Help me get started again. Tube amp...

i am a lover of the LS3/5a, having purchased original rogers in the mid 70s and held them for 25 years until college funding caused me to liquidated everything.  i had owned many amps over that tiem period, and (due to their small size) brought the speakers into many audio salons to listen to still more electronics.  if you are like me, it is about the midrange and the great soundstage.  

i have found that el34 tube amps are the best match for the ls3/5a.  they bring out the best of its characteristics.  i had settled into the conrad johnson el34 amps, which gave them the most warmth.  however, i have not listened to CJ current versions.

when i got back into audio a few years ago after my kids were all gone, i wnet with proac mini monitors instead of the ls3/5a.  not sure if it was the right decision, but, here i am.  the amp i fell in love with is the primaluna dialogue premium. i have the hp (high power) version which runs  4 el34s per channel in stereo mode. the amp can be used as a mono block, giving a good step up oportunity in the future.  while this model is the best of the primaluna amps and costs $3500 new, their prologue series are less expensive and can be found used, especially if you want their integrated amp versions. 

you might consider the integrated primaluna as, especailly with the ls3/5a, the tube preamp will be a big improvemtn over almost all passive preamps, based upon  my past experience.

good luck.  as someone who was out of audio for a while, it is great to be backmlistening again! enjoy!

Thanks again everyone.  A lot of these choices are similar to what they were 10 years ago.  The refresher is perfect. 

On the ST-70, I played with the Curio boards back in the day and that was fun.  I think an ST-70 may be what I have to do.  I really want to get a kit or rebuild even though that may not sound the best.  The ST-120 looks great and may have more of a solid bottom end.  Now bottom end and LS3/5a are kind of oxymoronish but the stirling V2 has a bit better.
Oh and I have a LS3/5a clone that I was building and have one crossover built.  I am going to need a good cabinet maker to finish those in a nice lossy cabinet.  Let the fun begin.


meiatflask  thanks for your input.  In regards to your proac mini monitors, I remember how great the reviews of them were.  I actually started this habit with some French JMLabs mini utopia speakers.  They were the incredibly dynamic.  I sold them do to size and the lovely midrange of the LS3/5a.  Having said that the LS/3/5a is a very specific and pinpoint in its beauty.  Outside of that, its rather outclassed.  But it is still fun.

I remember the Prima Luna was just getting great reviews when I dropped out…  

I realized that this hobby, brings me some joy that I miss.

I tend to agree with the Harbeth designer when he says they benefit from a healthy amount of power. Therefore, I think something like the Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum II is worth a look. Excellent phono section too. Made in the US and a super value. 

CJ MV-45a is a fantastic amp also.... had a pair with stacked ESL.. sublime