VT-50

[Jack]

Chris

Will that amp even power either one of your two "main" speakers? I would think the PMC would be a maybe and the KEF not close.

 

[CDLehner]

Chris

Will that amp even power either one of your two "main" speakers? I would think the PMC would be a maybe and the KEF not close.

Well Jack...that's at least one of the things, making the decision that much tougher. Right now...I'm in a bit of a mix & match.

I had PMC Twenty 26s and then KEF Ref 1s. I like them equally well, but with different gear. When I bought the VT-50, it was for some tube warmth...to pair with the quite neutral and clean Wyred STP-SE. I also had an Ayre AX-7, that I liked...to the extent I sent it out for the e(volution) upgrade; and then...couldn't resist a deal on a Luxman 505uX, which I liked so much I traded it for an L-550AX...lol.

NONE of this gear, will drive the Ref 1s properly (they're listed at 85db, but I've seen articles say the true number is more like 82!); but right now...I'm love, love, loving the Luxman/PMC combo. If I were to keep the KEFs, I'd have to get a STOUT amp (been eyeing a BAT VK-600 SE); and then I think an amp like that...BIG, SS muscle...would need a tube pre-amp to warm it up some.

So...at this moment, hard as it would be; I'm leaning toward keeping the Twenty 26s. Now...I like the Luxman/PMC combo so much; why not just sell EVERYTHING else, ala the Jax method? Well...because an STP-SE/VT-50 set-up, likely would drive the PMCs. I mean...class-A is a different animal, of course; but if 20/40 can make them sing...surely the VT-50 could as well.

So I'm really curious, to see it through, and hear it. Leaning toward getting the repair, and just keeping fingers crossed that it's a keeper...in some way; and I'll just put the money out of my head. :|

 

[CDLehner]

Oh wow; can't believe I haven't updated this recently!

So...a BIG part of the repair expense...was ARC wanted to re-tube the whole thing; (4) 6550s and (4) 6922s. And not just any tubes...but tubes that passed ARC spec! They also cost, ARC dollars; about $560 of the $1100 was just for the glass! :shocking:

A fellow 'phile, and ARC connoisseur...having read my plight; magnanimously offered, to ship ARC (4) 6550s he had around as back-up...for the repair. To pay his s&h freight, was all he asked. And these weren't just spare, dog-sh*t tubes either; they were the "good" SED 6550 Winged-Cs...bought from and approved by, ARC in the first place.

He put a few hours on them, just to make sure it was a good quad; and then stuck them in a drawer for a rainy day. He said they still tested, "over 100% of new". ARC agreed with the arrangement...as long as the tubes met their requirements, after testing

That left the 6922s to worry about; and my benefactor suggested...just let ARC use their 6922s. A) my spares were a mixed pair, and not a matched quad; there's no way ARC would have agreed to use them. B) even if I bought a new matched quad...unless they were of a level, that would pass ARC spec; I probably wasn't going to save any money. And C) this guy, being an ARC guy himself; says the 6922s are incredibly difficult to bias. One 6922 drifts the others, and they in turn drift the 6550s. He says he loathes it, and it usually takes him 2-3 hours to get it right (that's on BIG OLE VTM-200s, but still...)

How's the story end: ARC approved the 6550s (natch); used their 6922s, which ran me $200 for the 4. They deducted, and this guy saved me; $360 for the quad of 6550s!

$740, just feels much easier to swallow...than anything 3-digits; and the amp is on its way, due in my rack on Wednesday. Yes, yes; and my tube-fairy, has a nice bottle of the good stuff...in his future

 

[mep]

You owe your friend who gifted the tubes to you something nice. ARC throws a bunch of their tubes in the garbage that don't meet their specifications which is why they cost more when you buy them from ARC. But guess what? They will work great in your ARC gear and balancing your VT-50 is no walk in the park. I hope you like how it sounds.

 

[CDLehner]

You owe your friend who gifted the tubes to you something nice.

I said..."and my tube-fairy, has a nice bottle of the good stuff...in his future". I don't want to say what, in case it's here he was lurking. That would spoil the surprise

ARC throws a bunch of their tubes in the garbage that don't meet their specifications which is why they cost more when you buy them from ARC. But guess what? They will work great in your ARC gear and balancing your VT-50 is no walk in the park. I hope you like how it sounds.

Yeah; AFAIC, it was the best possible outcome...to a truly sh*tty situation. Better than I could have even expected.

OK...I'm out some money :what: It happens; you win some, you lose some...and it could have been a helluva lot worse (as in a) cost me even more money, or b) like I lost an eye...lol).

 

[CDLehner]

VT-50...in da hizzou!

 

[cmalak]

Have you hooked it up yet? Impressions? Pics

 

[CDLehner]

Have you hooked it up yet? Impressions? Pics

Well...I started it off, with the already-in-place Classe CP-700 in front. The CP-700 surprises me; with the CA-2200...I found it to be much more delicate, finessed, and dare I say "soft" than I expected. I was hoping the VT-50 would help flesh-out the presentation; but to my surprise, the ARC...even at 15+ years old...is still pretty linear sounding. This combo, left me pretty underwhelmed.

Then, I was able to swap the STP-SE back in. I bought it for this amp, and were my instincts ever right! I have to be honest; I haven't liked the STP-SE, with hardly anything else. Wyred mAMPS, CA-2200. But here...its drive and somewhat forward/lean sound; push the VT-50 in all the right ways.

It's not a home run just yet; I could do with even a little more roundness. Big, fat pluck on guitar strings, etc; might KT-88s rather than 6550s help in that regard?

Pictures? Really? It's a black, 15 year-old ARC...lol

 

[mep]

Well...I started it off, with the already-in-place Classe CP-700 in front. The CP-700 surprises me; with the CA-2200...I found it to be much more delicate, finessed, and dare I say "soft" than I expected. I was hoping the VT-50 would help flesh-out the presentation; but to my surprise, the ARC...even at 15+ years old...is still pretty linear sounding. This combo, left me pretty underwhelmed.

Then, I was able to swap the STP-SE back in. I bought it for this amp, and were my instincts ever right! I have to be honest; I haven't liked the STP-SE, with hardly anything else. Wyred mAMPS, CA-2200. But here...its drive and somewhat forward/lean sound; push the VT-50 in all the right ways.

It's not a home run just yet; I could do with even a little more roundness. Big, fat pluck on guitar strings, etc; might KT-88s rather than 6550s help in that regard?

Pictures? Really? It's a black, 15 year-old ARC...lol

Yes, KT-88s would help, but then you are back to having to rebias the output tubes which put you in the land of trouble in the first place. Give it some time and let the new 6550s break in.

 

[CDLehner]

Yes, KT-88s would help, but then you are back to having to rebias the output tubes which put you in the land of trouble in the first place. Give it some time and let the new 6550s break in.

Oh trust me; I was just asking...because I'm not about to through that anytime soon.

I also have to shout-out to ARC. I don't know what they did; but the amp looks new, inside and out!

I think no matter what...I might keep it "around". If it ends up being the primary; fine...great. But maybe as "back-up", or just to change flavor from time to time. I've got more money in it, than I'm going to get back anyway; so WTH.