First foray into tube amps

@bob42 ,

Czy umiesz pisać po angielsku?

@treepmeyer 

Since you will not be using a preamplifier, I caution against tube power amplifiers that have lower than usual gain such as the McIntosh MC275 which only has 20db gain.  This is an often traded amp because people do not give it enough front end juice, e.g. a preamplifier with 20db or so gain.  

I had similar speakers to yours made by Harbeth and they sounded excellent driven by the Rogue Audio Stereo 100 amplifier which has plenty of gain and power.  

I do suggest a tube preamp on the front end or a tube integrated amplifier rather than a power amplifier because much of the tube qualities come from the preamplifier section.  

I suggest a Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III integrated but upgrade it to the KT120 Power Tubes. It will have plenty pf power to drive your Stirlings. 

The best things about tube amps are not the overall tonality which can be on the rich side but also open and transparent- but rather the large enveloping "atmospheric" sound stage you find yourself in recording dependent.  When done right that smooth, atmospheric sound stage is worth the price of admission.  

Your system deserves it.  

@treepmeyer Yes Yes Yes, do experience a very well designed Class D SS Amp.

Probably costing less than the cost required to sufficiently create a supply of Vintage Valves to Tube Roll, with the benefits of having some sort of worthwhile warranty for a year.

Vintage Valves can measure extraordinarily, beyond Factory Spec.  I own a small selection that has shown this, pure luck. Out of nowhere, a good measuring valve can be on the verge of being unusable for audio purposes, pure bad and unwanted luck.

Being a person within a group of long-term Valve users who are fortunate to have regular access to Valve Testing equipment and, as a group, take advantage of the support locally on offer. A lot is learned about Valves, both from a Vintage and a Modern era. 

In many, many cases, Valve users are not sure how their valves are measuring; as long as sound is produced, the user is convincing themselves all is as should be.

I have received brand new valves, measured within a few days of receipt and before use, that when tested, the Valve Tester has assured will produce sound, but they are not advising to be used in an amp, as there is a concern circuit damage could result. The testing advice was to return the so called matched pair.

On another recent occasion, to get the early feel of a 300b Valve Power Amp' , valves were used as that were recorded with measured 50%. These were used as an intermediate while waiting on new ordered Valves. I was satisfied with what was occurring as an end sound. Not too far on, the New 300b's arrived, and it was immediately a jaw on the floor; moment. I was no longer satisfied, but left in awe.  i   

When I recently heard a custom design for a SS Class D power amp, I was compelled to behave very unusually for me, and signed the bottom line to have one produced for myself within minutes of hearing it. I immediately recognised an amp was in front of me that could have the potential to have ne rethink my keen interest in Valve amplification. I am confident this SS Class D Amp, used with my Valve Phonostages and Valve DAC, will be a real contender as a first-place amp.

What has really become an appeal since committing to the purchase is that I am a SS Phonostage owner and today purchased a SS DAC. The DAC in use with the new amp pretty much means I can have loud music produced to fill the home, without me being in vigilant attendance in the listening space. That is now seemingly a new bliss to be created.

The additional plus side to myself of the Full SS System. Is the mass and weight. I can put a Digital Source and Amp with auxiliaries into a suitcase and go anywhere. Whereas my Valve system is a logistical challenge, needing buddy support to load/off load at home and good knowledge of a venue's navigation in advance with support for handling the brought equipment. On the occasions when I am getting out to be social and engaging with others as a support of an event, which is typically attended by audio enthusiasts. 

Another plus is that the weight and dimensions of the SS equipment make the notion of loaning and leaving at the premises of another quite an acceptable idea. The Valves equipment, adorned with Valves ranging from £400 to £1200, combined with the weight and dimensions of certain devices, makes the idea of loaning and leaving at another premises a complete no-go.  

Again, I strongly suggest experiencing Valve Amplification, but do this before committing to a purchase, and be sure the disciplines to be cultivated around Valve Amp usage are wanted to be maintained and worked with for a continued improvement.  

I also strongly recommend that SS Class D Power Amplification is also experienced in conjunction with experiencing valve amps. It won't be long before a surefooted analysis of what the future looks like with amplification is to manifest.

Talking on forums only as a guide to decision making is fundamentally preparing to fail.    

@avanti1960 Thanks for your comments about the benefits of a preamp or integrated.  The RME UCX II provides preamp functionality, including volume control, multiple source selection (both analog and digital) - and selectable gain levels.  Consequently, to get the tube sound I thought I had to focus on a tube power amp.  However, if most of the tube effect comes from a tube preamp section then an integrated amp, possibly hybrid, might be my best bet.

At the risk of displaying my ignorance, the UCX manual states that audio line out gain is selectable at +19dBu, +13dBu and +4dBu.  I don’t know if that would help with my 87dB Stirlings.  
 

@pindac I, too, am a fan of the newer class D amps.  But I just didn’t think I could get sound I’m after without going the tube route.  Maybe I’m wrong.  Presence, envelopment, warmth along with precision.

@elliottbnewcombjr Maybe part of my problem is that my LS3/6 are undersized for my room, as you seem to be saying- or that the combination of my room size with desired tube amplification does not work well with 87dB speakers.  Ugh.

Anyway, these comments are very helpful.  Thanks.