Vintage Tube Amps

I just read some comments on the Scott 299 D and the person described it as being like most vintage tube amps, "dark sounding with tubby bass". Is this what I can expect sonically from vintage tube amps in general? I would like to find out as I continue my search for a nice one.

 

Steve, what does this one do so well ?

 

Curiously Steve, what speakers do you run with each?

 

So the "dark and tubby" thing is generally true for older tube integrated amps then? Also, the Scott 299 D is 34 wpc, while your Marantz is 35 wpc. That's not all that much more powerful than the Scott, but I assume it's made better? I wish I could afford to buy Marantz or McIntosh. If I was going to choose, Steve, between a tube cd player, a tube preamp/solid state power amp, or a solid state pre and tube power, what do you think would offer the most sonic improvement?

 

I have owned my Scott 299-D for about two weeks, and I love the sound that I am getting. Keep in mind that this is my first tube amplifier, but I love the bass sound that I get. It sounds different than solid state bass to my ears, much more realistic and smooth sounding, as if the bass player's amplifier is in the room with you. If you've ever played in a band situation with a bass player, you'll probably understand what I mean. Anyway, the Scott sounds very smooth and warm, with no harshness at all. No more ear fatique, thanks to Charlie Kittleson of Vacuum Tube Valley, and Grover's interconnects. I highly recommend the Scott 299-D, especially as an excellent way to be introduced to the tube world. If I am not mistaken, in it's time, the Scott 299 series of intergrated tube amplifiers were Scott's top of the line model.




Ed Hurdle
HeavyDistortion

 

Quality vintage tube amps with decent iron, if properly refurbished, don't sound vintage at all. (Vintage pre-amps, which were made to allow eq, different record curves and the rest, can be a different matter.) I think that Vintage sound people talk about is inadequate iron, out of spec components, and sagging tubes. Jeff

 

Steve,
What modern tube amplifers do you think will rock in the way the old Vintage Mac or Marantz's will? Unhappily, I have not ever had the opportunity to hear vintage Macs of Marantz's on song and Rocking out is not something my Leaks do with particular aplomb. Jeff

 

That's a beautiful system Steve. And your system raises an interesting question.
In my experience of modern tube amplification, none can really rock out satisfactorily. Many play Lisa Ekdahl superbly, but when push comes to shove, Led Zeppelin on these amplifiers often sounds like Plant and the boys are wearing smoking jackets and slippers.
What technically gives an amp an ability to rock? Jeff

(I'll have to take a picture of my hi fi for the forum: Garrard, Leak, and Tannoy.)

 

I never get tired of looking at this system. It must sound as good or better than it even looks.

Dan C

 

Steve, your photo brings up a question I've long wondered the answer to. It's ok to use a tube amp in a confined space such as your set-up? I was always under the impression they would get waaay too hot.

 

Steve,

I see that you are heavily into tweaks - it looks like you have the analogue equivalent of the Tice clock on the right hand equipment cabinet. I note that the Tannoy on the right also seems to have some ceramic version of the Shun Mook system resting on it whilst the left hand equipment cabinet has some type of multi-element ozone creating organic resonance damping device. The item that baffles me is the device to the left - I have looked through all the learned journals and searched on the World Wide Web but found no information as to what beneficial effects it brings to audio reproduction. Please tell

All the best - Andrew

 

Hi Andrew,

No need to bother the Tonmeister........ i have one i can sell ya for a mere $300! I call that a bargain... the best there ever was......

-Jeffrey

 

Jeff, I have only heard vintage Mac's once and that was a long time ago, I cannot remember the speakers for sure. I'm not sure if all the folks on this thread will agree with me, but I have cj P12's playing into Virgo III's, and while I would like a bit more bass, I think they rock.

 

I'm sure that the Marantz and Macs can rock hard if necessary, but I'm happy with the way my Scott 299-D can rock out also. The first Black Sabbath and Van Halen CDs sound incredible through the Cornwalls. I'm guessing that this is possible because the Cornwalls are very efficient speakers and can easily be driven hard by the output from the Scott. I can say that the Scott does sound better, and never overly bright or harsh, as the volume is increased. However, I don't listen to music as loud as I used to, and I seem to enjoy it more. It's more even sounding, if that makes any sense.




Ed Hurdle
HeavyDistortion

 

Steve,

Thanks for the reminder, but these days I don't listen to music very loud. The Scott also sounds decent at a lower playing volume. Your comment about tube compression reminds me of why my tube guitar amps sound better at higher volumes; of course I am also aware that this is not good for the ears either; I just wish the other guitarists that I play with understood this.




Ed Hurdle
HeavyDistortion

 

Steve, those glass doors must murder your soundstage????