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First foray into tube amps

I just read the thread on McIntosh and it has prompted me to start this thread.  I would like to try a tube power amp, but I have no experience with tubes.  For now, at least, I am pretty well settled on the rest of my system: Stirling LS3/6 speakers with dual SVS 3000 micro subs, Node 130 streamer with PD Creative/LHY power and English Eight switch, Bacch4Mac crosstalk elimination and DSP, RME Fireface dac/interconnect.  I’ll be replacing a Peachtree Gan1.  The room is 23x16x8 and is well treated.  I listen at low to moderate volumes, lots of vocals, blues, Argentine Tango, some classic rock.  I love that BBC mid-range magic, and think I want a little more warmth than I have now - but without giving up any precision or detail.  I find very analytical high end reproduction to be unpleasant, though.  On the low end, I dislike mushiness.  I really like bass details without slam - think of Holly Cole’s Train Song listening to those bass transients tail off.

So, I think that some tube amps might fit the bill and are within budget (say $5,000).  Here is my provisional short list: McIntosh MC275 MK6, Conrad Johnson MV60SE, Quicksilver Mid-Monos or 88 Monos, PrimaLuna Evo 300 or 400.  There are many others, and I’d welcome suggestions. I can’t tell if these or some other amp would likely have better synergy with my speakers/room/music preferences.  I realize that I may need to try several amps to find which one sounds best to me - but where to start?  Many thanks.

treepmeyer
larryi
4,576 posts
 

I think you are referring to the open baffle speakers of PureAudioProject.  I like those speakers too.  They are available with alternative choices for the midrange/high frequency driver.  At 96 db/w they could be used with some low-powered single ended triode (SET) amps, with some limitation on playing at extremely high volume levels.  Still, if they create an opportunity to use 300B SET amps, that would be more avenues to explore. 

I am a big fan of many high efficiency speakers because they tend to sound more lively and open sounding.  These include horn-based systems and systems using full range drivers in either single driver full range systems or as a wide range driver in multi-way systems.  For single driver systems, I particularly like those of Charney Audio.  At somewhat higher price points I like the single driver and two-way systems of Songer Audio (field coil full range driver).

Klipsch Forte IV's are not my favorite horn systems (a bit too rough and they have a peaky midrange), but they are very lively and fun sounding speakers and I recommend them at their price point.  They sort of require decent tube amps to tame their harshness and most people never hear them at their best because they are not normally matched to very good tube amps.

treepmeyer OP
167 posts
 

@tuberist Thomas Tan at Galion is sending me a TS120se demo unit to try out in my home.  I'm impressed.  I didn't even ask, he just volunteered.

@larryi Yes, that's Pure Audio Project.  Wonderful sound and at 96dB they would open up other amp options.  I'll check out Charney Audio.

kennyc
2,873 posts
 

High Efficiency Speakers:

 

larryi
4,576 posts
 

If you are willing to sell a kidney, you should also check out Songer Audio field coil speakers.  The field coil Audio Note speakers are interesting too, but that would require selling both kidneys.

If you can get to the Washington DC/Northern Virginia area, check out the Deja Vu Audio shop for both their custom tube amplifiers and custom horn speakers.  Their lowest cost horn systems are around $15k and they sound terrific to me.  All of the tube amps they make are low in power.  These days, most of the amps, linestages , phonostages, and DACs are expensive, but they also sell stuff from other manufacturers and used gear traded in by customers.

deep_333
2,433 posts
 

What exactly is that BBC mid-range magic? No bass, no treble? ....which leaves a BBC sucker with some mid-range, I bet.

 

I love that BBC mid-range magic, and think I want a little more warmth than I have 

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