Tube amp suggestions

rubin
rubin Posts: 565
edited June 2011 in 2 Channel Audio
Something to drive the mid and treble. I don't need a lot of power, just something to warm up the top end of my Paradigm 100's v2. A ss amp will be used for the bass. I'm already using a tube pre.
Post edited by rubin on
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  • inspiredsports
    inspiredsports Posts: 5,501
    edited June 2011
    Questions:
    - Do you have a budget in mind?
    - Do you prefer to buy new or vintage?
    - Is Chinese-built OK?
    - What tube preamp are you using?

    This might be a perfect solution and extra tubes with different tonal characteristics are included . . . http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=119760
    VTL ST50 w/mods / RCA6L6GC / TlfnknECC801S
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 w/mods
    TT Conrad Johnson Sonographe SG3 Oak / Sumiko LMT / Grado Woodbody Platinum / Sumiko PIB2 / The Clamp
    Musical Fidelity A1 CDPro/ Bada DD-22 Tube CDP / Conrad Johnson SD-22 CDP
    Tuners w/mods Kenwood KT5020 / Fisher KM60
    MF x-DAC V8, HAInfo NG27
    Herbies Ti-9 / Vibrapods / MIT Shotgun AC1 IEC's / MIT Shotgun 2 IC's / MIT Shotgun 2 Speaker Cables
    PS Audio Cryo / PowerPort Premium Outlets / Exact Power EP15A Conditioner
    Walnut SDA 2B TL /Oak SDA SRS II TL (Sonicaps/Mills/Cardas/Custom SDA ICs / Dynamat Extreme / Larry's Rings/ FSB-2 Spikes
    NAD SS rigs w/mods
    GIK panels
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  • Joe08867
    Joe08867 Posts: 3,919
    edited June 2011
    What SS are you using for the low end? What Pre are you using?

    I think the first problem is trying to warm up Paradigm's. They are not the warmest speakers going.

    That said Manley, Cayin or Rogue take your pick they are all quite warm. It just depends on the power you want.
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  • rubin
    rubin Posts: 565
    edited June 2011
    Joe08867 wrote: »
    What SS are you using for the low end? What Pre are you using?

    I think the first problem is trying to warm up Paradigm's. They are not the warmest speakers going.

    That said Manley, Cayin or Rogue take your pick they are all quite warm. It just depends on the power you want.

    Does single end give the warmest sound?
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  • rubin
    rubin Posts: 565
    edited June 2011
    inspiredsports wrote: »
    Questions:
    - Do you have a budget in mind?
    - Do you prefer to buy new or vintage?
    - Is Chinese-built OK?
    - What tube preamp are you using?

    This might be a perfect solution and extra tubes with different tonal characteristics are included . . . http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=119760

    Jolida envoy pre, budget 1k tops.Chinese,Taiwan ok
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  • inspiredsports
    inspiredsports Posts: 5,501
    edited June 2011
    rubin wrote: »
    Does single end give the warmest sound?

    In my opinion, careful tube selection has the greatest impact on warmth.
    VTL ST50 w/mods / RCA6L6GC / TlfnknECC801S
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 w/mods
    TT Conrad Johnson Sonographe SG3 Oak / Sumiko LMT / Grado Woodbody Platinum / Sumiko PIB2 / The Clamp
    Musical Fidelity A1 CDPro/ Bada DD-22 Tube CDP / Conrad Johnson SD-22 CDP
    Tuners w/mods Kenwood KT5020 / Fisher KM60
    MF x-DAC V8, HAInfo NG27
    Herbies Ti-9 / Vibrapods / MIT Shotgun AC1 IEC's / MIT Shotgun 2 IC's / MIT Shotgun 2 Speaker Cables
    PS Audio Cryo / PowerPort Premium Outlets / Exact Power EP15A Conditioner
    Walnut SDA 2B TL /Oak SDA SRS II TL (Sonicaps/Mills/Cardas/Custom SDA ICs / Dynamat Extreme / Larry's Rings/ FSB-2 Spikes
    NAD SS rigs w/mods
    GIK panels
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,804
    edited June 2011
    a MR/HF amp would be an ideal application for Steve Deckert's little single-ended EL84 SE-84 "Zen" amp (not to be confused with any Nelson Pass product or idea!). At about 2 wpc it really isn't powerful enough for full-range use with even very sensitive speakers (need well over 100 dB/watt@1meter sensitivity... and even then it was borderline IME); but they sound good, they're simple, inexpensive, rugged, and very quiet.

    http://www.decware.com/newsite/SE84C.htm

    I have one of the "B" versions of the amp, dating back to ca. 1998.

    DSCN5766.jpg
    DSC_9987.jpg

    A well-designed and implemented single-ended triode (or triode-mode) vacuum tube design won't sound 'warm' at all. It will sound very natural; not realistic, but real - especially in the midrange (e.g., vocals, acoustic instruments). My own A-B listening experience generally supports the old "lifting a veil" metaphor going from, say, a Class AB pentode-mode push-pull EL84 amp to a triode-mode single-ended (Class A by definition) EL84 amp; everything sounds a little more "immediate" with the SE-pseudoT compared to the PP. Warmth is a coloration that I associate with unrestored Dynaco ST-70s and 1950s console hifis (and the kind of thing that gives tube amplification a bad name with the haters).

    Obviously just my own hardly-humble ruminations.
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  • rubin
    rubin Posts: 565
    edited June 2011
    I noticed a layer of warmth moving to a tube pre, I now want to improve that using an appropriate amp-tube combination for the mid-treble portion of my speakers.
    I cant afford $$$$ speakers to achieve this. I'm looking for a smooth rolled off perhaps somewhat dull sound, the most I can get for around 1 thousand new or used. So I'm calling on members who might know of an amp that will do this.
    I've done some preamp tube rolling with reasonable improvement but I believe a tube amp will do more.
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited June 2011
    PM sent
    Jake
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