I play the majority of my music between 70-76db with bumps up to 80-81 when I want to get crazy, ha!
Tubes vs Tubeless
Hi,
Very, very (did I say "very") new to this adventure. I had a nice lower end, high end system 30 years ago and life got in the way and I had to part with that system. I now have a basic set up with a Belles Aria integrated amp with Vandersteen 2ce Signature speakers and a Linn DAC with a basic turntable.
I'm thinking of an upgrade and going full in on a dac system and leaving the vinyl to the side. I love albums but my collection is not huge, I'm getting older and I enjoy the simplicity of streaming music at the touch of a fingertip.
I have never owned a system with tubes and read in one of the forums about the Aric Audio systems and it really piqued my interest.
So, the question is, will there be a considerable difference in sound quality with a tube system of the Aric quality paired with a DAC or is the tube system a better advantage with vinyl?
Thank you
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- 58 posts total
@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. |
Your Linn gets the music right - a spin thru the Linn Record division jazz offerings should tell you they have… good engineering sense and good ears. Probably the guy I trust most who carries both Linn and Vandersteen is Rick in Fort Collins. I believe it would be worth your time to call. as an aside the Vandersteen 3A signature is in my mind a different beast which richly rewards a SS amp with iron grip in the low end - I owned them for a decade with SS amplifiers. My brother still runs them with a big Threshold. I helped setup a pair of Quattro yesterday w SM SAS power and VTL tube line stage… lovely sonics… have fun OP hopefully you don’t get sucked into what I call the DAC de jour crowd… but I suppose that is a different thread… eh… |
- 58 posts total