Tube Amps

Will62

Looking to add an amp. Have found a couple of affordable Tube amps (not hybrid solid state/tubes) that get excellent reviews and apparently perform above their price level.

Has anyone tried using either of these? If so, what kind of speakers are you using to drive them?

http://www.musicalparadise.ca/store/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=54

http://gemtuneonline.com/products/gemtune-x-1

Dennis Gardner

Nothing wrong trying out different flavors of amps as long as you have speakers that will give the volumes you need from less than 10 watts of power. Choosing tube amps without having a speaker set in mind is backward thinking for me. You need to have a set of speakers with a general sound that you like and then add the power needed to drive them properly. If your speakers are rated less than 90dB @1 watt you might need to look into something in a 30-60 watt tube amp like some of the Silk Audio offerings that a number here on the forum own. They run $500-$800.

I am sure that others will chime in with their own personal thoughts.........I run tube preamps with SS amplification as I like to have that extra power on occasion and tube changes are less $$$.

Will62

Yes, I have some speakers in mind. Currently have an old pair of Jamo 68's which are 90 db sensitivity at 8 ohms. Also looking to purchase something new like the Home Theater Direct Level 2 Towers. Same sensitivity as the Jamo's. May also look at Polk again since the Tubes will tame the high end.

mhardy6647

Dennis Gardner wrote: »

Nothing wrong trying out different flavors of amps as long as you have speakers that will give the volumes you need from less than 10 watts of power. Choosing tube amps without having a speaker set in mind is backward thinking for me.

Generally speaking, yes, I'd agree :- )


DSC_8060 by Mark Hardy, on Flickr

3.5 watts per channel (give or take) and 100 dB/watt @ 1 meter (give or take) here...

although -- depending on one's loudspeakers, some are more adaptable to low/fleapower than others. Not just sensitivity but also "ease to drive" can be an important factor. For example, many of the vintage ads/Braun loudspeakers, despite being fairly small sealed box "monkey coffins" sound darned good with, e.g., push-pull EL84 power (ca. 12 watts per channel). The vintage, venerable Dynaco A-25 likewise will work will with fairly low vacuum tube power (or even soiled state power, for that matter).

Will62

Currently I am using a Qinpu A3 and a Dayton Audio T120. Both easily drive the Jamo's and also a pair of Mirage OM 10 Towers that I have. Will not be able to use the OM 10's in the current home I own due to a pet issue. Don't have the means to make a dedicated listening room due to the size of the house. Cats seem to like jumping on the grill clothe. At least she leaves the bookshelves alone and likely a tower that has a wood veneer at the bottom without having the grill near the bottom of the speaker.

mhardy6647

many of the vintage ads loudspeakers have perforated metal grilles -- and they sound really good.

Just sayin'...

;- )

Dennis Gardner

I have both ADS L1230s and L1290s and Frazier Mk Vs that are just fine on 20 watts of tube power, but my Polks tend to respond better to my higher powered amps.

mhardy6647

Mine do too, actually (now that you mention it).
Indeed, I was quite surprised - and disappointed - by how bad my much-beloved Monitor Series Model 7As sounded when driven by my EICO HF-81. The HF-81, which I rehabbed myself a long time ago, is a fine sounding PP EL84 amplifier, but it wasn't great at all with the 7As.

Will62

I've found that buying speakers first and then adding a amp is not always the best way to match components. I tried that with my second system which started with Klipsch Heresy speakers. I went through four different amps over ten years before I got wise and sold the speakers.

And when I purchased the Mirage OM 10 speakers I already had a Yamaha amp in place and that matched up well. Switched to a Cambridge Audio a couple of years later and that was also decent. But the new Dayton and Qinpu amps that I have really make the OM 10's shine.

heiney9

Those brands look a little sketchy. You have to watch out for cheap Chinese junk, it's nothing but headaches. The description certainly uses all the correct buzz words and component brands. Makes one wonder using all those top shelf parts and a gold plated pcb, how they can sell them so cheap. I bet the transformers in there are pretty dicey.

Gemtunes? Really, I'd pass just on the cheesy name. Musical Paradise isn't much better. Not trying to rain on your parade, but the tubes they use are marginal and really don't have too many equivalents beyond the 6L6 or EL34's.

Save your money and get something nicely used or atleast something with a good track record like Jolida. There is budget gear and then there is cheap gear. This is cheap gear.

Just my .02c since you asked.

H9

mhardy6647

Just to underscore the major take home message of the previous post -- yup. One gets what one pays for.

Will62

Bear in mind you don't get a lot of bells and whistles from these small amps. One or a couple of Inputs and little else. Costs are shaved off as a result of the simplicity and attention is paid to using parts that offer great sound quality.

I've read dozens, and in some cases hundreds of both professional and users reviews of these T class, D class and new small Class A amps and most are very favorable. When I see numerous favorable posts from people that have owned expensive amps like Conrad Johnson, Krell, McIntosh, Parasound etc. commenting favorably on the Qinpu, Musical Paradise, Dayton amps etc. I sit up and take notice. Most will quickly agree that a 300 amp is not going to be better than a amp costing 2 grand. But these little amps compete favorably with amps costing several hundred dollars more and in many cases are better sounding than a solid state integrated amp in the sub $1,000 range.

Seriously, unless you've owned one of these and have done head to head comparisons with more pricey gear like I have (and countless others) I think you need to buy one of these and compare it to other amps up to 2 grand to get a real idea of how they compete.

Will62

One more comment concerning building a system around speakers first. It is a given in the audio industry that people are going to try and demo speakers and will return them if they don't sound right. But it is not a common practice to buy amps or other gear to try and return. That being said, it is easier to build a system around the amp and then try speakers that match up well with it knowing it will be far easier to return the speakers and try a different model or brand. There is a limited number of amps (and manufacturers) that you can try and use and return before you are going to get a bad reputation from one or more sellers. But with probably thousands of speaker manufacturers and the premise that when you initially purchase a pair of speakers you are simply demoing them at home and may return the, that negative stigma is removed and you can shop with the ease of mind of knowing that you can return the speakers for a refund and buy another pair without fear of being put on a "black list" like some retailers do for people that return a lot of items.

Will62

Heiny9. Research indicates there are a lot of high quality tubes that you can roll for both units. Numerous reviews indicate these amps will sound excellent and far exceed their price point with tube swapping.

Will62

Request. I'd prefer to have input from people that have used these small Class A amps vs. people that have not.

It's no different than someone commenting on a car they've never owned. While you may own a car that does not make you an expert on a model or make that you do not own unless you've actually worked on it at the very least.

I have owned Honda's, Toyota's, Chevy Pickup and currently a Hyundai. I can comment on these cars but can't comment on a Ford F 150, Jaquar, Mercedes, Subaru and so on because I have no prior experience. Have not driven them, have not ridden in them or worked on them. I'm not qualified to comment.

Does this make sense?

Dennis Gardner

Wow.......

mhardy6647

Heck, I've never even owned an F-150, so I'm out.

halo71

This thread has given me Forrest Whittaker eye....

Will62

Amazed at the number of Xavier Nugat types that post to this forum. Going elsewhere where I can get unbiased feedback.

lightman1

Who's Xavier Nougat? The inventor of the stuff in candy bars? I like nougat.

F1nut

Out of personal interest, how many pieces of gear that you've owned have you actually worked on? What about the folks in the reviews you've read, did they actually work on those pieces of gear?

txcoastal1

Sounds like to me that you have already done the research and made the decision before even coming here but yet you have never owned any of the pieces either but yet you justify them.
...you got feed back and didn't like the opinions which is fine...

The great things about opinions you can take'em or leave'em

Really hope you find the gear and the answer you are looking.

motorhead43026

Willy is all wet.

mhardy6647

F1nut wrote: »

Out of personal interest, how many pieces of gear that you've owned have you actually worked on? What about the folks in the reviews you've read, did they actually work on those pieces of gear?

... or designed and/or built, for that matter?

-- as some if not many of us here have done.

(OK, now I'm out!)

cnh

Ford F150? I had to google that as I've never owned a truck! lol So I guess I've never even been "in"! lol

F1nut

cnh wrote: »

Ford F150? I had to google that as I've never owned a truck! lol So I guess I've never even been "in"! lol

You've lived such a sheltered life.

Nightfall

cnh wrote: »

Ford F150? I had to google that as I've never owned a truck.

I can't tell if you're serious or not. The best selling pickup truck on the planet, never heard of it? What else, Toyota Corolla? Honda Civic?

boston1450

I own a Dodge. Im offended

mhardy6647

I had one of these (this one, in fact) for quite a while -- 'twas, in fact, my first love (to Mrs. H's chagrin):

bronchusspiffed by Mark Hardy, on Flickr

The only time I ever remember her trying to drive it (when we were moving stuff into our first house together) -- it decided to have a flat tire. I don't think it liked her very much :-/

MrBuhl

^^ Dayum - those Broncs will ALWAYS be classic ^^

mikeyb128

Dennis Gardner wrote: »

Wow.......

I absolutely love this video lol that dude drops like a bag of... Ya know...