tube amp prices and names,

faster100
faster100 Posts: 6,124
edited February 2003 in 2 Channel Audio
I certainly won't be running out and doing this tomorrow.. But as my HT rig is basically complete.. I would love to find a tube amp for a 2 channel setup. I have a picture here of a heathkit tube amp i had when i was about 18 and back then i just beat the crap out of it and then tossed it away, actually it might have been a pre-amp as it had a volume control, bass, and treble and a selector for source's .. but it had speaker terminals that i hooked my speakers to but wasn't very loud.. anyways.. this is something that interest me alot as we collect old stuff, Glassware, coleman stuff and love the old tube stuff as well..

so i wanted to know some names and prices of Tube amps,
MY HT RIG:
Sherwood p-965
Sherwood sd871 dvd
Rotel 1075 amp x5
LSI15 mains
LsiC center
LSIfx surround backs
Lsi7 side surrounds
SVS pb12/plus2


2 Channel Rig:

nad 1020 Pre-amp
Rotel 1080 stereo amp
Polk sda 2B
kenwood grunt Tuner
realistic lab 450 TT
Signal cable IC
Post edited by faster100 on
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Comments

  • faster100
    faster100 Posts: 6,124
    edited January 2003
    excuse the low res pic, it was a old photo i scanned. this was in the background... so it looks far away.. reconize it?? Heathkit... No model though
    MY HT RIG:
    Sherwood p-965
    Sherwood sd871 dvd
    Rotel 1075 amp x5
    LSI15 mains
    LsiC center
    LSIfx surround backs
    Lsi7 side surrounds
    SVS pb12/plus2


    2 Channel Rig:

    nad 1020 Pre-amp
    Rotel 1080 stereo amp
    Polk sda 2B
    kenwood grunt Tuner
    realistic lab 450 TT
    Signal cable IC
  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited January 2003
    Sorry, I don't know what brand it is or the model#. From your description it sounds more like a tube integrated.

    Maurice
  • faster100
    faster100 Posts: 6,124
    edited January 2003
    Its a heathkit Brand, just don't know the model.. besides i no longer have it, was just wondering what i had..

    needed some tube amp names and prices so i can look for some later on,
    MY HT RIG:
    Sherwood p-965
    Sherwood sd871 dvd
    Rotel 1075 amp x5
    LSI15 mains
    LsiC center
    LSIfx surround backs
    Lsi7 side surrounds
    SVS pb12/plus2


    2 Channel Rig:

    nad 1020 Pre-amp
    Rotel 1080 stereo amp
    Polk sda 2B
    kenwood grunt Tuner
    realistic lab 450 TT
    Signal cable IC
  • tonyv1
    tonyv1 Posts: 365
    edited January 2003
    For inexpensive tube amps and preamps, checkout Antique Sound Labs
    http://www.divertech.com/antiquesl.html
  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited January 2003
    I would like to try their $329 headphone amp!
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
  • tonyv1
    tonyv1 Posts: 365
    edited January 2003
    My buddy has the Antique Sound Labs headphone amp.
    He rolled the tubes with Mullards. Great sound through his Grado SR 225 cans. Only issue was his Conrad Johnson preamp doesn't have dual outputs, so he's using the tape output for now.
  • faster100
    faster100 Posts: 6,124
    edited January 2003
    so where are the inexspensive amps on that page with any power what so ever??
    MY HT RIG:
    Sherwood p-965
    Sherwood sd871 dvd
    Rotel 1075 amp x5
    LSI15 mains
    LsiC center
    LSIfx surround backs
    Lsi7 side surrounds
    SVS pb12/plus2


    2 Channel Rig:

    nad 1020 Pre-amp
    Rotel 1080 stereo amp
    Polk sda 2B
    kenwood grunt Tuner
    realistic lab 450 TT
    Signal cable IC
  • faster100
    faster100 Posts: 6,124
    edited January 2003
    why are tube amp wattage so low?? i don't understand what you could do with 3.2 watts or 22 watts per channel
    MY HT RIG:
    Sherwood p-965
    Sherwood sd871 dvd
    Rotel 1075 amp x5
    LSI15 mains
    LsiC center
    LSIfx surround backs
    Lsi7 side surrounds
    SVS pb12/plus2


    2 Channel Rig:

    nad 1020 Pre-amp
    Rotel 1080 stereo amp
    Polk sda 2B
    kenwood grunt Tuner
    realistic lab 450 TT
    Signal cable IC
  • tonyv1
    tonyv1 Posts: 365
    edited January 2003
    100 W tube amps are not cheap. The mono block tube amps start at about $4K per set (Manley Labs, Rogue Audio, Cary and Audio Electronics Supply). Most stereo tube amps (60 W) start at $1500.
  • faster100
    faster100 Posts: 6,124
    edited January 2003
    Originally posted by tonyv1
    For inexpensive tube amps and preamps, checkout Antique Sound Labs
    http://www.divertech.com/antiquesl.html

    you mentioned cheap thats why i said that, :rolleyes:
    MY HT RIG:
    Sherwood p-965
    Sherwood sd871 dvd
    Rotel 1075 amp x5
    LSI15 mains
    LsiC center
    LSIfx surround backs
    Lsi7 side surrounds
    SVS pb12/plus2


    2 Channel Rig:

    nad 1020 Pre-amp
    Rotel 1080 stereo amp
    Polk sda 2B
    kenwood grunt Tuner
    realistic lab 450 TT
    Signal cable IC
  • tonyv1
    tonyv1 Posts: 365
    edited January 2003
    I guess it depends on own point of reference. I've been looking at 100 W tube monoblocks for my Maggies in the $4K range.
  • faster100
    faster100 Posts: 6,124
    edited January 2003
    ok well thats not inexpensive to alot of people on the board but i understand..
    MY HT RIG:
    Sherwood p-965
    Sherwood sd871 dvd
    Rotel 1075 amp x5
    LSI15 mains
    LsiC center
    LSIfx surround backs
    Lsi7 side surrounds
    SVS pb12/plus2


    2 Channel Rig:

    nad 1020 Pre-amp
    Rotel 1080 stereo amp
    Polk sda 2B
    kenwood grunt Tuner
    realistic lab 450 TT
    Signal cable IC
  • gidrah
    gidrah Posts: 3,049
    edited January 2003
    This site has a 8 watt/ch integrated amp kit for $140.00 (tubes included). I've seen others put this in a cheap wooden box with stain and it looks great and they claim it sounds as good.
    http://www.tubesandmore.com/

    Antique Sound Labs (ASL) has the Wave-8. It's a 10 watt monoblock for about $99.00 without cage. Plenty of folks in the high efficiency asylum love these amps.

    I recently got a Dynaco ST-70 (35 w/ch) for Christmas. It sounds great, cost about $350, and I've never cranked out more than 5 watts or so. Most of the time I listen to 4 watt speakers and am able to listen to some pretty high levels in my 12x15 living room without worry to most music. I turn it down for crescendoes.
    Make it Funky! :)
  • faster100
    faster100 Posts: 6,124
    edited January 2003
    Gidrah, Thanks.. Thats more like it.. I still don't understand what 8 watts can do when we all strive for 100 or more with our Ht setups. Is the sound louder with tubes?? I know i sound clueless about tube amps because i am.... I know nothing bout them.

    Learn me if ya would, I want a small set of speakers... a cd player, maybe a fm tuner and a small tube amp. thats all nothing more and nothing less, speakers on stands also would be fine, no large towers.. keep it simple
    MY HT RIG:
    Sherwood p-965
    Sherwood sd871 dvd
    Rotel 1075 amp x5
    LSI15 mains
    LsiC center
    LSIfx surround backs
    Lsi7 side surrounds
    SVS pb12/plus2


    2 Channel Rig:

    nad 1020 Pre-amp
    Rotel 1080 stereo amp
    Polk sda 2B
    kenwood grunt Tuner
    realistic lab 450 TT
    Signal cable IC
  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited January 2003
    From my own experience, 50 watts per channel tube is the equal to about 375 watts per channel SS. It all has to do with clipping beyond the voltage ability of the power transformer. When SS amps of 300-400 watts per channel averages around 50 watts average power it also peaks at values around 300-400 watts. This is the end of it's power range. The tube amp averages the same 50 watts but when it clips, rather than following the peaks up to 300-400 watts it distorts gracefully with even order harmonics and you don't hear it. Thus you perceive the same amount of power. This does vary with program material.
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
  • faster100
    faster100 Posts: 6,124
    edited January 2003
    Great thanks, so what would 8 watts be compared to? Or would the 35 watt amp Gidrah has be a good start? i don't really want to build one myself.. e-bay bound for a used one working would be cool
    MY HT RIG:
    Sherwood p-965
    Sherwood sd871 dvd
    Rotel 1075 amp x5
    LSI15 mains
    LsiC center
    LSIfx surround backs
    Lsi7 side surrounds
    SVS pb12/plus2


    2 Channel Rig:

    nad 1020 Pre-amp
    Rotel 1080 stereo amp
    Polk sda 2B
    kenwood grunt Tuner
    realistic lab 450 TT
    Signal cable IC
  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited January 2003
    Originally posted by tonyv1
    My buddy has the Antique Sound Labs headphone amp.
    He rolled the tubes with Mullards. Great sound through his Grado SR 225 cans. Only issue was his Conrad Johnson preamp doesn't have dual outputs, so he's using the tape output for now.

    Do you know the sound output level of this headphone amp? Just in general terms I'm wondering if it can drive the headphones to painful volume levels. I like that now and then.
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited January 2003
    Whether it is 30 or 50 watts is somewhat insignificant but I would look closer to the 50 watt range. Jolida makes a nice one. The 302A.
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited January 2003
    There is another nice one from Manley called the Stingray which I would consider. Keep in mind I've only tried the two brands.
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
  • tonyv1
    tonyv1 Posts: 365
    edited January 2003
    madmax001,
    Don't know what the output level is, but with headphones their impedence will make the difference whether they can driven that loud. I've had Yamaha cans that sounded soft and Sennheiser cans that hurt at the same volume setting.
  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited January 2003
    Thanks! I guess the only way to find out is to try it. I hate spending that much for a headphone amp but I don't have time to do a kit. I think I'll put it off for a while longer. I just bought a Koss A-250 set of phones. No, I wouldn't have thought of Koss either but I got to reading some reviews on this particular model.
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited January 2003
    Are there any other tube headphone amps out there that I should be looking at? There was a little extra in the envelope last week if you know what I mean. The karma is good and the pocket is burning! I've read about the Stax amps but I am not willing to spend $1700. I am more into the range of $300 to $500? The headphones I bought have an input impedence of 60 ohms and have a large driver which means I should get some good volume levels. Any ideas about OTL vs transformer amps?
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
  • tonyv1
    tonyv1 Posts: 365
    edited January 2003
    madmax,
    Most tube amps I've looked at have output xformers on them. McIntosh even puts them on their more expensive SS amps!
    Some the guys on the MUG site used zero-formers in with their amps to drive their Maggies. Suppose to ease the amp load when driving the 4 ohm Maggies.
    The only one I know of that sells OTL tube amps is Atma-Sphere
    http://www.atma-sphere.com/
    Have you checked out the Headroom amps?
    http://www.headphone.com/layout.php
    I'm looking at replacing my NAD phono preamp with the ASL tube phono preamp.
  • rlw
    rlw Posts: 231
    edited January 2003
    Originally posted by madmax001
    Are there any other tube headphone amps out there that I should be looking at? madmax

    These guys are every bit as mad as you, and I mean that in a good way.
  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited January 2003
    I see what you're saying! Looks like a lot of reading is required. Nothing is ever easy... Nor should it be! Thanks!
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited January 2003
    Damn,
    Just once it would be nice to get the answer "Buy the *****". I really do appreciate it though.
    Thanks again,
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
  • faster100
    faster100 Posts: 6,124
    edited January 2003
    Hey stop hy jacking my thread :) i wanted names and prices for tube amps, ah below the 500 dollar mark, not thousands for one amp.. i'f its not obtainable than fine, But the dynaco amps seem popular on e-bay at 250-400 each
    MY HT RIG:
    Sherwood p-965
    Sherwood sd871 dvd
    Rotel 1075 amp x5
    LSI15 mains
    LsiC center
    LSIfx surround backs
    Lsi7 side surrounds
    SVS pb12/plus2


    2 Channel Rig:

    nad 1020 Pre-amp
    Rotel 1080 stereo amp
    Polk sda 2B
    kenwood grunt Tuner
    realistic lab 450 TT
    Signal cable IC
  • madmax
    madmax Posts: 12,434
    edited January 2003
    Now, back to the original thread...

    My Jolida 302A sold for $355 on ebay. They are really nice amps! I tried one of the HH Scott amps with EL-84's, not the same class as the EL-34's. Look for a Pioneer EL-34 tube amp. They are really cool! Sometimes you see one going for under $500. Ones with KT-88's or 6550's should not be overlooked either.
    madmax
    Vinyl, the final frontier...

    Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... :D
  • faster100
    faster100 Posts: 6,124
    edited January 2003
    Thanks Buddy, Just looking for future 2 channel stuff, Tubes are what dreams are made of they say :) later
    MY HT RIG:
    Sherwood p-965
    Sherwood sd871 dvd
    Rotel 1075 amp x5
    LSI15 mains
    LsiC center
    LSIfx surround backs
    Lsi7 side surrounds
    SVS pb12/plus2


    2 Channel Rig:

    nad 1020 Pre-amp
    Rotel 1080 stereo amp
    Polk sda 2B
    kenwood grunt Tuner
    realistic lab 450 TT
    Signal cable IC
  • Jstas
    Jstas Posts: 14,707
    edited January 2003
    Originally posted by faster100
    excuse the low res pic, it was a old photo i scanned. this was in the background... so it looks far away.. reconize it?? Heathkit... No model though


    If you need info on Heathkit stuff, this is the place to check out:

    Heath Kit Virtual Museum
    Expert Moron Extraordinaire

    You're just jealous 'cause the voices don't talk to you!