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Tube vs SS vs Digital

I've read a lot of the older posting on Tube vs SS, and they are now about 3 years old. I am looking at making a change with my amp/preamp. I would like some advice. Budget is about $15k.

From a tube perspective, I am considering something like a Rogue M-180 and a Cary SLP-05.

From a SS perspective, I am considering something like a Classe' CA-M600 and a CP-800.

From a Digital perspective, something like a Bel Canto REF 1000M and a preamp from Ayre.

My concern is this: my local dealer mentioned that I should stay away from tubes as he has seen tubes "blow up" and ruin good speakers. Really?

I would like to get some opinions on the best route to go and possible brands/models/combinations.

Speakers are Revel Salon 2. Source is Rega RP3 TT and Oppo 95.

Thanks!
mbovaird

Showing 2 responses by mapman

mapman's avatar
mapman
21,830 posts
 
Wolf,

Good point! Tubes are a lot more fun to play with than transistors. Not that I've tried....recently.

Well, I seem to recall I may have actually as a kid. I had a shoebox filled with little gadgets I collected around to play with. I seem to recall a tube or two in there. I did not have a lot of things from the toy store as a kid so I had to improvise. I probably used the tubes to help create sets for re-enactments of scenes I had seen on "Lost In Space" where the sets tended to glow a lot.
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,830 posts
 
REf1000m is a rock solid choice in your case I would say. Lots of things in common with some of the larger and better tube amps I have heard except with seemingly unending power reserves. I too have large power hungry speakers and am unable to phase my ref1000m's running them with any kind of music. I auditioned a larger Rogue tube power amp (not sure of exact model) and smaller JEff Rowland Class D amps before going the ref1000m route. I liked the Rogue a lot. I am very happy and set for the foreseeable future with teh ref1000ms.
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