Next step is to see about a high pass filter so the 11A doesn't have to amplify the bass before it is filtered out by the speakers' passive xovers. I have a message to the xover designer, Dennis Murphy, and waiting to hear back about the xover frequency and any other advice he has.

.........Peter

Sounds like a bit of a science project; but pretty sweet if you can pull it off. Warm tubes on the mids/highs...good SS muscle on the bass; active crossover.

I'm glad you didn't buy the 2250 in vain. Enjoy.

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

Thanks, Peter, I couldn't tell exactly given the viewing angle of your TT from your photo of your rack. Nice 'table, you did a really nice job refinishing it. Looks like a Quadraspire rack?

C'mon Stephen; that's a venerable Archetype!

[pstrisik]

Definitely a science project!

Not truly an active crossover. More just a pre-tailoring of the signal going to the amps. Then to speaker level passive crossovers in bi-amp mode.

[Puma Cat]

Patrick,
What are the speakers? Are they Martens? I note they have an Accuton ceramic midrange driver.

[pstrisik]

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

Patrick,
What are the speakers? Are they Martens? I note they have an Accuton ceramic midrange driver.

They are Salk SoundScape 8's. It is an Accuton mid -- and a RAAL tweeter. Quite the speakers. I'm having trouble with brightness, but it is more my ears than the speakers. This whole "science project" is working to tame them for my hyperacusis. So far so good!

.......Peter

[Puma Cat]

Oh, I've heard those, those are nice speakers. They are made of solid wood cabinets if IIRC. I just saw Mr. Salk of Salk Speakers at RMAF last weekend.