Here's a couple nice amps ! Mc2102 tube amp and the MC252 ! Very Sweet ! :wink2:
http://www.hostboard.com/forums/hbmc...2011/10/51.jpg
http://www.hostboard.com/forums/hbmc...2011/10/52.jpg
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Here's a couple nice amps ! Mc2102 tube amp and the MC252 ! Very Sweet ! :wink2:
http://www.hostboard.com/forums/hbmc...2011/10/51.jpg
http://www.hostboard.com/forums/hbmc...2011/10/52.jpg
Nice, but probably a little out of my price range. I use an Alesis MEQ 230 (30 bands per channel stereo equalizer) with my current main setup. Do most people who use these Mac's listen flat or do they use an equalizer? I can't imagine listening to vinyl or CD's with no EQ whatsoever but I think there are "purists" out there that believe you should listen with no EQ--totally flat. I know I'm hijacking my own thread here, but just wondering -- does anyone here listen to their Altecs with no EQ whatsoever? I don't care what brand the speakers are, I've always felt that some EQ is needed to really get that sweet lifelike sound that you want to hear.......
I know.Your original post says affordable or not,so.... I figured I post that beauty ! :DQuote:
Originally Posted by voice of the theater
VOTT, I'm with you......Quote:
Originally Posted by voice of the theater
Listen to YOUR speakers however they sound best to YOU. I have been reading this "purist" stuff in audio magazines since I was a kid. They can have it. I dont need their opinion any more than I want some Chef telling me how I want my meat cooked.
I like tone controls. I will even go so far as to admit the ultimate audio faux pas....
I LIKE THE LOUDNESS CONTROL ON. There, I said it. I find it very satisfying at lower levels. :wink2:
I always use an EQ it's like an adjustable crossover, who wouldn't want that? and I always have the loudness button on too. If I wanted to be a purist I'd become Amish.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nipper
Don't have an EQ. For me, with a digital XO, the problem is usually in the mid range horn. But some of the CDs I have are so well done they sound perfect...flat. I also like a lot of classic rock and I run into a lot of mid range happy mixing that requires adjustment. When I crank it high...I usually adjust the gain down on the mid range horn so my head doesn't get laser burn. ;) Oh no, here comes a post about the dangers of hi volume...Quote:
Originally Posted by voice of the theater
But, a decent EQ would probably help too. Anyway, I'm guilty too...I do hit the loudness button on the turntable preamp with a lot of the 50s jazz albums I spin.
Now that I've got a good passive crossover going, no EQ needed. I'm quite surprised. Different recordings sound different, but they should. No desire to reach for any tone control or EQ.
I don't have to go to the gym because I have to jump up and adjust the EQ for every album/CD change and volume change and mulitiple times after for fine tweeking. :)
I'm with you on this one VH. They used different equipment to record different albums, some had better equipment. The sound guys were different and some were better than others. We discussed earlier that you can hear the difference when you have excellent equipment. And you can. There are some very respectable folks in this group and no one disagreed with that. There are some albums I will listen to flat but only if I am cranking it. :biggrin2:Quote:
Originally Posted by VolvoHeretic
You can like the music but not the recording quality. You paid for the audio system and the music.... Proceed with adjustments . :wink2:
that's funny... :)Quote:
Originally Posted by VolvoHeretic
I used to do that a long,long time ago.I wised up and got myself a remote !And now do it from the couch. :biggrin2: :emot15:Quote:
Originally Posted by VolvoHeretic
And my "No EQ, Same Volume" system is making me fat and lazy. Damn!
Typical fat and lazy American! In some overseas countries, the children can set three separate EQ curves per minute on a graphic and/or parametric equalizer by age two and if they don't wear out a pair of (sweatshop) sneakers by the end of the day from getting up running over to the equalizer all day, then they're sent home from preschool in disgrace......Quote:
Originally Posted by Panomaniac
It seems that most people here are either using tone controls, loudness buttons, graphic and/or parametric equalizers, or (fine tuned) digital, active, or passive crossovers to get that lifelike sound that we love to hear from our Altecs.....
seldom if ever, but I do have a couple of Acousta-Voicetts not yet in use. But largely satisfied with many CDs as opposed to LPs as I have said before. Maybe when I really retire I'll have time to mess with them.
I'm neither fat nor lazy,when I get home from work I just seem to want to sit on the couch with a cold brew in one hand and a remote controlling my tunes in the other !! :wink2:Quote:
Originally Posted by Panomaniac
I started using an EQ for vinyl LP's that I have that were old/rare and may have had some surface grime that crackles in the HF range,sounds like static.And I have had one in my system ever since.As I have some old/rare hard to find recordings that were a little beat up to say the least.EQ works well to take out some of the noise.As far as the loudness button goes.It is fine at low volumes but I never use it. I feel that it just adds rumble,boom, and is disproportionate to the Mid-HF's so don't like how it sounds.I love bass,don't get me wrong I just don't like the way the loudness sounds IMHO !Quote:
Originally Posted by voice of the theater
While I am refinishing my Altecs, I just purchased a Crown microtech 600 amp to drive them
coupled with Behringer FBQ 3102 dual 31 band equalizer
connected to a Pyle PYD 1270 2 bus mixing board.
And a QSC 1400 amp to run my old 18" Bullfrog sub.
I cant wait to hear hear them run through this setup.
So far I have only run mine through a Peavey 400 mono mixing amp, and am totally impressed with the sound.
So it's the ~<$500 range and 50-75wpc still, right?
For power amps:
Perhaps look around for a used Bryston 2b (or 2blp?) 60wpc. 20y warranty. Piece of mind for you, given the scenario presented.
Get the serial, call bryston, see how many years are left on it (and that it is a valid serial etc.). On some of the newer stuff, they are wanting to see receipts iirc (to ensure bought from a proper reseller) - so check out that situation before commiting as well.
Note there are 2 or 3 (2 original, and 1 of the new model?) versions of the 2B.
Look at the rear connections and for presence (or not) of front volume controls, in order to know what you are looking at. (though, seems they will mod them if you send them in).
Were you in NY? If so, may even be able to drive/drop for service. I think their US service center is up there.
Crown D45, D60, D75a et al could also be considered, and (I think) still bought new... but I think they hiked the prices way up when Harman (harmen, whatever... ) bought them out. Maybe trying to kill off crown that way.
* Personally, ~8w from a 6BQ5 Almarro A205 I got in trade, is too much for me. If considering modern tubes, you could also have a look at them.
Just FYI for anyone. 6BQ5=EL84 A great output tube.
Guess I should break out the two old EV/tapco's I have on a shelf and see if I like 'em. Yikes, more cables! ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by voice of the theater
Pano or Anyone, What do you think are the best sounding tubes (Brand) ? Mullard,RCA,Telefunken,GE,etc,etc... ?Quote:
Originally Posted by Panomaniac
Don't recall this one in any of Altec's amps, so have to wonder if it's all that good a choice when one considers what was used to voice A7s, etc..Quote:
Originally Posted by Panomaniac
GM
I suspect Altec's omission of it's use was based more on it's limited power output(for the majority of Altec's applications), and maybe it's date of introduction made it a bit of a latecomer for Altec.Quote:
Originally Posted by GM
Dunno, still, if I was looking for tubes to drive mine, even if just for the HF...........
GM
Something perhaps a bit more robust? :DQuote:
Originally Posted by GM
I expect we'd both be shopping in the same aisle.