Choosing a tube amp

kawizx9r

Ok here's a better question, with what I'm currently running what should I get;

1. A decent DAC, great option on a strict budget which will in turn let me save more cash and give me the time to better learn about other components.

2. Tubed pre in the next few months, with less knowledge/experience than if I went with option 1. In turn might lead me to make yet another purchase for a better tubed pre and then having to get rid of the initial one I purchased

3. A decent source. I've checked out Stereophile reviews/etc, checked out the 'gon and looked at what other people are running and what's popular. I would estimate that this would be anywhere from 75-90% the purchase price of a good tubed pre for my soon-to-be 2 channel setup.

I've been looking at Diamondback IC's but that's a different story. I definitely liked the jump from Signal Cable analog I's and now running Sidewinders so that might help things integrate a bit better as well

Edit: Just saw your post F1, I do agree with the quality being left out running through my AVR...at least the decision about what to get is coming closer. As for the PM's, I just got linked some sites and the sort and what others have personally run through their setup.

And as far as CDP's go, any problems with running a tubed cdp as opposed to a traditional higher end player?

reeltrouble1

as I say tubes rule so a tubed player is great, although in this case you really need a tubed pre. Read about the BAT Vishay gain control in their white paper, look for discreet circuity, balanced operation (not just balanced outputs), polarity switch, mono switch, decide if you need an input for a TT, there are many to choose from.....BAT, Conrad Johnson, Cary, Manley, VTL, ARC, Jolida, Vincent, Joule, in no particular order, the list goes on, you may find you can just keep the Moscode.

I would pick up a Musicality Fidelity tube buffer for your source, they are fairly inexpensive about 200-250 on the Audiogon.

my favorite cables are the MIT shotgun series.

good luck and take your time, one thing at a time.

RT1

kawizx9r

So I just wanted to bring this up because I've been looking at VTL's even more lately (because of all the great things continuously being said and F1's recommendation lol) and because another member on here is getting one in for a demo.

Just this morning I told my wife about said-future purchase because last night when she was sleep talking, she turned over to me and said "pre-amp" lol I asked her "whatd you say" and she's like "yea preamp!" I'm taking that as a sign that I need to get one already haha.