2. amps-preamps
  3. 1100662087

should i do tube?

so i have a few grand to spend. you can check out my system, but basically it's an analog front end. im currently using a sim i-5 integrated, but cancelling out the pre section by using a bottlehead foreplay pre, which makes a very nice difference. question is, should i just go to pure tubes. the latest audio advisor catalog has 2 amps which sound very interesting, the antique sound lab aq-1001dt integrated, and the mgsi 15 dt integrated which is set. let me be clear here...things sound very good as is. but im intrigued about using all tubes. and the 1001dt especially interests me cause it's 50 wpc and has a remote, and seemingly very easy bias adjustment, which i really want. so all opinions would be very appreciated here. and if these amps could be bettered in a similiar price range, please chime in.

thanks all...
sberger
sberger OP
146 posts
 
>IMHO and experience, it makes a rather large change, even if tonally speaking its similar, you loose the liquidity that a tube amp can bring to the system<

i'm sure you're right. i would think that some of that liquidity in my system is replaced by using the foreplay pre. but the point you make is a good one and is why im wrestling with this question.

thanks.
tobias
1,534 posts
 
I went to tubes from a Simaudio power amp (the W-4070SE, rather less good-sounding than the amp in your integrated but still great at the price). My value-for-money choice was the Shanling SP-80 monobloc pair. These gorgeous amps get 50 watts from a pair of EL34s in push-pull.

SP-80 pics

It was a whole new world, musically. And then I tried changing the driver tubes for NOS...

Downside of these amps for you is that bias is not easily set by the user.

Totem will tell you what tube amps they like with the Model 1 Sig if you ask them.
bluebull
269 posts
 
Sberger
Bad tubes-Crappy !Good tubes-Heaven ! Perhaps as simple as that.
People in the know seem to like the OTL amps(like Spencer who responded above).Speaker matching critical with tubes.
I like the Hybrid amps.Perhaps the best of both world's ?
Currently use the Pathos Logos-nice amp !Also Pathos Classic One excellent.See their reviews.
Must have a Tube somewhere in the signal path.A sense of spaciousness that is special.
You are thinking in the right direction.
Dr Chris van Niekerk
Sasolburg ,South Africa
raquel
841 posts
 
If you can, you may want to consider expanding the budget a bit in the interests of buying something with real build quality (for example, the Antique Sounds Labs stuff is not known to be particularly reliable).

The VAC Renaissance 30/30 Mk.III can now be had for +/- $2,500 used. It has first-class power supplies and output transformers, and is thus much more powerful than its 32 watt/channel rating would suggest (it is, incidentally, a push/pull, not single-ended, amp). It has automatic tube biasing, which takes all the hassle out of owning a tube amp, and long-life 300B output tubes. As for build quality, the VAC Renaissance amps are hard to beat. A 30/30 can be had used for a fraction of its retail price because people look at "32 watts/channel" and dismiss it -- they don't know what this amp can do (like drive a 2 Ohm load).

There are some pretty fine used preamps available for $600-$700 (ARC LS-3, Audible Illusions L-1), and you are about there.

I think this combo would be pretty hard to beat.

Good luck.
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