2. amps-preamps
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Budget tube amps and integrateds?

I'm looking to get back into tubes again for a second, music only system. The room is small to medium in size (12x14x7.5). Listening will be low to medium output, it is an office, the room is very quiet.

My source will either be PC-based music server with external DAC (no final choices on the DAC yet), or Meridian 586.2 (I'm leaning towards the PC-based setup right now). Speakers are a bit up in the air, current choices are Aerial 7b, 7, and 5, Totem Rainmaker, Linn Ninka or Kan (current), or a pair that I am thinking about building (been doing some research lately)

I have some experience with previous tubes systems, BAT VK-5i/VK-60, Jolida hybrid, and older Marantz separates. I have loved them all, especially the BAT.

I don't want to spend a lot, this is going to be a broad swipe, but probably $500-1200 range, maybe up to $1500 for the right unit.

I've notice a few new brands that are inexpensive (Sophia EL-34 or the Baby, Cayin TA-30, Consonance), as well as many great existing (Conrad Johnson, Jolida, Cary, ASL, Graaf, Audio Research, Pathos, Audio Note, Copland).

Features that might be nice would be a volume pot, auto-biasing, and source selection (in that order).

Does have any experience or input to help direct me in making a better, more informed decision.

Thanks for the help, Todd
tjz

Showing 1 response by tjz

tjz OP
14 posts
 
Thanks for the feedback guys. I've been very tempted on both the Cayin TA-30 followed up by the Sophia Baby, so it is good to hear a positive about the Cayin. But there are a lot of used options in this price range - the other integrated I am interested in the Audiomat Arpege, but that is on the high end of the (used) price range, and very difficult to find.

As far as my immediate plans for the setup, I'm leaning to the Totem Rainmakers for the speakers, or one of the Aerials (7b or 5).

The PC is a Hush mini-itx (http://www.logicsupply.com) and is dedicated entirely to music. It has a combo DVD/CD-RW drive and 160 GB Seagate HDD, and is very quiet. Currently I'm using the motherboard's digital output, and I have played with a couple of different DACs, but haven't settled completely on soundcard/DAC combination yet, still doing a bit of research on that end. I'm currently running the system through either an Adcom GFA-535II or NAD receiver (depending where it is setup at the moment).
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