2. amps-preamps
  3. 159891-2029

Never Owned a Tube Amp and Want Advice

Hi All, 

I have never owned a tube amplifier before and am planning to purchase one with a minimum of 50 watts per channel to mate with 8 ohm 88 dbl speakers.

My hope is experienced audiogoners will share their expertise regarding how to approach this. While I realize listening is the best way to learn about sound and compatibility; I want to learn a better understanding about brands with less maintenance and longer tube life, how to decide between mono or stereo,can a newbie play with bias or is auto biasing a better first choice, etc.

I would also appreciate what to look for in selecting a used tube amp to identify one that might be in need of repair. For example, with solid state depending on the brand, capacitor replacement can be more of a concern. Any advice on what to look out for or ask about with used tube amps would be appreciated.

A big question I have is how to understand the relationship between power tubes like E34's, 120.s, etc. and, I guess the driver? tubes like 12au7's and 12at7's. That  is to ask which is more critical to the overall sound of the amp? FWIW, I routinely tube roll with my preamps.  

I 've read through a number of threads but maybe someone can point me to good ones I may have missed. 

Thanks for listening,

Dsper
dsper

Showing 1 response by elliottbnewcombjr

elliottbnewcombjr
5,180 posts
 
Well, perhaps those low efficiency speakers will help you preserve your hearing longer in your life, avoid tinnitus, ... I never thought of it this way.

you can find much on the net, i.e. This site, scroll down some, says average Classical Concert is 90db, with momentary peaks of 120db.

http://www.audiodrom.net/en/as-we-see-it-tips-thoughts/74-realistic-volume-levels

this one, posted above, scroll down, shows sound level lessening by distance, IN OPEN SPACE

https://www.puiaudio.com/pages/speaker-power-and-distance

i.e. if you are 4 meters/13lf away, it is -12db. That is 4 meters FURTHER than 1 meter, so that is 5 meters/16lf away from face of speakers.

ignoring that the room’s surfaces will retain sound levels, or that there are two speakers: let’s do

some OPEN SPACE SINGLE SPEAKER math.

your speakers, 1 watt, 1 meter = 88db
sit 5m/16lf away -12db = 1w/5m/76db.
double the power in watts for each +3db sound level

to get to concert hall avg 91db, (5 doublings) math says you need 32wpc.
a 94db momentary peak will need 64wpc. (you mentioned 60wpc)
128wpc for 97db, keep doubling for each +3db peak

.........................................

Practically, the answers from people who have used low efficiency speakers with ____? wpc tube amps will give you the best indication, so tell us, or ask them:

room description
desired volume?
type of music, i.e. just loud peaks, or loud average?
length of listening sessions in time is also a big factor regarding hearing loss.


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