|
Amp/Preamp Asylum Looking for a new Amp or Preamp? If you're after tubes, post over here. |
|
|
|
Amp/Preamp Asylum Looking for a new Amp or Preamp? If you're after tubes, post over here. |
|
Somehow I have managed to own all three of these amps at the same time, along with a Mac MC 462 SS. I"m most definitely sure that all inmates will really appreciate a comparative assessment of the tube amps. The 462 is not involved for the bass speakers for obvious reasons. Listening included both digital and analog through my system described in my profile.
- Imaging: as to sound stage depth and width, the ARC was a bit better than the others, followed by the 275, then the 1500, though it was good through all three.
-"Air" around individual instrument/choirs:the 275 was best. The ARC and the 1500 were behind in this matter.
-Bass: the 275 was best, with edges of the instruments better defined, with the ARC and 1500 behind.
-Mids and highs: the ARC was best, warm without fuzziness. The others were good, but the ARC better.
- Dynamic Jump factor: The ARC and 1500 were best. Surprised by the 1500, which punches way above its weight.The 275 was more laid back, but not sluggish nor heavy.
-Sense of headroom and power: They were all pretty close, with the 1500 continuing to surprise.
Tube sets: Stock tubes with the 275 sounded very disappointing - grey with no sparkle and not very dynamic. Installed JJ KT88s (the unit did not have JJs upon delivery). Some improvement, but still disappointing. Ryan at AC told me that Mc was having to get tubes as best they could, given the market. Psvane in small signal tubes helped to provide air around the instruments, but were polite, so did not help dynamics. Sylvania NOS AT7s helped a lot with the bass and dynamics. NOS Tele AX7s transformed the amp. More powerful sounding, with better reproduction of instrumental body. Finally, OS Winged C 6550s. Now, the amp sounds like I expected with good dynamics and a very convincing timbre to the instruments. But look at how much money was needed to get there. Not Mc's fault, as noted above.
ARC: Power tubes GE 6550, with a tele 12ax7 and other OS 6FQs,etc. No
upgrade needed.
1500: Tung Sol (new) 7591s, and NOS tele AU7s and AX7s. Transformed the amp, with much more power and jump.
Overall: See above and make your choice according to preference and system.
Surprises: The 1500 is terrific with the right tubes, with near perfect square waves at 100, 1000, and 10,000 hz. and a bold sound. The ARC did not disappoint, with the ARC sound that kind of hurls the music at the listener, in a good way. The 275 more laid back, but not slow nor heavy. System matching more important with this amp to sound its best.
Recordings: Vinyl- Prokofiev piano #5: Ashkenazy/Previn/LSO, DuBois various sax pieces, Liszt concert etudes, Claudio Arrau, Beethoven Raz #3, Italian Quartet, R. Strauss, various pieces, Kempe and Dresden.
Digital- The Atomic Count Basie, Bartok Piano #3, Martha A/Boulez/LSO, Bartok Images for Orcestra/Boulez/Cleveland, Bartok Concerto for Orchestra/Dudamel/LAPO.
Sorry for the length, but the tube commentary was necessary to show how the units, as I consider it, to sound their best.
LowIQ
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
Topic - Tubes galore: Mac 275 vi, ARC D70 II, Mac 1500 (amp section) - dgaapc7 08:20:25 09/15/24 (4)
- RE: Tubes galore: Mac 275 vi, ARC D70 II, Mac 1500 (amp section) - Jonesy 19:53:56 09/15/24 (1)
- is there a "steady state jump factor" ;) - mhardy6647 06:16:16 09/16/24 (0)
- RE: Tubes galore: Mac 275 vi, ARC D70 II, Mac 1500 (amp section) - Tre' 19:47:46 09/15/24 (1)
- RE: Tubes galore: Mac 275 vi, ARC D70 II, Mac 1500 (amp section) - dgaapc7 22:09:46 09/15/24 (0)
Top of Page ]
[ Contact Us ]
[ Support/Wish List ]
[ Copyright © 2025, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
