VTL Anyone ??

MDP

MDP

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I've been advised by a couple of my most trusted friends that I must hear the magic of tubes on my beloved Revel Salon 2's. So, I'm wondering about different tube amps. I want a tube amp with enough power, tight bass and a 3D soundstage. Everything I've read or heard points to VTL.

So.......anyone have experience with these amps ?
 
No experience with them but I heard the 450 sigs running eggleston savoys(which are monsters) And although they sounded awesome I didn't give them a second thought because I figured they were not only too expensive for me but way too much amp for me as well.
But they ran together beautifully and it seemed like they could do both things right. They played soft with big soundstage and accuracy. And when pushed they could blow the windows out. Not sure of the price but sound right up your alley. At least for a listen.
 
Wilson speakers love VTLs. From what I hear through the grapevine Deb's dad uses VTL in his home system.

Over the years, I haven't heard a system that used VTLs that didn't sound really good.
 
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MDP said:
I've been advised by a couple of my most trusted friends that I must hear the magic of tubes on my beloved Revel Salon 2's. So, I'm wondering about different tube amps. I want a tube amp with enough power, tight bass and a 3D soundstage. Everything I've read or heard points to VTL.

So.......anyone have experience with these amps ?
Click to expand...

Hi Mark,

I have owned VTL Siegfried mono block amps for about 3.5 years now and I love them. I used them at first to drive Magico M5 speakers which is reasonably hard speaker to drive. The Siegfried's drove them effortlessly. One nice thing about VTL the company - when they come out with a new version of a particular product - either preamp or amp - the previous versions are usually upgradeable to the new version.

A friend of mine who purchased my Magico M5 speakers - then purchased the VTL 450 Series 3 mono block amps and loves the combo - he has a fairly large room and the 450's again drive the M5's effortlessly.

The VTL amps are easy tube amps to use - they are auto biasing amps - the system they use performs the autobias function whenever they are on but no music signal is present so they are always in bias. Also, you can use either 6550 tubes or KT88 tubes - the amps adjust to any electrical differences in the tubes. They also have fault protection circuitry built in - if the system detects a problem with one or more of the power tubes, the amp shuts itself down and tells you which tube or tubes to replace so no blown resistors, etc.

Since you are somewhere in North Texas - you are welcome to come down to Austin and have a listen to what the amps sound like.

Hope that helps.
 
Thanks Arnie ! What tubes do you think are best in the 450's ? I might take you up on your offer sometime when I'm in Austin !! I'm leaning towards the 450's because of price,do like them also ?
 
MDP said:
Thanks Arnie ! What tubes do you think are best in the 450's ? I might take you up on your offer sometime when I'm in Austin !! I'm leaning towards the 450's because of price,do like them also ?
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Hi Mike,

You are very welcome.

I like the new VTL 450 series 3 amps very much. I have heard them driving Vandersteen 5A speakers, Wilson Sashas and Rockport Avior's and my friend loves them with the Magico M5's. As for power tubes, I definitely prefer the KT88's (which is what I use in my amps). I compared them both in my Siegfried amps and I would say that the Genalex Gold Lion re-issued KT88 tubes have a more liquid midrange and sweeter high frequencies. The 6550 sounds ever so slightly glassy to me in the upper mids and high frequencies in comparison. You can get the 450 series 3 with either tube set from VTL.

The other new feature in the new Series 3 version of the 450's is an adjustable damping factor control - it has 4 settings and it allows you to dial in the damping factor of the amp that best matches the speaker that you use it with.

Next time you make it to Austin, just let me know.
 
babybear said:
Hi Mike,

You are very welcome.

I like the new VTL 450 series 3 amps very much. I have heard them driving Vandersteen 5A speakers, Wilson Sashas and Rockport Avior's and my friend loves them with the Magico M5's. As for power tubes, I definitely prefer the KT88's (which is what I use in my amps). I compared them both in my Siegfried amps and I would say that the Genalex Gold Lion re-issued KT88 tubes have a more liquid midrange and sweeter high frequencies. The 6550 sounds ever so slightly glassy to me in the upper mids and high frequencies in comparison. You can get the 450 series 3 with either tube set from VTL.

The other new feature in the new Series 3 version of the 450's is an adjustable damping factor control - it has 4 settings and it allows you to dial in the damping factor of the amp that best matches the speaker that you use it with.

Next time you make it to Austin, just let me know.
Click to expand...

I will, Thanks !!
 
Petro85 said:
No experience with them but I heard the 450 sigs running eggleston savoys(which are monsters) And although they sounded awesome I didn't give them a second thought because I figured they were not only too expensive for me but way too much amp for me as well.
But they ran together beautifully and it seemed like they could do both things right. They played soft with big soundstage and accuracy. And when pushed they could blow the windows out. Not sure of the price but sound right up your alley. At least for a listen.
Click to expand...

Thanks Steve !
 
kiwi_1282001 said:
Hi,

I've not heard VTL on the Revel Salons; but I have extensively heard the VTL S-400 (stereo power amp) on Raidho C-1; Raidho C-3, KEF Reference 205/2 and the KEF Blade. I was more than impressed at every audition. The S-400 had what I comprehend as being organic power -- power that controls the bass, but does not dry up the vocals in the way that some big solid-state grunts can. Vocals sounded human with dimensionality to them and to the entire soundstage that sometimes defied belief.

If VTL ticks your box, you should also listen to VAC for comparative purposes.
Click to expand...

Thanks kiwi, I'm hoping my dealer gets setup with VTL, It looks promising !
 
Mark,

Do not read this quote. This is how I hear my CJ gear. :exciting:

kiwi_1282001 said:
Hi,

I've not heard VTL on the Revel Salons; but I have extensively heard the VTL S-400 (stereo power amp) on Raidho C-1; Raidho C-3, KEF Reference 205/2 and the KEF Blade. I was more than impressed at every audition. The S-400 had what I comprehend as being organic power -- power that controls the bass, but does not dry up the vocals in the way that some big solid-state grunts can. Vocals sounded human with dimensionality to them and to the entire soundstage that sometimes defied belief.

If VTL ticks your box, you should also listen to VAC for comparative purposes.
Click to expand...
 
the professor said:
I didn't know about the various damping factors - how perfect!
Click to expand...

Hi Jock,

Yes, the newest versions of the VTL amplifiers are basically complete redesigns of the audio circuits of the amplifiers - so the VTL 450 Series 3, the S400 Series 2 stereo amp and the Siegfried Series 2 are the new amplifiers. All of these amps as part of the redesign have the new adjustable damping factor feature. I recently upgraded my Siegfried's from the original version to the Series 2 version. Its a much better amplifier than it was (and it was already very good) and the adjustable damping factor definitely works.
 
kiwi_1282001 said:
Hi,

I've not heard VTL on the Revel Salons; but I have extensively heard the VTL S-400 (stereo power amp) on Raidho C-1; Raidho C-3, KEF Reference 205/2 and the KEF Blade. I was more than impressed at every audition. The S-400 had what I comprehend as being organic power -- power that controls the bass, but does not dry up the vocals in the way that some big solid-state grunts can. Vocals sounded human with dimensionality to them and to the entire soundstage that sometimes defied belief.

If VTL ticks your box, you should also listen to VAC for comparative purposes.
Click to expand...

Hi Kiwi,

Your description of the sound of the VTL amplifiers is very accurate and a very good way to describe it.
 
Has anyone heard this combination?:exciting:

2011RMAF-VIII-9.jpg



So excited, I forgot the pic!:wacko:
 
MDP said:
Joe, Maybe I'll become a tube whore like you :woot:
Click to expand...

I really hope so. Just wait until Ray posts about HIS CJ ART monos. I have a feeling he's cleaning himself up right now. :)

socfan12 said:
Has anyone heard this combination?:exciting:




So excited, I forgot the pic!:wacko:
Click to expand...

Allen,

If you don't even try to hear a combo like this you are crazy!
 
I bet that system sounds great Mike. I think that if the speakers were blue it would be phenomenal!!! :)


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