2. amps-preamps
  3. 1386256823

To Tube or not to Tube......

For quite some time now I've been thinking about switching from a solid state to a tube power amp. My Threshold T-100 has been real good to me and I do like it, but it's really the only "high-end" amp I've ever owned, so it's all I know. I'm intrigued by the "warm" sound of tubes and do have a tubed phono amp and CD player, but I am by no means well-versed in the sound of tube power amps having never really auditioned one. I know that goes against the prevailing wisdom and I should listen before I buy, but I don't think I will have the luxury of doing that.

That being said, I've gone through about 20 pages of this forum reading about the benefits and detriments of tubed power amps but nothing I've read has swayed me either way. The posts I've read have been informative re: bias issues, reliability, blowing fuses or whatever else might blow up or go wrong with the tubs, etc. So, if I were to go the tube route, I would not want deal with too much of that hassle. At lease I know that the amp I have doesn't have any such issues. That's why I was leaning toward amps like BAT with their auto biasing (I also need balanced inputs), and would want at least 60-100 wpc. I would be willing to deal with adjusting bias so long as it was a relatively simple process.

I figured I would pose my main question to the exerts here (and this I did learn for this forum): given what I already have in my system, what tube amp would be a good match for me? My pre-amp is a SS Threshold, JM Lab speakers with a "minimum impedance of 4 Ohms," EAR 834P phono stage, & Unison tube cd player.
Much appreciated.
ebuzz
wahwah's avatar
wahwah
23 posts
 
All I can say is, Curiosity killed THIS Cat. I was pretty much like you.
I had an older Audio Research D120 ss amp that was recommended to me by a dealer (thanks Tim!) over newer and more expensive ARC products. With this amp hooked up to my Berning preamplifier, AND with appropriate cables, I was getting 90% of what a VS115/LS17 was producing.
But Nooo, I had to be a greedy audiophile who wanted it ALL.
So, I sold the D120 and got a D115 instead-Supposedly one of the all-time greats..
The result: A warmer, narrower soundstage, with increased smoothness in the upper midrange and enouch HEAT to make Satan squirm. Now, my Proacs no longer dissapear; and there is a distinct loss of detail, neutrality and Bass SLAM.
So, after 700 bucks spent in replacement tubes and repairs, I've made a step backwards and wonder why I did it...
mikewerner
119 posts
 
-
Someone commented on the occasional misinformation that surfaces here.
I agree.
Back to the guitar tube amp sub-topic.
It is my understanding that tubes are desired in that application because when they clip they produce harmonic distortion that is part of the desired sound.
A clipping transistor sounds WAY different and is NOT the sound that is wanted.
Guitar tube amps are frequently pushed to clipping because of the desired distortion. Think Hendrix!
Now an amp for a stereo is not pushed to clipping and so that benefit found in guitar tube amps does not transfer to tube amps used in Hi Fi.
Comparing guitar tube amps to Hi Fi tube amps is like comparing apples to oranges. They are both fruit, butÂ… the application is different!
-
ebuzz OP
104 posts
 
OK, so there is a chance that the switch might not be all that I hope for, but it's a little too late for me now. My T-100 is sold so I've got to do something. At this point, I'm committed to giving tubes a try and hoping for the best. The sole issue is: a new Jolida 1000P or a used ARC VS115 with new tubes, in "excellent" condition for approx $800 more?
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,582 posts
 
Ebuzz, make sure you have checked to see if there are any potential issues with the tube amp driving the loudspeakers you have.
ebuzz OP
104 posts
 
> Atmasphere: I have checked that and either amp will drive my speakers without issue.
More to discover