Thinking about going tubes

stangman67 · January 2018

Hey all,

Looking for advice before I take the plunge. My 2 channel is listed below and I am wanting to try tubes out as I have yet to really have any experience with tube amps. The focals have a minimum impedance of 2.9 ohms so the amp would have to be stout. Looking at picking up a tube integrated vice specifics. Trying to keep price below 2500.

My reasoning for wanting to switch is I am trying to expand my horizons and see what suits me the best. I like my TEAC amp but so far I have had all SS and just want to try out some new things. I listen to mostly prog rock on my 2 channel (Genesis, PG, Jethro Tull, Yes etc). Looking into giving the Rogue Cronus Magnum II a shot. Also looking at alternatives such as the Primaluna prologue premier or Line Magnetic 216ia which are both less powerful but I have been led to believe 30-40 watts is plenty out of a tube amp for moderately efficient speakers.

tonyb · January 2018

Has to be an integrated ? Why not just try a tube pre amp first, get your feet wet and go from there ? Many love having the slam of SS with the tone and air tubes provide.

Look at Cary too.

dromunds · January 2018

^^^ Agreed.

mhardy6647 · January 2018

What are these toobes of which are spoken here?

mhardy6647 · January 2018

Actually, with transformer coupling, low load impedance isn't really the issue that it is for you boys used to direct coupled soiled state amps. Dead short circuits shouldn't phase a transformer-coupled vacuum tube amplifier (although open circuit outputs are best avoided).

That said, if one goes with a tube amplifier with high output impedance (e.g., one with no global NFB), then the load impedance will be "felt" much more by the amplifier. This isn't a problem, but it does make matching amplifier and loudspeaker more important for best (audible) results.

The sensitivity of your loudspeakers is a factor of interest -- despite some of the hooey on the interwebs, a watt is a watt.

Some watts just sound better than others

heiney9 · January 2018

I'd start with a good tube pre-amp if you want to dabble in tubes.

tratliff · January 2018

I agree with what has been posted. Snatch up a tube pre and see how you like it along with the SS amp.

Emlyn · January 2018

May be worth your time to reach out to Kevin Deal at Upscale Audio. He seems to have experience with the speakers you are getting and gear matching. He identified in his view that they are not bright speakers. Primaluna is his thing. Could go preamp, integrated, or tube amp. I think he usually recommends a tube amp.

scubalab · January 2018

Zach, did you see this?

https://cnj.craigslist.org/ele/d/rogue-audio-cronus-integrated/6461473490.html

A little dusty, but seems like a good price...

mikeyb128 · January 2018

Rogue audio and Primaluna seem to get rave reviews. I’ve even toyed with the thought of downsizing to one of their integrated amps. The problem is my not so efficient Focals dip into the 3 ohm territory, they seem to love tons of power from the SS with a tube front end.

The problem is tubes are addicting and expensive. You start off buying cheapy RCA’s and GE, then the crack addiction starts... you WILL find your self sinking 200$ into a pair of sought after tubes to try. Once you find your flavor you will be scouring the internet trying to stock up on said flavors. You’ve been warned.

dromunds · January 2018

^^^ Resistance is futile

mhardy6647 · January 2018

dromunds wrote: »

^^^ Resistance is futile

stangman67 · January 2018

Thanks for the suggestions and opinions everyone. At this point I am keeping my options open, I am certainly willing to consider going separates with a tube pre/ss amp. What are some recommendations for these pieces keeping my cost in budget?

I have heard great things about the Cary SLP03 but that is well above my budget, at least with new prices and then I'd have to find a amp to compliment everything.

Clipdat · January 2018

Schiit Saga and Freya worth checking out from a cost of entry standpoint.

haimoc · January 2018

A few months ago, I sold my Plinius P8 amplifier, and I still have my BAT VK-30 preamp.. I am considering to sell my BAT VK-30 tube preamp that includes optional BAT remote control & internal phono card if you are interested.

marvda1 · January 2018

Talk to dskip and see if he will sale his preamp

mikeyb128 · January 2018

I might be offloading my SLP03 to buy a 05. Im In Canada so the price would work out nice for you.

kharp1 · January 2018

I'm in complete agreement on the tube pre/SS amp set up. That's what I currently run. I have a Joule paired with a Butler 2250. I would suggest looking in to the Butler amps as they are hybrids. Unique design employing tubes along with SS.

tonyb · January 2018

Try a tubed Pre with the SS amp you have now. No need to buy 2 pieces off the bat.

I think though....once you hear a good tubed Pre, no going back to SS.

mikeyb128 · January 2018

I’ve listened to a lot of SS and tube preamps, I find you get a better performance to price ratio with a well built tube pre. You often have to spend double to find an SS pre that sounds as good or better than a tube preamp.

Viking64 · January 2018

I'm thinking about going DOWN THE tubes.

mhardy6647 · January 2018

DSC_0132 by Mark Hardy, on Flickr

Clipdat · January 2018

Good call. That's cool that his TEAC has a "bypass" input so that he can use it just as an amp.

tonyb wrote: »

Try a tubed Pre with the SS amp you have now. No need to buy 2 pieces off the bat.

I think though....once you hear a good tubed Pre, no going back to SS.

stangman67 · January 2018

Once again, thanks everybody. My options are open at this point. I'd still greatly prefer to stay with an integrated amp even if just for convenience/simplicity sake. First thing I am going to do is go put my ears on a few integrated tube amps, there is a pirmaluna and Line magnetic dealer near me so I am going to give them a listen. The place I bought my speakers from also has the Mac hybrid integrated I can put my ears on to see if that sound suits me and if it does I will spend more time looking at pre/amp combos. The issue I see is getting a good tube pre/ss amp in my price range means absolutely going on the used market as the 2500 dollar price I set out includes the money I expect to get out of resale of my current integrated.

stangman67 · January 2018

BTW mikey I sent you a PM

stangman67 · January 2018

mhardy6647 wrote: »

DSC_0132 by Mark Hardy, on Flickr

This picture makes me want to go tubes all the more. The cool factor is just out of this world

kharp1 · January 2018

If you're wanting to stay with an integrated you might want to check with Skip, I know he has some interesting things going on with integrated stuff from Mastersound. Pretty sure he has a couple of things in the price range you're looking to be in that may be pleasantly surprising.

stangman67 · January 2018

He has already reached out to me and I am mulling over some of the options he presented. I just really want to get my ears on whatever I buy before I buy it but I may forgo that rule if I decide over the course of listening that tubes are for me.

kharp1 · January 2018

They are for you. I did the same thing a couple of years ago, just wanted to get my feet wet and see if they were for me and I couldn't go back. There is a bit of a learning curve with them, but, nothing that I couldn't handle...and I'm challenged! It's a whole new world to explore. Embrace it!!!

stangman67 · January 2018

scubalab wrote: »

Zach, did you see this?

https://cnj.craigslist.org/ele/d/rogue-audio-cronus-integrated/6461473490.html

A little dusty, but seems like a good price...

I did not see that. I texted the guy and hit him at 800, if I can get it for that I think it would be worth it either way, even if I did not like it in the long run

headrott · January 2018

haimoc wrote: »

A few months ago, I sold my Plinius P8 amplifier, and I still have my BAT VK-30 preamp.. I am considering to sell my BAT VK-30 tube preamp that includes optional BAT remote control & internal phono card if you are interested.

If you purchase this pre-amp (VK-30) and the VK-200 I am selling (in forum for sale ads), you won't find a better amp/pre for the price.

Thinking about going tubes

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