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Help me get started again. Tube amp...

I had a full on audio addiction up until about 10 years ago when my first child entered the world and my priorities changed.

Now as my kids are spending more time with their friends and in activities I find my time at home wishing I had a system to appreciate.

Luckily I still have some little Stirling Broadcast LS3/5a V2 tucked in a corner, a nice little passive preamp stored in a drawer and a sudden CD player that has been playing Disney music faithfully.

I need pair a tube amp and I may even get some Vinyl.

My first little tube amps (which I sold here and wish I still had them) were VTL tiny triodes (the late version) and then I had fun playing with all kinds of ST-70 circuits.  The VTL was better but rolling up my sleeves and redoing the ST-70s was great.

Since I have been out so long I have no clue what is what.  I could use some direction for a lower priced tube amp to get me started.

It was recommended to me to look for Audion 300B Silver Knight mono-blocks or Rogers E-20 or E-40 amps from Doug Stirling.  Finding these is perhaps not as easy in good working order and at a cost I like.

Any thoughts on how to best start up my addiction again?
portlandlay
jyprez's avatar
jyprez
241 posts
 

There are many out there so I hesitate to make a recommendation of one over the other but you should at least look at Bruce Rosenblitz site at http://www.transcendentsound.com as a start.

He wrote a gook book on tubes and circuits which is where I started although I have read a half dozen books on the subject from there.

The subject is quite vast on the web today not to mention youtube and other online sources. You can have a lot of fun learning and building here. 

wolf_garcia
6,598 posts
 
Jolida makes some of the best sounding amps out there, and they're relatively inexpensive.  Simple push-pull Ultralinear designs, easy maintenance bias adjustment…blah blah…my 502P amp with factory upgrades sounds amazing, and has for years. A used newer version with some added stuff, like a tube selection switch and balanced input switch recently sold for under 500 bucks on Ebay. 
portlandlay OP
62 posts
 
Thanks guys.  I remember Jolida and I will check them out.  This first amp does not need to be the best.  I just need a gateway amp :)
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,436 posts
 
That  Music Reference amp is a steal. Get it. No kidding. A steal. I do not know the seller or amp's history etc... assume it works as it should.
smctigue1
53 posts
 
The MR amp is an auction.
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