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Getting into tubes

I'm thinking about getting my first tube integrated amp and been reading all I can about them. I've narrowed my list of manufacturers down to four: Raven Audio (Blackhawk/Osprey), Primaluna (Dialogue Premium), Ars Sonum Filarmonia and Decware (Zen Mystery Amp). All have their pros and cons. First, a bit about my system:

Merlin TSM Black Magic Edition
Sunfire True Sub Mk2 (and oldie but still runs well)
MSB Analog Dac 
Macbook Air streaming Tidal through Audirvana
Spectral SDR-3000SL running into the MSB

Room is small, about 10 X 11. I listen to jazz ( mostly trio's and female vocals) and some classic rock. 

My laundry list for what I'm looking for in a tube amp is as follows:

1. Obviously they have to sound great. From what I've been reading, seems like all these amps all sound fantastic to various individuals that have used them. 
2. Ease of use: self biasing tubes. Don't want the fuss of having to bias the tubes myself. I know that with the Decware ZMA, you have to bias yourself but it appears to be a simple process.
3. Overall build of the unit. Each of the manufacturers all look to have excellent build qualities. I've seen pictures of the insides of all units. Looks like the Primaluna is built like a beast on the inside. Also the ZMA is all point to point, no circuit boards of any type. That's a big plus.
4. Remote control: now this is a semi big one for me. I do a lot of late night listening and am constantly changing the volume. Raven Audio and Primaluna checks this box off but the Filharmonia and ZMA doesn't. However I have a DAC (MSB Analog) that has a volume control built in that I believe may work?
5. Subwoofer output. It would be nice to have a dedicated sub out for ease of connecting the sub. I know that there is the option to connect the sub through the speaker level inputs, but I have read its difficult to do that with the Filarmonia and ZMA if the spades are too thick. 
6. Reliability and after care service.

For those that have experience with any of these amps, any advice would be greatly appreciated! I've been going back and forth trying to decide. Thanks!
jzzmn88

Showing 4 responses by lancelock

lancelock
1,083 posts
 
I have auditioned the Primaluna and owned the ZMA for a few years. The ZMA in my opinion sounds better than the Primaluna and they don’t get any sturdier or better built than the ZMA, maybe that’s why they have a life time warranty. The bias adjustment design is brilliant and easy to use.

my love for the ZMA ended when I heard a David Berning designed Linear Tube Audio ZOTL40. It made the ZMA sound broken when used with electrostats. I now own a preproduction ZOTL UltraLinear and it surpasses the ZOTL40. 
lancelock
1,083 posts
 
@jzzmn88 , I did own the Berning ZH-230 and sold it after I bought the ZOTL40 because I have many quads of EL34 tubes to roll and the ZH-230 used TV sweep tubes. The ZH-230 and ZOTL40 sound similar until you put some NOS Mullards in the ZOTL40 and then it’s another level. I have heard there is magic with Berning and Merlin but I have not heard them myself. The class A UltraLinear is Better than the class AB ZH-230. The UltraLinear is Berning making a statement. The production model should be available any day now. Just give Mark Schneider a call. He is a great guy to deal with.

Lance
lancelock
1,083 posts
 
Hi my name is Lance and I’m a tube-aholic. Welcome to the group.
lancelock
1,083 posts
 
@jzzmn88 , the differences between the ZOTL40 and the UltraLinear besides a power difference is very small when I’ve compare them using my Janszen zA2.1 electrostats speakers. The ZOTL40 pairs extremely well with Stats but the synergy doesn’t show up with some other speakers I’ve tried strangely. The reason for a so so absolute sound review not too long ago.

The UltraLinear just kills it with every set of speakers I’ve tried so far. It’s the outright best 20 watts I’ve ever heard. The sound to me has the best elements of tubes and solid state.

Lance
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