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My first Tube Amplifier

I have a 40 years of audio history starting with Garrard Turntable, Fisher Intergrated(SS), ADS bookself speaker on 1978.

But I started using tube amplifier on 1999.

Since then I had been using only tube amplifier in my main system.

My last SS main amplifier was Krell KSA 150 to drive Apogee Duetta Signature speakers.


http://www.jadis-electronics.com/photos/ja500/45/3/ja500.jpg

My first tube amplifier was Jadis 500 which comprised of 4 pieces weighing 120 lb each.

B&W 801 driven by Jadis 500 gave most deep and powerful bass at my home.

But it generated too much heat so it was hard to use during summer.

It was memorable experience to use it for 4 years.

I may not go back to such monster tube amplifier again.



How about you?

What is your first tube amplifier?



I bet two cents on no one had used larger one as the first tube amplifier than mine.


128x128shkong78
wolf_garcia
6,601 posts
 
My first was a 1961 Fender Bandmaster (belonged to my cousin originally) followed by a Magnatone and many, many others from Marshall, Boogie, Hiwatt, a couple of Twin Reverbs, etc. My first stereo tube amp was a Marantz tubed receiver in maybe 1970 that was destroyed in a fire (in a hippy shop I leant it to), and more recently an excellent "factory modded" Jolida 502p, followed by my current fave, a Dennis Had SEP Inspire "Fire Bottle" HO (it's a HO) which is the best sounding hifi amp I've owned...by far...
rhljazz
1,249 posts
 
Cary SLI50.  I still have it.  Purchased brand new in 1996.  It’s in my secondary system.  My favorite room when I get cold, shut the door with some good tunes and let the room heat up.  
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,412 posts
 

I like Wolf's post so much I'll follow his lead. A blackface 1967 Fender Showman amp (four 6L6 power tubes) with a 15" JBL D140 driver for my '68 Fender Precision bass, and a blackface '66 Deluxe Reverb for guitar.

For hi-fi, a Fisher X-100A, bought used in 1968 to drive a pair of AR 4X loudspeakers (wish I'd known about the Dynaco A-25!). Next was the combination of D-51 and D-75 amps from Audio Research, new in '72, used to bi-amp Magneplanar Tympani T-I's.

shkong78's avatar
shkong78 OP
1,463 posts
 
@wolf_garcia 

Fender Bandmaster must be pretty good guitar amplifier.

Marantz tube receiver also had a good reputation.
wolf_garcia
6,601 posts
 
Early (pre "CBS") blonde Bandmasters and Showman amps were great...I used that amp head for live shows with various speakers here and there for a long time...worked great with a Marshall 412 cabinet. I moved on to smaller amps eventually, now preferring a single ended "class A" 18 watt Burriss amp, and a Reverend Goblin 5/15, and both of those are astonishing tone monsters...I have an Eden combo bass amp that’s magical, and a new-ish Ampeg "Portaflex" class D thing with a 400 watt 15 that is nothing if not cute. That Marantz was way underpowered, but if used with efficient speakers might have been great.
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