Anyone use a VHT 2150 with the M4???

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Is this the ultimate power amp to use with the M4??? I have one that I might get and was wondering what preamp tubes to put into the power amp. I know it uses 2 12AT7 driver tubes, one per channel and 2 12AX7 preamp tubes, 1 per channel so I am wanting to replace those tubes with the best possible replacements. I never knew what purpose the preamp tubes had in power amps in the first place, or if they even affect tone... but I can only imagine they do for sure. I was going to put either SED "C" KT-88's in it or JJ KT-88's in there so let me know what you guys think if you have any advice, I really really would appreciate it alot.

Thanks, Chad
 
The 2150 is a great power amp, probably one of the best....and heaviest! I don't own one so I can't really help you with the tubes in that monster except to say that the driver and phase inverter tubes are an important part of the power amp and overall tone.

That being said, alot of us really like the Randall RT2/50 power amp. It's midi switchable between the 2 channels which can run any type of power tube you'd like. User bias pots on the front panel. It has a great overall tone and feel to it. I passed on a VHT for the Randall after I did a side by side test. The Randall is much more affordable too-if thats a concern.
 
Thats a damn shame too because I used to own one but never got to use it with my M4 or got to compare it to any VHT power amp. DAMN!!! I hope someone out there has a good idea on what tubes to put in the 2150... perferably not NOS either, I cant shell out that kind of money for tubes.
 
A power amp is a power amp at the end of the day. If you're looking for power, and it sounds like you are, there are other alternatives. The 2150 only runs a quartet same as a 2/50/2 and 2/90/2 but twice the space.

My Rivera TBR-5 eats the 2150 for lunch in terms of power. I'm running an octet of EL34's total of 120w per channel. Up to 160w if I use 6550's/KT88's.
 
I've owned a VHT 2/50/2, 2/90/2, 2150, and Randall RT2/50. Ran Svetlana 6550s in all of them. The 2/50/2 I didnt like that much w/ 6550s...it was "ok"...but lacked gerth that the 2/90/2 and 2150 had. I did a shootout recently between the RT2/50 and the 2/90/2 and the RT2/50 w/ 6550s hung resectively well w/ the 2/90/2 so much so I don't have the 2/90/2 anymore. Just shipped it off to its new owner today. The 2150 and 2/90/2 are based off of the same circuit...and one of the biggest differences is the transformer. The 2150 is a "bigger" power amp in every sort of way than the 2/90/2...but really not THAT much different. So that's why I chose the 2/90/2 instead of the 2150 a few years ago. 4 spaces...heavy as hell...etc. etc...

The Randall RT2/50 is a bit warmer than the 2/90/2 IMHO...but its VERY similar, which the 2/90/2 is very similar to the 2150. Randall RT2/50 w/ 6550s is the way to go IMHO :). You can change tubes very easily w/o unracking the amp...has midi...and you can bias it stupid easily. And the tone is awesome.

All 3 of the power amps I talked about are very high end...and all sound awesome in their own right. But the biggest tone change you're gonna get is with changing 1. speakers....2. your preamp...3. your guitar... Power amps really don't shape the tone nearly as much as a preamp IMHO. It's more of a feel things vs. a tone thing.

Eric
 
aeroic":1q6534tw said:
But the biggest tone change you're gonna get is with changing 1. speakers....2. your preamp...3. your guitar... .

Eric
Click to expand...

a BIG +1 on that!
 
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