Rerurn to Romy the Cat's Site
In the Forum: Audio News
In the Thread: Lamm Industries: a special interview with a special company
Post Subject: 2A3 versus GM70Posted by Paul S on: 1/15/2007
Why use the GM70 apart from its power potential? For one thing, it seems to require literally lethal voltages to become remotely listenable. Is it really "that" linear, to insist on it?
But my experience with GM70 is quite imited. I have only heard "commercial" amps that use the GM70, and none had the "neutral" sonic "character" I have long listened for. I am not sure I'd rate anyGM70 I've heard above the typical 805 or 845, etc., NOT saying they are the same or even similar, really, just I cannot at this time recall a preference.
The 2A3 is another story, however. As far as I am concerned, the only real problem with this tube is its power and frequency limitations. As far as that goes, I have to say the "Best Output Tube" I have "heard" is the 45. Now THAT is a neutral tube! Too freaking bad it has no push whatsoever and worse frequency range than the 2A3! I have heard about kinky AC heating arrangements for both tubes, with vapor tube filament regulation and transformers and/or resistors welded straight under the tube pins. I have not listened to a successful AC-heated version of either tube, but I have heard plenty of nice DC heated versions of both tubes, and I would not say - at all - that DC "strips the life" out of either tube's performance. IMO this is just another current DIY-ism, at least with these tubes. The main thing that kills these tubes, IMO, is pushing them, AT ALL, since the transition from their perfect clarity and incredible ease into gross, annoying distortion and collapse comes all too soon, especially at frequecy extremes, where they prompty run out of gas.
Anyone who uses SETs beyond their power/band/distortion limits gets what he deserves. My 2A3s were so distorted and frequency-limited with my 3-way speakers that I quit listening to them even before I got the ML2s, and I do not even try for sub-40 Hz, even with the ML2s. I imagine, however, that there are plenty of ML2.1 oweners who are pushing those amps into gross bandwith meltdown. Likely a number of these jokers will "trade up" to the ML3, and it probably will "work better" in those applications. Naturally, they will be very pleased.
Of course, the OPTs are VERY important, but since I have never heard a set-up where kinky OPTs overcame my perception of bandwidth limitations with the 2A3 and 45, the impression holds.
Re, the L3: I notice you do not bitch about the L1 so much. Did it or did it not have the "X-factor"? I notice it's not in your system...
Also, I wish you would go into both cases for Lamm's obvious successes, intentional and/or accidental. Too bad more people don't understand exactly what and/or just how important Lamm's contributions to audio have been. I had hoped, as you obviously had, as well, that Lamm would resume his hitting streak. But I hope that even in the real world we can somehow isolate and continue building on Lamm's successes, even if they were accidental.
Best regards,
Paul SRerurn to Romy the Cat's Site