Newbi seeking advise - why tubed pre-amp?

If it doesn't glow, it's gotta go! Tubes add a sense of warmth and musicality to any system, and by tube rolling you can dial in the sound to your liking. In looking at your application I would suggest something from Cayin or Opera, both very good Chinese companies.

I sold off my SS integrated at work recently (Primare) and bought this http://www.operaudio.com/Html/Opera-Products-CYBERSERIES-cyber10.htm

The Opera Consonance Cyber 10 has a toggle switch to select either ultralinear or triode mode, biasing is pretty simple as you can see by the picture in the URL. I ordered the unit with two inputs to accomodate my SAE Two tuner and heavily modded Toshiba SD3950 DVD in my office system; headphone listening is important to me seeing as I'm in an office so having the headphone jack and/or a line out to add a headphone amp was a must have (Senn HD600 cans with Cardas cable). Speakers are Totem Rokk with QED Silver Anniversary wire. How does it sound? No idea, I've been traveling throughout Asia for the last three weeks but my boss who is a big time 'phile set it up and reported back to me...

"Very nice unit and sounds good too. I connected the CDP and the tuner in input 1 and 2. Speakers are at 4 ohm. I played some Dark Side of the Moon. Good pick!"

I'll write a review once I put the integrated through it's paces and have a good feel for it's character. Keep an open mind and have some fun with tubes! Best, Jeff

I am going to my local dealer to check out some tube pre-amps and amps. One here has some good Audio Research amps.

You should get one for the reasons listed and stay away from one for the same reasons. You have to be willing to put in the time, money, and effort to find the tubes that bring out the best in your system. Then you have to constantly be concerned that the tubes you chose could be inferior to others you haven't heard. Add that to the fact that tubes slowly deteriorate and you have to be concerned about when to replace them. Then whenever you replace a component or tube you have to assess whether another tube would work better with it than the one you are using.

Don't get me wrong, I think that a tube system with the optimum tubes for it can be magical, but there's the rub. There are so many variables that it is easy to become obsessed with tube rolling and miss out on the music. I know some of these concerns apply to the differences in solid state gear but the variables are greatly reduced.

It boils down to whether you are willing to deal with the above or just accept what the solid state component gives you. I'm all solid state at the moment and think I can compete head on with the best. I've done both and right now I'm happy without the tubes. I miss some things that tubes brought to my system but overall I'm happier where I am.

Just listen to an AN DAC. I used to think that digital sources shouldn't be tubed too - and I love tubes - but AN changed my mind...

More on Jolida - The company is pretty responsive, and those that carry them can do the biasing - which is straightforward and clear in almost all instruction booklets - I mean, these things were common in households for forty years - but requires a trip to radio shack. Have the dealer tell you how though, and if they can't explain it clearly, go to another dealer or figure it out for yourself. Biasing allows you not to fry your amp (a short answer). Also Ming Da, Cary (self biasing) and EAR make excellent integrateds, some more expensive than others - some also have head phone pre-amps if you have it in an office. And don't worry about wattages, but be careful about speaker pairings.