Tubes vs Tubeless

@bahston 

I started with tubes and went back and forth with SS until just a few years ago when I bought PS Audio.  Their BHK line is all Hybrid, the Signature Preamp and BHK amplifiers have a tube input section and a MOSFET transistor output section (mosfets put out a warmer sound). I’m getting the warmer sound I was looking for without all the heat of lots of output tubes. They just discontinued the BHK preamp and the BHK250 and300 amplifiers so you can get them at half price or less.

If you have the money, Audio Research makes some incredible stuff (mostly tube) and they are built very well!  The sound is probably everything you want, but there is a lot of heat from the power tubes and depending on your room size and where you live can heat up small pretty quick.  
 

Another idea would be to get a tube preamp and a SS or Hybrid amplifier. Depending on how loud you play your music might be the best solution.

All the best.

I play the majority of my music between 70-76db with bumps up to 80-81 when I want to get crazy, ha!

@bahston It might be worthwhile looking at the recently shared info in the @whitestix posts, where there is info about the impressions made by a certain cost friendly SS Power Amp' in comparison to Valve Amp's that have been very impressive in use. 

This same Amp' when found in the UK as a used purchase sale item will be bought with immediacy, otherwise it will be a late 2026 purchase, to learn what its capabilities are in my own, and extending to other systems I am fortunate to be quite familiar, as well as those I only get demo's off irregularly.

All the info made available to you is really worth pondering for what it actually means towards what you want to achieve. 

OP

as you have read with all the post above, all have different views. I have heard a Vandersteen 3a powered by a Pass Labs INT-60 and they sound wonderful and it's an end game system for most. I have not heard an ALLNIC Tube amps, but they are highly rated and well regarded. 

For this, if you so choose the ALLNIC brand, I suggest the HOLO Audio brand of DACS, specifically the MAY KTE. they sound very analog and I would say will give the DENAFRIPS brand a run. I have Denafrips and I have auditioned the Holo May and I am thinking of switching to that brand. it's that good!!

good luck

I have researched both of the above mentioned DAC’s. Then, crazy stupid thoughts began running through my head and finally, one of the more wise voices in the committee spoke up and said, “one step at a time”.

The plan is to get the preamp/amp setup first and then to make a comparison and then and only then, I’ll begin to torture myself with DAC considerations.

I have to tell ya, I purchased a used Linn Akurate DSM a lil over a year ago and I’m pretty impressed. It’s a 4-5 year old DAC and the price was right.

We’ll see.