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  Tube amp decision - Thoughts
Looking for a synergistic connection. I have, IMO, a very good setup. But I believe I errored in one important aspect. I always wanted a ruler flat response. I believe I achieved that. Great recordings sound great. But the majority of recordings seem to sound a bit thin in our system. Not to others audiophile types but I have to admit now that impact has got to be part of the quotient for greater enjoyment.

I have a pair of rather efficient Tyler Acoustic Decades. They sound very accurate as they're reputed to be and most folks run tube amps with them, perhaps to warm them up a bit.
My system consists of a Pass labs X350.5 which has played stellar through Dynaudio, MBL and AV123 Line Arrays.
An Allnic L3000 preamp really makes this system sing in 3D.
Sources are a VPI Scoutmaster and a modified Oppo BDP83SE backed by a BDP95 in stock form. A lot of attention has been paid to my AC.

It's all well and good but my family and I feel that it lacks impact and warmth with a lot of "modern" CD's or streamed FLAC files. I have Def Techs in our TV room which having built-in subs are pretty fun to listen to if not so transparent and refined. But it did drive home a weakness (perceived)in our 2 channel setup.

Having visited many audio shows, my wife and I always seemed to love the rooms with Prima Luna Dialogue amps playing in them. Of course they are generally partnered with NOLA speakers. That seemes to be an amazingingly synergistic combination. Rogue Audio amps as well seemed to captivate us. But there are a lot of great tube amps out there. Thus the post.

I'm going to build a pair of LS-9 line arrays. I owned the LS6's and sold them some time ago. These are also tube friendly speakers.

So given a $5500 dollar budget new or used, where to go?

Thanks for your responses.
Desalvo55  (System | Threads | Answers | This Thread)

01-12-12
  Responses (1-42 of 42)
Click title to read one, or click date to read all below it.

01-13-12   Have you considered quicksilver?   Rrog

01-13-12   I'll give my thoughts and then look for input from members w ...   Sebrof

01-13-12   Lots of great choices in that price range used that can driv ...   Swampwalker

01-13-12   Stick to what you like and have heard. if you have enjoyed t ...   Sibelius

01-13-12   I've never owned a tube amp. my preamps have been tube based ...   Desalvo55

01-13-12   If you want warmth i would say conrad johson. i am not sure ...   Mechans

01-13-12   Desalvo, quicksilver audio is what all high end companies sh ...   Rrog

01-13-12   I recently purchased a primaluna dialogue 1. a nice, feature ...   Mikirob

01-13-12   If you really like "ruler like response" i doubt y ...   Larryken

01-13-12   Why not go with allnic power amp? just a thought. or with pa ...   Inna

01-13-12   Desalvo55: i will offer an alternative to amp replacement an ...   Rtilden

01-13-12   Just throwing my two cents in here... if you like the primal ...   Bavarian05

01-13-12   I have been looking at your system and think you have some v ...   Grannyring

01-13-12   If you want the warmer sounding amp, i would strongly recomm ...   Learsfool

01-14-12   The hybrid idea by grannyring is a good compromise and the a ...   Mitch2

01-14-12   Those are some great suggestions - thanks. my plan is to bu ...   Desalvo55

01-14-12   Hi desalvo55 - why would the primaluna's be a better choice ...   Lougiants

01-14-12   I've read a lot of good advice on this thread - especially t ...   Pubul57

01-14-12   Lougiants - no direct comparison. in fact, the room with the ...   Desalvo55

01-14-12   Just to be clear, the tube amp is intended for the ls9s or t ...   Pubul57

01-14-12   Desalvo55, why not go with a used butler 2250 until you get ...   Acman3

01-14-12   Lamm ml1 could do as well. only $8750 here for sale. 90 watt ...   Inna

01-15-12   I'm afraid the lamm is out of our budget. my wife might like ...   Desalvo55

01-15-12   My reason for asking about the speaker is that even though t ...   Pubul57

01-15-12   Good to know. i was actually thinking about an audio note ki ...   Desalvo55

01-15-12   Many good suggestions have been offered above. i totally agr ...   Steakster

01-15-12   Listen to your wife. it's lamm. don't waist your money on le ...   Inna

01-15-12   I'm actually thinking about building a higher sensitivity sp ...   Desalvo55

01-16-12   Efficiency is really important in a speaker. it gives you a ...   Atmasphere

01-16-12   True, but what is the tradeoff? if there were none, i would ...   Pubul57

01-23-12   I became part of a long list of folks waiting to get thier d ...   Desalvo55

01-24-12   Hi desalvo, if you like female vocalists, then i think ...   Morganc

01-24-12   the problem with high efficiency speakers is that the drive ...   Atmasphere

01-24-12   I have prima luna mono blocks and i love them. i believe w ...   Orpheus10

01-25-12   I have decades and know ty's speakers very well. i would rec ...   Samzx12

01-25-12   Twas 20 years ago i heard the theil 3.6 with the vt-100 mki ...   Pubul57

01-25-12: Samzx12
I was very impressed Pubul57 at how the mkIII drove his 3.7's. One hell of an amp.
Samzx12  (System | Threads | Answers | This Thread)


01-30-12   Arc and thiel are a match made in heaven. i have spoken oft ...   Orpheus10

01-30-12   After reading all this i think you should really get a pair ...   Mechans

01-30-12   I forgot to add that you should recable with an entire loom ...   Mechans

01-30-12   Try atma-sphere amps. there is a great deal written on them ...   Thotdoc

04-12-12   This question is for desalvo55. have you received your tori ...   Mdeblanc


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