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
sbank's avatar
sbank
3,378 posts
 
Jond's comments are really worth remembering. nice post!
FWIW, I heard a nice Totem/tube combo, with a Jolida integrated. Pretty affordable for the quality I heard. Worth a listen if you get a chance.
I agree that used tube amps will give you a chance to try it for a few months & then try something different at litle cost. I've been through VTL, AirTight,BAT, Cary and now Berning amps. If I hadn't taken those steps, I wouldn't be as happy as I am now. IMHO, most decent tube amps give you more realistic sound than ss competitors at most price points; but that a WHOLE 'NOTHER DEBATE! ;-)
Cheers, Spencer
sberger OP
146 posts
 
thanks everyone for your thoughtful and speedy responses. i suppose i'll wait till i see something that's reasonably affordable and make a decision, but i suspect that after reading your opinions that the fact that i have an integrated which has some tube like qualities, and that im coupling it with a very nice little tube preamp, that a tube amp isn't necessarily going to make that significant amount of change.

Thanks again to those that have responded, and I'd love to hear any other opinions.
newbee
4,767 posts
 
>a tube amp isn't going to make that significant amount of change<

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 have a summer (SS amp) to back up my tubes when it gets too hot. Its a good amp and considered by many to have tube like qualities (thats why I bought it). I can't wait to take it out of the system when the weather cools down!
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.
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