Considering switching to Tubes


Hello all, 

For the last ten or so years I've been listening to music on my home stereo, and for the last 10 or so years I have been 100% content with everything about it. And then my best friend brought by a Chinese integrated tube amp, and my world fell apart. 

Currently the set up is:
Speakers: B&W 805s 
Amp: Rotel RB1070
Preamp: Rotel RC1070 
CD player: Rotel RCC1055
DAC: TEAC UD301 

The B&W and Rotel gear was purchased whe  I worked at an electronics retail store through the employee purchase program (I think it was cost -10%), the TEAC was added to try out streaming through the system, which in all honesty is what I do 99% of the time now. 

My friend and former colleague brought over a recently acquired Yaqin MC100B, and I simply can't stress enough how much more I enjoyed listen to the music off of that integrated Amp. 

Which leads me to my questions, should I just give in, and grab a relatively affordable tube amp? And secondly, I've been reading (mostly about Yaqin, because I'm not in the position currently to invest 5000+) up on their various models, and the two that seem to be what in looking for are either the MC100B which I've heard on my system and the MC13S, which I have not. The first uses KT88s and the second uses EL34s, I'm not a big bass loving guy, and the EL34s intrigue me, but I'm a hesitant to jump in without listening to them. The snag is, I live in the arctic, and the only really way for me to try them at home, is to purchase them. 

I'm open to arguments for and against swapping out the rotel, for yaqin.


Cheers, 

esp803

Showing 1 response by dualmarantz

I didn't read all the comments, so someone might have mentioned this, but I can highly recommend Bob Latino's tubes4hifi site as a source for really great tube amplifiers. What he's done is essentially to provide a modern, highly upgraded, high-quality replica of the legendary best-selling Dynaco Stereo 70 at a very reasonable price. It's not a refurb or rebuild--all the parts are 100% new. You can either buy it as a kit and build it yourself (the instructions are said to be very clear and very good) or buy one already assembled.
I have the ST70 (made by Bob) and it's the best bang for the buck I've ever experienced in hi-fi. Currently not using it, but only because I don't have room for a stereo in my current home.

Plus, Bob's customer service is absolutely first rate.

I have zero connection or financial interest, I'm just a (very) satisfied customer.