Best Tube Gear List

Early B.
Early B. Posts: 7,900
edited April 2005 in 2 Channel Audio
Interested in hearing from the veterans a list of the best tube gear you've ever owned.

Also, vintage vs. contemporary -- generally speaking, which ones are better (if at all) and why?
HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

"God grooves with tubes."
Post edited by Early B. on
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Comments

  • pjdami
    pjdami Posts: 1,894
    edited March 2005
    Not a tube veteran, but I have my share:

    Rogue 88 tube amp; great effin amp. Very three dimensional soundstage with airy highs, beautiful mids, and bass is pretty good for a tube amp. Compared to some nice entry level Acoustic Research tube amps at the dealer. I preferred the Rogue.

    Jolida JD100 cd player; I think enough has been said recently about this tube output player.

    Melos SHA1 and Cary SLP-88 tube preamps. Take your pick; they both sound great. 6DJ8 vs. 6SN7 tubes here.

    Musical Fidelity X10v3 tube buffer stage; great way to add some tubiness into an all solid state system (as is the case in my HT rig when used for two channel).
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,801
    edited April 2005
    I don't know about best, but I can list some faves:

    vintage:
    EICO HF-81 (or HF-12 or HF-14) all different versions of a very nice EL84pp amp

    Fisher 400 and 500 receivers (7868pp and 7591App, respectively)

    New stuff:
    Bottlehead Paramour 2A3 SE monoblocks (great sound per dollar)

    Tuner:
    Sherwood S-2000/S-3000 series (great sound at a bargain price)
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