2. amps-preamps
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I'm going to buy my first tube amp. I need honest blunt opinions

 

 

Recommendations please. I am thinking of dipping my toes in the tube amp water.  For the longest time I have been tempted to buy a modest tube amp to run my Monitor Gold 300’s at 90db.

I’ve been toying around, researching the different characteristics of SET, class A, class AB, B Ultralinear tube amps for months. It’s a bit much. As far as the reviewers go, they are too vague. They are afraid to be upfront honest.

Sources are a Parasound JC 3+, a Innous ZENith Mk3, and a Oppo going to a Benchmark DAC, then all go to a Benchmark LA 4 preamp that will feed the new amp.

My room is 16 x16. The speakers have a 12-foot spread. I sit 14 feet back, so it’s not that big of a room.

I have narrowed it down to four candidates.

A used Canary Audio M90 300B Tube Amp at 24RMS,300B push-pull stereo triode Class A $4,000

A used Jadis Orchestra Black, 40 RMS, Class B $4,000

A 16-year-old, Used Cary Audio Six Pac Monoblock’s, 50 triode watts A/AB $2,000

A new Dynaco by WILL VINCENT 35RMS Ultralinear $2,300

 

marshinski15
skywachr
124 posts
 

Another vote for Quicksilver. The V4 monoblocs are incredible for the price.

audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,178 posts
 

Buy a Ayon   They are far better built , and micro processor controlled , when a tube goes out a led comes on and you just replace that one tube , 

it monitors each power tube, 

regular amplifiers all tubes are just averaged. So many more disasters possible 

blown transformer,resistors . I had a canary and had it rebuilt ,not that great  

transformers and chokes are the major component  in tube amps 

Ayon use a machined aluminum case , not cheap sheet metal like the others ,

plus they use teflon Copper tube sockets ,which sonicly make a big difference vs the cheap tinned brass , they use Top quality Lundahl  transformers and chokes ,

I bought two of their products , and yes iowned the above products , Jadis is agood product but doesnot have all the safety features Ayon has.

salc
36 posts
 

As you may know tubes have a wonderful warm sound and some have managed to combine the strengths of both sold state and tubes.  I have a pair of Wolcott presence 220 monoblocks considering parting with that combine the benefits of both.  Hate to give them up though.  They have autobiasing which is a great feature to look for if you’re new to tubes.  The amps have recently been completely been retubed and have EL 34 mullard (16) power tubes.  I would consider parting with them for $4900. 
 

good luck 

gnaudio
53 posts
 

My thoughts are you will get a better result setting your system up for near field listening, your speakers seem very wide apart. It’s free to try so why not give it a shot. Mapleshade Audio has some good tips for this on their site. As for bass standing waves in that room, I don’t think it should be a problem as there isn’t much bass energy from those speakers. Move the speakers closer, move your chair into a spot making a triangle between your speakers and your chair, play with toe in and you will get way better benefit than changing your amp and again it’s free!!

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