I use a PrimaLuna Dialogue integrated. PL also makes a stand alone amp. I couldn't be more satisfied and am "thrilled" at the tone, body and dimensionality I'm experiencing. In my many decades as caring about good audio I'd owned several tubed amps and went SS when I got tired on manual biasing, monitoring tube life, system hum etc. What I have now has made owning a tube rig a no brainer. There is virtually none of the issues I had experienced in the past. BTW, I owned a VK-5i pre-amp at one time running into a SS VK 500 amp. Good luck in your search. I'm never going back to solid state again.
HELP ... Need Advice/Recommendations on Tube Amp
Hi, all. So, the upgrade bug is calling, and most you likely know how annoying that can be. For years I have been using a tube preamp (BAT VK-3i) and a SS power amp (Musical Fidelity A300cr @ 225 wpc). Since I bought new speakers a little less than a year ago (JA Pulsars), I was wondering whether a tube power amp might produce even better sound than I'm getting currently.
I've been looking at the Carver Crimson 275 (75 wpc) and the Rogue Stereo 100 (100 wpc). The Carver looks really interesting ... the Rogue does as well, but it requires manual biasing. I know the jury is still out on manual versus auto biasing, so I'm not sure which way to go on that issue. Anyway, I have never owned a tube power amp before and can't audition most products due to my current location. Any thoughts on the above or recommendations for other tube amps would be much appreciated. Thanks.
I've been looking at the Carver Crimson 275 (75 wpc) and the Rogue Stereo 100 (100 wpc). The Carver looks really interesting ... the Rogue does as well, but it requires manual biasing. I know the jury is still out on manual versus auto biasing, so I'm not sure which way to go on that issue. Anyway, I have never owned a tube power amp before and can't audition most products due to my current location. Any thoughts on the above or recommendations for other tube amps would be much appreciated. Thanks.