thinking tubes

raidersrule76
raidersrule76 Posts: 471
edited March 2010 in 2 Channel Audio
Well I have been really considering taking the plunge and buying myself a tube amp to try out. Now I really don't know a whole lot about them.

I would really like to get some input from some of the guys here on picking one the will not break the bank and if for some reason I would be able to resell it with out to much of a problem. As far a budget goes I would like to stick to under 700 if possible not sure if thats going to work or not but hell I will give it a shot.

I would be looking at running this on my 2.3 tl so any one that would like to give me a little advice that would be great. So any and all suggestions are welcome even if the price is a little higher than what I have mentioned.


Thanks in advance
Mark
Sig to be updated after dealing with the insurance company:(:(:(
Post edited by raidersrule76 on
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Comments

  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited February 2010
    Have you thought about starting with a nice tube pre-amp to get your feet wet? Or are you set on getting a tube power amp? If you go with a tube power amp what would you use for a pre-amp?

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • mshan242700
    mshan242700 Posts: 823
    edited February 2010
    How much power and current do those 2.3 TL require?

    Powerful tube amps can get expensive, as can a new set of tubes.

    Tube pre-amp with solid state amp might make more sense, or possibly even just start with that Yaqin Tube Buffer to add some tube magic to your system and see if it is your cup of tea:

    http://www.pacificvalve.us/YaqinTB.html




    :)
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,033
    edited February 2010
    If you can find an Anthem1 tube amp, it would fit your wallet and power them properly. A couple of us on this forum have this particular piece of gear and she sure can sing.
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • marvda1
    marvda1 Posts: 4,901
    edited February 2010
    i started with a tube preamp and ss amp then bought a little 60 watt jolida integrated amp that finally convinced me to go full out tube power amps with tube preamp. come to think of it my preamp is not a full tube pre but hybrid tube frontend and ss output stage.
    Amplifiers: Norma IPA 140, MasterSound Compact 845, Ayre v6xe, Consonance Cyber 800
    Preamp: deHavilland Ultraverve 3
    Dac: Sonnet Morpheus 2, Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkIII
    Transport: Jay's Audio CDT2 mk2, Lumin U1 mini
    Speakers: Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II
    Speaker Cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Organic Audio Organic Reference 2
    Interconnects: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Argento Organic Reference 2, Argento Organic 2
    Power Cables: Argento Organic Reference, Synergistic Research Foundation 10 and 12 ga.
    Digital cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2 bnc, Tellurium Q aes, Silnote Audio Poseidon Signature 2 bnc
    Puritan PSM156
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  • marvda1
    marvda1 Posts: 4,901
    edited February 2010
    here is a new jolida hybrid 100w power amp that comes in under your budget.
    http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstube&1271040913&/Jolida-JD-1501P-100wpc-Hybrid-
    this amp and maybe add the yaqin tube buffer also and you are still in your budget.
    Amplifiers: Norma IPA 140, MasterSound Compact 845, Ayre v6xe, Consonance Cyber 800
    Preamp: deHavilland Ultraverve 3
    Dac: Sonnet Morpheus 2, Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkIII
    Transport: Jay's Audio CDT2 mk2, Lumin U1 mini
    Speakers: Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II
    Speaker Cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Organic Audio Organic Reference 2
    Interconnects: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Argento Organic Reference 2, Argento Organic 2
    Power Cables: Argento Organic Reference, Synergistic Research Foundation 10 and 12 ga.
    Digital cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2 bnc, Tellurium Q aes, Silnote Audio Poseidon Signature 2 bnc
    Puritan PSM156
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  • raidersrule76
    raidersrule76 Posts: 471
    edited February 2010
    Thanks guys gives me some things to think about. I do like the idea of the tube buffer and also the Jolida. I believe that when I went and checked out the 2.3 he had them running off an older 60w jolida and it sounded sweet so maybe for the price that would be a start and then see what happens from there. I will keep everyone posted on what I decide.


    Thanks
    Mark
    Sig to be updated after dealing with the insurance company:(:(:(
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  • BSUfbfan
    BSUfbfan Posts: 201
    edited February 2010
    Hey Raiders,

    I've got a pair of 2.3's currently run with a tube CD player and tube Preamp. I have been using an Aragon 4004 MKII (200x2) to run them, but tomorrow I will take delivery of my first venture into tube amplification on the big Polks.... a Sonic Frontiers SFS-40 (45x2) http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstube&1271267776&/Sonic-Frontiers-SFS-40-stereo-,

    so I will spend some time listening and update you with the progress.

    Mike
    SDA SRS 2.3
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  • kcoc321
    kcoc321 Posts: 1,788
    edited February 2010
    I just got notification yesterday that Grant Fidelity has released the B-283 MKII, which uses the 6SN7 tubes, which are more ready available than the 6J1/ 6AK5's. I just got the B-283 'stock' and have thoroughly enjoyed the richness that the tubes add to my system. Course if I had know the MKII was only $65 more, I probably would have gone with that. I stil might :D

    http://grantfidelity.com/site/Grant_Fidelity_B283_MKII_tube_processor_buffer

    B283MKII%20front.jpg
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited February 2010
    here

    http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatube&1271648401&/Van-Alstine-Fet-Valve-
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited February 2010
    kcoc321 wrote: »
    I just got notification yesterday that Grant Fidelity has released the B-283 MKII, which uses the 6SN7 tubes, which are more ready available than the 6J1/ 6AK5's. I just got the B-283 'stock' and have thoroughly enjoyed the richness that the tubes add to my system. Course if I had know the MKII was only $65 more, I probably would have gone with that. I stil might :D

    http://grantfidelity.com/site/Grant_Fidelity_B283_MKII_tube_processor_buffer

    B283MKII%20front.jpg

    Its by and far a much better tube as well. There are some stellar 6SN7's out there.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • inspiredsports
    inspiredsports Posts: 5,501
    edited February 2010
    marvda1 wrote: »
    here is a new jolida hybrid 100w power amp that comes in under your budget.
    http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstube&1271040913&/Jolida-JD-1501P-100wpc-Hybrid-
    this amp and maybe add the yaqin tube buffer also and you are still in your budget.

    At $700 it will be tough to accomplish, but the Jolida sure seems to be the right solution. One of the above in nice shape traded at $600 on eBay recently and I could kick myself for not jumping on it.

    As mentioned above, quality high powered tube amps can cost a bunch, but the Jolida sure seems to deliver lots of clean watts on a budget.

    Personally, I've stuck with strong SS amplification and a tube preamp where your $700 budget will cover more ground and you will still enjoy the sweetness that only tubes in the circuit can provide.
    VTL ST50 w/mods / RCA6L6GC / TlfnknECC801S
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 w/mods
    TT Conrad Johnson Sonographe SG3 Oak / Sumiko LMT / Grado Woodbody Platinum / Sumiko PIB2 / The Clamp
    Musical Fidelity A1 CDPro/ Bada DD-22 Tube CDP / Conrad Johnson SD-22 CDP
    Tuners w/mods Kenwood KT5020 / Fisher KM60
    MF x-DAC V8, HAInfo NG27
    Herbies Ti-9 / Vibrapods / MIT Shotgun AC1 IEC's / MIT Shotgun 2 IC's / MIT Shotgun 2 Speaker Cables
    PS Audio Cryo / PowerPort Premium Outlets / Exact Power EP15A Conditioner
    Walnut SDA 2B TL /Oak SDA SRS II TL (Sonicaps/Mills/Cardas/Custom SDA ICs / Dynamat Extreme / Larry's Rings/ FSB-2 Spikes
    NAD SS rigs w/mods
    GIK panels
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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited February 2010
    stop thinking, stop bleeding, start enjoying the tube, you may have to up the budget to find your sweet spot but nothing wrong with Jolida as a break-in, the first step is the most important, after that it is cake, well, that an some audio coin, remember though, far better to seek forgiveness than permission.

    As a first step though an integrated would be nice, maybe something from BAT or Cary or Manley, better than Jolida but generally more franklins.

    RT1
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited February 2010
    There's a Manley Shrimp on the 'gon for $880! I almost bought the SOB.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • BSUfbfan
    BSUfbfan Posts: 201
    edited March 2010
    Well Raiders, all I can say is go ahead and take the plunge on the tube amp!! I have had the 45x2 Sonic Frontiers tube amp for over a week now, and it mates so well with the SDA-2.3's I truly can't believe the performance. I am just amazed how good these Polk's sound with an all-tube system, and how efficient they are. WOW!

    Mike
    SDA SRS 2.3
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