Great video. We all gotta start somewhere. But you just kept going and that's what makes you shine. Keep it up Jay, and Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Wow! Hilea is that spelled correctly? I guess the lesson learned in this whole experience. If you buy anything used onlineget the serial numbers, contact the manufacture, and make sure they’re not stolen.
Not to take anything away from the advice given concerning tube amps. Being a Tube-head more than SS guy I would add that in most cases the speaker consideration for a Tube amp is more or less the same as SS. I have seen people be happy with running a 100-watt ARC amp mated with a pair of Maggie 3.5 just fine. Which is a hell of a load for that amp. Sure, the VT-100 and 3.5 combo did not get to ear drum blowing levels, but I have yet to hear a Maggie be driven loud by anything, SS or Valve. Pairing Tubes with efficient speakers is certainly the safest bet. That being said high current - wattage products from the likes of VTL, Audio Research, Zesto, VAC, McIntosh to name a few notables can be nearly as authoritative as their SS counterparts. I had a pair of VTL MB-450's that drove pair of 87db Thiel 3.6 to concert levels with ease. I also have had very poor bass control from SS designs. I do not find them to be a panacea for clean tight low end. Needless to say, those arc welders were traded off in a short amount of time. So, I think it is not necessarily the typology that matters so much as the synergy of it, room, and speaker as a whole. Now if you are into a Western Electric, Decware, or Audio Note 300b SET amps or other flea powered pieces. That is a different game altogether and that there is a scenario where the more efficient the speaker of choice is, the better.
Success and being wealth, is not all about working hard or devoting yourself to something, but it’s also being fortunate and lucky enough, to be at the right place and at the right time!
If the deal is too good, there’s probably a reason 🤣 I’ve never bought a single piece of audio gear from any vendor who’s not a brick & mortar dealer or the manufacturer. I know the used market is probably much cheaper but I’m also not emptying my bank account to buy audio gear and I’m a very conservative investor who’s averse to risk. I would also say your summation suggesting tube amp require high efficiency speakers is very untrue. First your statement that you need SS to control woofers make no sense. One has nothing to do with the other. Nearly all speakers with multiple woofers require amps with high damping factor to control those drivers. Those XVX’s behind you are quite high efficiency yet demand high damping factor amp to control them. Most, though not all SS amps are high damping factor, but many tube amps are as well. If you were to put VTL Siegfried or MB450’s, set the internal switches to medium or high damping settings, the sound would frankly startle you, to point you’d never have a Gryphon or Boulder back in room as long as you have those speakers. One of the best things about tube amps is the huge variety of topology available. There’s very little difference in SS amps. Most are push pull Mosfet’s, a few bipolar. Then there’s the really exceptional SS from AGD GAN Mosfets or the truly brilliant EAR M100A and Pass Aleph 1.2 single ended Mosfet’s. In tube world we not only have OTL’s and transformer coupled single ended and fully balanced circuits and a myriad of different driver and output tubes. Go listen to YG’s brilliant XV’s, efficiency stated at 87-88db iirc, driven by VTL, Manley or Rogue Apollo tube amps, will outperform any SS amp you’ve ever owned, unless you’ve had an M100A. I personally prefer high efficiency speakers, in large part due to my fondness for SE DHT tube amps as well as the speed and soundstage of horn loaded speakers. There are however no speakers made that cannot be driven by a tube amp, the key is finding the correct tube amp.
Speakers for tube gear? The ultimate tube amps are low power SET (single end triodes). 300B, PX4, PX25, 2a3, etc; their midrange purity is unmatched by any solid state system. Unfortunately, most speakers today are too inefficient for their use and big arc-welder solid state amps (like Jay's) are required. To get even close, mega dollars must be spent. That said; we've found total nirvana with 106db efficient Avantgarde Duo Grossos driven by an all tube SET system (5wpc PX25 amp (upgraded with Vcap ODAMs), a tube Art Audio preamp, and Wavelength Pelham tube DAC). What makes this system special is the big midrange & tweeter horns display the beauty of the SET tubes while the dual 12" woofers are driven by two 500w solid state amps - the best of both worlds. BTW, Jay has stated that he's not a fan of Avantgardes but I'm willing to bet he's never heard them properly setup, properly adjusted (the rear crossover adjustments can be trying), and with a primo system. BTW, better than our previous $98,000 Magico M5s driven by $40,000 Plinius & Mac solid state.
Loved your story Jay and I think a lot of hobby and or businesses start out with similar accounts no shame! And don’t feel bad about being wild we were all nuts when young part of being a dude. I should have died 17 times long ago lol
Please subscribe and hit the like button. That’s the support I need from you !
Great video. We all gotta start somewhere. But you just kept going and that's what makes you shine. Keep it up Jay, and Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Wow! Hilea is that spelled correctly? I guess the lesson learned in this whole experience. If you buy anything used onlineget the serial numbers, contact the manufacture, and make sure they’re not stolen.
Thanks for sharing Jay. Life is interesting to say the least. Glad you are able to share your experiences with us all. Keep pushing.
Thank you! Will do!
Not to take anything away from the advice given concerning tube amps. Being a Tube-head more than SS guy I would add that in most cases the speaker consideration for a Tube amp is more or less the same as SS. I have seen people be happy with running a 100-watt ARC amp mated with a pair of Maggie 3.5 just fine. Which is a hell of a load for that amp. Sure, the VT-100 and 3.5 combo did not get to ear drum blowing levels, but I have yet to hear a Maggie be driven loud by anything, SS or Valve. Pairing Tubes with efficient speakers is certainly the safest bet. That being said high current - wattage products from the likes of VTL, Audio Research, Zesto, VAC, McIntosh to name a few notables can be nearly as authoritative as their SS counterparts. I had a pair of VTL MB-450's that drove pair of 87db Thiel 3.6 to concert levels with ease. I also have had very poor bass control from SS designs. I do not find them to be a panacea for clean tight low end. Needless to say, those arc welders were traded off in a short amount of time. So, I think it is not necessarily the typology that matters so much as the synergy of it, room, and speaker as a whole.
Now if you are into a Western Electric, Decware, or Audio Note 300b SET amps or other flea powered pieces. That is a different game altogether and that there is a scenario where the more efficient the speaker of choice is, the better.
Thank you for sharing your journey with us.
My pleasure!
I remember when you were gushing that Anthem AVR’s were the best you’d ever heard back in the day. You’ve come a long way whitecamaross.
Thanks you bro, we hope for better day..enjoy and God bless
I hope so too
My journey started in 1977 with a Infinity WTLC speakers and Gas Ampzilla amp…VPI table…
Long before you were born….
Success and being wealth, is not all about working hard or devoting yourself to something, but it’s also being fortunate and lucky enough, to be at the right place and at the right time!
Agreed
Wow 😮 like a movie 🎥 we are glad that nothing bad happened to you Jay’s
Thanks man
Rob you? With your size? Nada! No way!
mg 3.6r with jadis defy 7 100 watts in a 15 by 28 ft. room . bass to mid 30s great for the money.
If the deal is too good, there’s probably a reason 🤣
I’ve never bought a single piece of audio gear from any vendor who’s not a brick & mortar dealer or the manufacturer. I know the used market is probably much cheaper but I’m also not emptying my bank account to buy audio gear and I’m a very conservative investor who’s averse to risk.
I would also say your summation suggesting tube amp require high efficiency speakers is very untrue. First your statement that you need SS to control woofers make no sense. One has nothing to do with the other. Nearly all speakers with multiple woofers require amps with high damping factor to control those drivers. Those XVX’s behind you are quite high efficiency yet demand high damping factor amp to control them. Most, though not all SS amps are high damping factor, but many tube amps are as well. If you were to put VTL Siegfried or MB450’s, set the internal switches to medium or high damping settings, the sound would frankly startle you, to point you’d never have a Gryphon or Boulder back in room as long as you have those speakers.
One of the best things about tube amps is the huge variety of topology available. There’s very little difference in SS amps. Most are push pull Mosfet’s, a few bipolar. Then there’s the really exceptional SS from AGD GAN Mosfets or the truly brilliant EAR M100A and Pass Aleph 1.2 single ended Mosfet’s.
In tube world we not only have OTL’s and transformer coupled single ended and fully balanced circuits and a myriad of different driver and output tubes.
Go listen to YG’s brilliant XV’s, efficiency stated at 87-88db iirc, driven by VTL, Manley or Rogue Apollo tube amps, will outperform any SS amp you’ve ever owned, unless you’ve had an M100A. I personally prefer high efficiency speakers, in large part due to my fondness for SE DHT tube amps as well as the speed and soundstage of horn loaded speakers. There are however no speakers made that cannot be driven by a tube amp, the key is finding the correct tube amp.
Stenheim are very efficient and wonderful loudspeakers
World has a way of moving around if you have strong passion or desire over something 😊
Agreed
Speakers for tube gear? The ultimate tube amps are low power SET (single end triodes). 300B, PX4, PX25, 2a3, etc; their midrange purity is unmatched by any solid state system. Unfortunately, most speakers today are too inefficient for their use and big arc-welder solid state amps (like Jay's) are required. To get even close, mega dollars must be spent. That said; we've found total nirvana with 106db efficient Avantgarde Duo Grossos driven by an all tube SET system (5wpc PX25 amp (upgraded with Vcap ODAMs), a tube Art Audio preamp, and Wavelength Pelham tube DAC). What makes this system special is the big midrange & tweeter horns display the beauty of the SET tubes while the dual 12" woofers are driven by two 500w solid state amps - the best of both worlds. BTW, Jay has stated that he's not a fan of Avantgardes but I'm willing to bet he's never heard them properly setup, properly adjusted (the rear crossover adjustments can be trying), and with a primo system. BTW, better than our previous $98,000 Magico M5s driven by $40,000 Plinius & Mac solid state.
great story Jay🤣
Loved your story Jay and I think a lot of hobby and or businesses start out with similar accounts no shame! And don’t feel bad about being wild we were all nuts when young part of being a dude. I should have died 17 times long ago lol
Thank you
OMG! 😮