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To all tube lovers.......

To all the tube lovers out there: If you COULD NOT listen to a tube amp and you HAD to go solid state or digital, what amp would you get to replace your tubes? I've always been a tube guy. Every amp I've ever owned has been a tube amp. However, I may get a new speaker that is 88 db @ 4 (maybe 6), ohm. If so, I must get a higher powered amp. Keep in mind, I"m not just looking for any amp. Preferably 100 watts or more. Solid state? Digital? I've heard wonderful and not-so-wonderful feedback on Nuforce and Spectral in the digital camp.

I just don't want to regret getting out of tubes just so I can change speakers.
devilboy
mrdecibel
2,898 posts
 
My question is this. This speaker you may purchase, have you listened to it and with what associated electronics ? What does the manufacturer recommend ? Also, what size room do you have and what listening levels do you listen at. The previous posts are all good recommendations, but as a tube owner/lover(I am speaking of you)the sound will be quite different......
mmike84
309 posts
 
In my early days I spent a lot of time with both Krell and Ayre and they do not sound like tubes. I think people mention them because they like them, but they do not fit the criteria of the OP.
lou_setriodes's avatar
lou_setriodes
672 posts
 
I'm also a tube guy at heart but about 12 years ago or so, I went back and forth between a B&K EX442 Sonata (200 into 8, 360 into 4) and a pair of 8417 Paoli M60 monoblocks (highly modded Dyna mkIII's) and was hard pressed to tell the difference. B&K amps cost peanuts compared to what is being mentioned in this thread but are truly tubelike. Other than hi powered B&K, I think a nice hi powered hybrid amp like a Moscode would do the trick; otherwise, a hi powered PP tube amp should work fine....

I agree with Mmike84 that you won't be satisfied with solid state long term but while you are experimenting with it, why not try something like B&K which isn't a lot of money, but a total giantkiller.
good luck,
Lou
avico238's avatar
avico238
3 posts
 
the last frontier :
symphonic line kraft-300 amplifier connected to their solid state flgship preamp : rg3 mk4 -with it's new gigantic reference psu.
the rolls royce of high end.
when you hear what this set-up is capable of, you will not feel the need to compare to others, even not to evoulution , balabo, fm acoustics etc.
i am positive that you will also forget about tubes, like i did, and i was a tube fan before i had this unique musical experience.
freediver
1,011 posts
 
PLEASE read drdennis's reply above!I agree 100%.I was driving Dynaudio Audience 52SE's(86db @ 4 ohms) with 42 push pull tube watts per channel to ear splitting levels in a med.size room.With the abundance of great sounding 50 watt per channel tube integrated amps available I see no reason to switch to SS.
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