Should I get a new amp?

FatghOst, tube rolling is trying different manufacturers' (EI, Sovtek, JJ Tesla, etc)version of the same tube (EL34, KT88, etc). There is also the search for NOS (New Old Stock) which are tubes made long ago and no longer in production. Many feel they sound much better than current tubes - I have no idea why, may QC was better, maybe the use of radioactive parts no longer permitted, - but this path can get very expensive - some NOS brands - Mullard, Amperex, Telefunken, Siemens, RCA, Sylvania. Typicall NOS tube rolling start in earnest when you are committed to tubes and are try to eake out the last nth degree of performance - it can be a slippery road if you do not know what you are doing, and even if you do.

Fatgh0st

My room is just under 14w x just over 20L with 8 ceilings. Until recently it had two openings, one to either side. One midway back on the left, and another all the way back on the right side. Near field listening was the only place to gain good balance, left to right. Great Bass was really difficult to acquire too.

The comments I made thus far were all applicable to the room in that config. I've since closed off the room by adding doors there just a couple months back.

That room doubles for me as well, as an HT and 2 ch listening room. Give or take a bit here or there, you have your room just like mine.

In fact your musical tastes, save for the rock, are mine as well.... and I do play rock as well, just not a lot. Def Lep, ZZ, Whitesnake, Lynyrd, Styx, Ozzie, Matchbox, etc.

As far as integrating a sub for 2 ch it shouldn't be too hard. Surely not expensive either. Especially if the "???" int has a set of preamp outs. Most do. Run the sub off them with a pair of RCA cables you can get at Radio Shack cheap... I do/did. they work fine. $20-40. If the sub has phase contrOls you might not even have to move it much if at all.

...AND YOU MAY NOT EVEN WANT TOO INCORPORATE THE SUB... BUT it's there if you have to.

Tube rolling = exchanging tubes in a piece of tube gear. I guess the term came from a while back 'cause once you take 'em out and lay 'em down while putting in other ones, they could roll if not on a level surface. ??

The Flavor of the tube piece is dependant upon the tubes being used within it. Differenet tube brands? Different sound.

that is to say, if it has JJ Tesla's 6922's, and you replace those with say, Amperex 6922's, the sound will differ. in fact the whole shooting match can change. Sound stage, bass, impact, openess, liquidity, etc.

Tjhis goes for all the tubes. inputs or drivers, and output tubes too. Even the same tube, yet a different vintage, can and do sound differently. for some this is a true joy, having such flexibility. For me it was a consternation.

But even a blind squirrel can find an acorn now and then. I did find the compliment of tubes that suits me without too much trouble.

you should be fine. Especially given your mention of gaining more from the mid bass on up is more important to you. you'll still get that which your speakers can put out in the bass region.... it'll just be different... but the musical info will still be there.

one other thing... you said the back end of the room was open. If you only ran some heavy curtains across that area behind the couches, which you could open and close at will, you'd be far better off too. Even better, accordion doors.

Hope that was helpful.

Audio hobby is a journey. If you agree to that, it may be a good idea to find an amp that allows you to experiement various things of a tube amp. Then you can gain knowledge and develop your own preference. Treat it as a stepping stone to reach your audio nirvana.

If you agree with the above idea, I would recommend the following requirements for choosing your tube amp:

1. Manual bias: This is a key feature that I look for in an amp. In fact, my Counterpoint hybrid amp allows me to adjust the biases of the output bipolar transistors too! You want to experiment biasing the output devices at, below, and above the recommended value. For my KT88 monoblocks, I'd like to adjust the biases at 15% below the recommended value, which gives me more delicacy and finess.

2. Ultralinear or Triode switch: It allows you to adjust the output tube mode, ultralinear or triode.

3. Enough power: it allows you to try various music. The bass guitar in Jazz music does need power!

There is a Rogue M120 that is just listed for about $1K. It may be a good start for your journey.

I had an Outlaw 7100. Upgraded it to a Sunfire TGA5200, which still didn't do for 2 channel purpose, so bought a Musical Fidelity A5 integrated. Perfectly happy.

I completely disagree with those saying you can't blend a home theater setup with 2 channel. Sure, it won't compare to a dedicated listening room that's acoustically treated, but most people can't afford that route. I'm running a Benchmark DAC1 fed lossless from a PC into the Musical Fidelity, which serves double duty in the HT setup due to it's direct bypass. Speakers are Quad 22L2's (with a Quad Center for HT). I personally couldn't be happier, though I spent a grip on Shunyata Pythons and Taipans as well as a Hydra-6 to clean the power up.

Fatgh0st ; if you do decide on the Primaluna , you can call Upscale Audio and tell them what you want to change about the sound of the amp ie. tube rolling . They know these amps very well and can both advise you what to do and sell the tubes that will accomplish the change . A nobrainer for phools like me ! So don't feel overwelmed by all of the choices listed here . It's really that easy , just buy what they suggest , take the old tubes out , insert the new tubes , turn the unit on and give the tubes about 10 - 15 hours of operation to settle in . Actually I was able to hear the difference right away . Tube rolling will allow you to get many differing sounds out of one amp ! Much cheaper/easier than changing out SS/chip amps .
And with self/auto biasing it is all just plug n play .

But be careful with which brand of amp that you purchase if you plan to tube roll , especially if you purchase new .
Some manufacturers will void the warranty if you roll 'any' tubes other than what is supplied with the amp as new and some will void the warranty if you use tubes purchased from anyone else than them ! And some require that you buy tubes that are a matched set , an added expense .

You will find two kinds of hobbiests here , tweakers and listeners . Guess which I am ?

Good luck .