Help building first tube system.


I am looking to build my first tube system. Small 15 x 15 room, want stand mounted speakers, cd transport, dac and network player, and tube amp/preamp. Would like to stay under $20,000. Not sure where to start?  No dealers around me for demo or help. Any advice helps! Thanks.
walstib

Showing 2 responses by millercarbon

That system leaves $4600 for 4 power cords, 4 interconnects, and 1 pr speaker cables. That's an average of only $500 each, with nothing left over for Cones or even any room treatment. The only thing terrifying is the lack of awareness of the importance of everything left out.


That's just about the perfect budget for a Raven or Prima Luna integrated. Don't bother with separates. You can't come close to the performance of either of those for anywhere near the same money with separates.

35 or so tube watts is plenty, especially with really smart speakers like Tekton Maob that are also right in your budget's sweet spot.

$3k Swarm subwoofer system, of course.

You would also be smart to skip the DAC/trans and go with CD for the same reason as the integrated is better over separates. Actually you would be smart to go with records but that's another one altogether. Whatever. Point is a solid $3k for source and you still have a healthy roughly $6k for speaker cables, interconnect, power cords, Fuses, ECT, HFT, Total Contact and Omega Mats. 

btw yes I know you said "small 15x15" and "want stand mounted speakers" but I assume that's based on the false assumption that's the way to go in your "small" room. Which is simply not true. Stick the above system in there. When you scrape your jaw up off the floor call and let me know.