Starter Tube System

Hillbilly61
Hillbilly61 Posts: 702
edited February 2010 in 2 Channel Audio
Lightman's thread (see, http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1268473&posted=1#post1268473 ) kind of touched a itch with me. In it he is querying about a starter tube system.

What would you tube experts suggest as a starter system at that general price range?

I've been itching to get into the world of tubes, as wonderful things are heard about them and the technical background research backs up the talk. Plus, tubes are surely something that can be tinkered with!

Any suggestions?????

Thanks,

Hillbilly
Post edited by Hillbilly61 on
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  • michaeljhsda2
    michaeljhsda2 Posts: 2,184
    edited February 2010
    I'm gonna get this one: http://cgi.ebay.com/MA-XDSE-Russian-KT88-Class-A-Integrated-Tube-Amplifier_W0QQitemZ260548248592QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_Amplifiers?hash=item3ca9e2c410
    SDA SRS 2.3TL's
    Silk Audio MS-90-BT integrated tube amp
    Yaqin MS-20L integrated tube amp
    SDA 2B TL's
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  • dpowell
    dpowell Posts: 3,068
    edited February 2010
    michaeljhsda2 wrote: »
    I'm gonna get this one: http://cgi.ebay.com/MA-XDSE-Russian-KT88-Class-A-Integrated-Tube-Amplifier_W0QQitemZ260548248592QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_Amplifiers?hash=item3ca9e2c410

    This one definitely has more wpc than the one mentioned in the other thread. Seems like a great price to get into tubes.
    ____________________________________________________________

    polkaudio Fully Modded SDA SRS 1.2TLs + Dreadnaught, LSiM706c, 4 X Polk Surrounds + 4 X ATMOS, SVS PB13 Ultra X 2, Pass Labs X1, Marantz 7704, Bob Carver Crimson Beauty 350 Tube Mono Blocks, Carver Sunfire Signature Cinema Grande 400x5, ADCOM GFA 7807, Panasonic UB420, Moon 380D DAC, EPSON Pro Cinema 6050
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  • Hillbilly61
    Hillbilly61 Posts: 702
    edited February 2010
    That e-Bay auction raises an interesting question. From reading about tubes, there seems to be a lot of them coming out of Russia, whereas in the US anything tube seemed to be on its last legs before Russia broke into the free market. By "last legs" I mean few tubes were being produced and things seemed to have transcended to using the last remaining tubes still working.

    Any commentary on this?
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  • mshan242700
    mshan242700 Posts: 823
    edited February 2010
    http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=73315.20

    If you own very high efficiency speakers, the Miniwatt is well built and sounds pleasant enough: http://www.miniwatt.com.hk/
    http://www.aloaudio.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1_4

    I kind of suspect it would sound very good with Klipsch speakers, but they would have to be an easy load with very high efficiency.




    :)
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  • mshan242700
    mshan242700 Posts: 823
    edited February 2010
    Miniwatt requires banana plugs and doesn't come with a power cord, but both are available at a very reasonable price at http://www.monoprice.com.

    Also, Jolida FX-10 has just been released, and iirc, I think someone bought one for $330 brand new: http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=76916.0

    They have also just released an usb dac for about $100 in matching series.
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  • ViperZ
    ViperZ Posts: 2,046
    edited February 2010
    Get rebuilt Dynaco ST-70. Fabulous 2-channel amp.
    Panasonic PT-AE4000U projector for movies
    Carada 106" Precision Series (Classic Cinema White)
    Denon AVR-X3600H pre/pro
    Outlaw 770 7-channel amplifier
    B&W CDM1-SE fronts
    B&W CDM-CNT center
    B&W CDM1 rears on MoPADs
    JBL SP8CII in-ceiling height speakers
    Samsung DTB-H260F OTA HDTV tuner
    DUAL NHT SubTwo subwoofers
    Oppo BDP-93 Blu-Ray player
    Belkin PF60 Power Center
    Harmony 1100 RF remote with RF extender
    Sony XBR-X950G 55" 4K HDR Smart TV + PS3 in the living room
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  • Hillbilly61
    Hillbilly61 Posts: 702
    edited February 2010
    ViperZ wrote: »
    Get rebuilt Dynaco ST-70. Fabulous 2-channel amp.

    What would be a ballpark price? I'm asking because I am in that mode of life where I have to write two checks every six months that would outright buy two economy cars, except it is called college tuition for two children.

    My children are doing right with my money spent on their education and future, so I do not mind. On the other hand, I need to ask about price concerning everything else.
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,077
    edited February 2010
    IMO, not that anyone asked.....if you are looking to 'get into' tubes, I would highly recommend a tube preamp first. Many find the tube pre/solid state amp to be the way to go.

    Then, perhaps dabble in a tube amp....

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited February 2010
    Agreed a tube pre amp is the way to start. Bypassing AVR for 2 channel music is a move in the positive direction also.

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


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  • jz0h4d
    jz0h4d Posts: 33
    edited February 2010
    Audio Research tube preamp and a pair of Mcintosh MC30's.
    That's my tube setup.
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  • Cassidy
    Cassidy Posts: 87
    edited February 2010
    So if one where to venture down this path...would a typical rig be:

    CD Player > tube preamp > solid state amp > speakers ?

    Would this eliminate the need for high efficiency speakers becasue the amp is providing the big watts?
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  • Hillbilly61
    Hillbilly61 Posts: 702
    edited February 2010
    Cassidy wrote: »
    So if one where to venture down this path...would a typical rig be:

    CD Player > tube preamp > solid state amp > speakers ?

    Would this eliminate the need for high efficiency speakers becasue the amp is providing the big watts?


    Provide an alternate path... that is all that I asking. Please weigh in re. detail!!!!
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  • thsmith
    thsmith Posts: 6,082
    edited February 2010
    Agree with pre first. I have had a GFP-750, Pre 1L and 2L and the Wright WLA12A has made the biggest impact to my system. Clarity, balance, soundstage and list goes on.

    They can be had for less than $500.
    Speakers: SDA-1C (most all the goodies)
    Preamp: Joule Electra LA-150 MKII SE
    Amp: Wright WPA 50-50 EAT KT88s
    Analog: Marantz TT-15S1 MBS Glider SL| Wright WPP100C Amperex BB 6er5 and 7316 & WPM-100 SUT
    Digital: Mac mini 2.3GHz dual-core i5 8g RAM 1.5 TB HDD Music Server Amarra (memory play) - USB - W4S DAC 2
    Cables: Mits S3 IC and Spk cables| PS Audio PCs
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  • Cassidy
    Cassidy Posts: 87
    edited February 2010
    Here is a link to a relevant article.

    http://www.soundstage.com/noisy04.htm
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited February 2010
    Cassidy wrote: »
    So if one where to venture down this path...would a typical rig be:

    CD Player > tube preamp > solid state amp > speakers ?

    Would this eliminate the need for high efficiency speakers becasue the amp is providing the big watts?

    Like it was mentioned earlier, it's a good way to get into tubes. It will eliminate the need for high eff speakers because of the SS amp. BUT it depends how much you like the tube sound. The sound of low powered SET tube amps are so magical but they're usually under 10w/ch. So this is when the high efficiency becomes necessary.

    Also, high eff speakers, especially horns and single driver Fostex and Lowthers all have their own very unique sound.

    Up until a year ago I was running 3w/ch SET into a pair of 104db/w/m horns. It was mind blowing.
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  • Hillbilly61
    Hillbilly61 Posts: 702
    edited February 2010
    Cassidy wrote: »
    Here is a link to a relevant article.

    http://www.soundstage.com/noisy04.htm

    Thanks! This is a very interesting read! I have a boss 2ch SS Yamaha integrated amp (100 WPC continuous, 350 WPC available for transients) that has separate inputs for a preamp.

    Maybe, dipping my toe into tubes via a tube preamp is the way to approach things with what I have on hand.
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  • mjcmt
    mjcmt Posts: 44
    edited February 2010
    An above average starter tube system could consist of:
    Jolida 302 (EL34) tube integrated amp, Jolida 100 tube cdp. They also offer tube tuners and tube phono stages.

    A really nice vintage tube system could be:
    Dynaco Pas 3 tube pre, Dynaco Stereo 70 (EL34) tube power amp, and Dynaco FM3 tube tuner.

    (EL34 power tubes are great amp tubes w/ a lovely sound.)
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