Tube Amps

jhermance
jhermance Posts: 214
edited May 2006 in Electronics
Ok i am new into this tube amp thing what are the best uses for these types of amps. I know it sounds dumb but the only way to learn is to ask and do research. Any help would be nice guys. Oh yeah i am looking to get an amp for a set of RTi8's eventually upgrading to RTi12's. T
Thanks for the help
Samsung UN46C7000
Cambridge Audio 640R
Sony BDP-S570
Magnepan MMG's
Totem Dreamcatcher Center
Eleganza™ Bella 1200 High Performance Subwoofer
Polk R15 Surrounds
Audioquest Cables
Panamax 5510-PRO AC Regenerator
Monster Cable HTS 2500 MKII power cleaner
Nordost Blue Heaven Interconnects
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Comments

  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited May 2006
    Tube amps are best used for two-channel systems.
    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."
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  • Dennis Gardner
    Dennis Gardner Posts: 4,861
    edited May 2006
    A tube amp that can drive the 12s would cost alot of $$$. You will need something around 100wpc to get the bass going strong.

    I prefer a tube preamp with a powerful solid state amp for my Polk speakers since they seem to like power.
    HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable

    2 Channel Thorens TD 318 Grado ZF1, SACD/CD Marantz 8260, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, Audio Mirror PP1, Odyssey Stratos, ADS L-1290, ICs-DIY Twisted , Speaker-Raymond Cable
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 34,016
    edited May 2006
    If you really feel you need that much power (and, were I you, I'd try a 50 wpc tube amp before deciding you do), Manley Labs' Snapper or Neoclassic 250 (or 500) should perform adequately. These are all monoblocks, so you can have n.1 channels if you have the resources :-)

    http://www.manleylabs.com/containerpages/snapper.html
    http://www.manleylabs.com/containerpages/250_Y2K.html

    BIGneo250cu.jpg
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  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited May 2006
    The big manleys are nice for sure but any of the 50 to 60 wpc amps would get you in the ballpark unless you need exceptional power. One thing you will find is that with tubes you start listening more and end up satisfied with slightly less volume.
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 34,016
    edited May 2006
    The big manleys are nice for sure but any of the 50 to 60 wpc amps would get you in the ballpark unless you need exceptional power.

    I agree. To that end, a Manley Stingray might be worth a passing glance. Hard to go wrong with EL84's, even 4 of 'em per channel (push-pull parallel) :-)

    The most powerful tube amps at my house are PP 7591A's (a Scott LK-72, Fisher 500C, and, recently added, a Sherwood S-5500II) -- what, maybe 25 or 30 wpc? My everyday driver's an EICO HF-81 at a blistering 14 wpc. Plenty for me. I wish my HF-81 were as pretty as Kelley "Mobilehomeless" Holsten's...

    eico_front_white.jpg
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  • Frank Z
    Frank Z Posts: 5,860
    edited May 2006
    Early B. wrote:
    Tube amps are best used for two-channel systems.
    Not really...
    FAP_V1_closeup.jpg
    Fosgate.......MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!
    9/11 - WE WILL NEVER FORGET!! (<---<<click)
    2005-06 Club Polk Football Pool Champion!! :D
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  • beardog03
    beardog03 Posts: 5,550
    edited May 2006
    I have bee droolin over the Manley 250 and 500`s for a while now....

    I need to decide if I`m going that route or with the Cary V-12 Mono`s


    It`s gonna take a large leap to best my Cary F1 signature
    Cary SLP-98L F1 DC Pre Amp (Jag Blue)
    Parasound HCA-3500
    Cary Audio V12 amp (Jag Red)
    Polk Audio Xm Reciever (Autographed by THE MAN Himself) :cool:
    Magnum Dynalab MD-102 Analog Tuna
    Jolida JD-100 CDP
    Polk Audio LSi9 Speaks (ebony)
    SVS PC-Ultra Sub
    AQ Bedrock Speaker Cables (Bi-Wired)
    MIT Shotgun S1 I/C`s
    AQ Black Thunder Sub Cables
    PS Audio Plus Power Cords
    Magnum Dynalab ST-2 FM Antenna
    Sanus Cherry wood Speak Stands
    Adona AV45CS3 / 3 Tier Rack (Black /Gold)

    :cool:
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 34,016
    edited May 2006
    Manley's products look to me like a lot of bang for the buck. Besides, EveAnna "Vanimal" Manley is crazy -- in a good kind of way.
    bubblesb.jpg
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,019
    edited May 2006
    Early B. wrote:
    Tube amps are best used for two-channel systems.
    WELL...YES AND NO.Speaker sensitivety has some to do with it.
    Also,there are 5- channel tube amps out there like Butler.Or you
    can always bi-amp with tubes on top and ss for the bottom.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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