2. amps-preamps
  3. 159891-2029

Never Owned a Tube Amp and Want Advice

Hi All, 

I have never owned a tube amplifier before and am planning to purchase one with a minimum of 50 watts per channel to mate with 8 ohm 88 dbl speakers.

My hope is experienced audiogoners will share their expertise regarding how to approach this. While I realize listening is the best way to learn about sound and compatibility; I want to learn a better understanding about brands with less maintenance and longer tube life, how to decide between mono or stereo,can a newbie play with bias or is auto biasing a better first choice, etc.

I would also appreciate what to look for in selecting a used tube amp to identify one that might be in need of repair. For example, with solid state depending on the brand, capacitor replacement can be more of a concern. Any advice on what to look out for or ask about with used tube amps would be appreciated.

A big question I have is how to understand the relationship between power tubes like E34's, 120.s, etc. and, I guess the driver? tubes like 12au7's and 12at7's. That  is to ask which is more critical to the overall sound of the amp? FWIW, I routinely tube roll with my preamps.  

I 've read through a number of threads but maybe someone can point me to good ones I may have missed. 

Thanks for listening,

Dsper
dsper
jjss49's avatar
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jjss49
6,612 posts
 
congrats on a good choice and a good result

c-j gear is simply beyond reproach in build quality and sound quality and there is certainly an expected, lovely synergy between the 17LS2 and the LP66...

my premier 16LS2 and ET5 are forever pieces - they may be equalled by others but ever surpassed for the listening pleasure they bring

enjoy!
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,785 posts
 
Regarding the sibilance- that really shouldn't be showing up at all, even on a new speaker (it might be bright until it breaks in, but sibilance suggests something wrong).


Does it do this on all sources?
dsper OP
663 posts
 
Does it do this on all sources?
To be clear, I am talking about "bliss" and "sound" versus "blisss" and "ssound".

It is not a problem on all CDs. Better recorded ones seem to be less of an issue.

I had inserted my Hegel HD25 DAC and it was slightly worse and generally more harsh.

My Theta R2R DAC is more resolving and detailed.

I am wondering if the SEAS Excel tweeter is just going to be more work than I thought.

Ty Lashbrook and I had discussed what resistor to use for the tweeters before I ordered the speakers. I do not recall where we landed on that discussion but he said that, once I had a couple hundred hours on the speakers, I could easily change the resistor to shape the sound a bit. I have no idea if a resistor change would solve the problem. And in all fairness, I have not yet called Ty to discuss.

Thanks for listening,  

Dsper 


nordicnorm
313 posts
 
You’ve been given a lot of really great advice.

I’m going to suggest a different direction - why not consider a tube preamp?

That way you get the best of both worlds!

Edit: Oops! Just noticed you had found something. Never mind. 
skypunk's avatar
skypunk
499 posts
 
I have gone with a Pathos Hybrid AMP after trying a Raven Blackhawk with not much luck.

Love my Raven CeLest Towers and the Raven cables.  

Loving the Pathos and Raven combo. 
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