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Help me get started again. Tube amp...

I had a full on audio addiction up until about 10 years ago when my first child entered the world and my priorities changed.

Now as my kids are spending more time with their friends and in activities I find my time at home wishing I had a system to appreciate.

Luckily I still have some little Stirling Broadcast LS3/5a V2 tucked in a corner, a nice little passive preamp stored in a drawer and a sudden CD player that has been playing Disney music faithfully.

I need pair a tube amp and I may even get some Vinyl.

My first little tube amps (which I sold here and wish I still had them) were VTL tiny triodes (the late version) and then I had fun playing with all kinds of ST-70 circuits.  The VTL was better but rolling up my sleeves and redoing the ST-70s was great.

Since I have been out so long I have no clue what is what.  I could use some direction for a lower priced tube amp to get me started.

It was recommended to me to look for Audion 300B Silver Knight mono-blocks or Rogers E-20 or E-40 amps from Doug Stirling.  Finding these is perhaps not as easy in good working order and at a cost I like.

Any thoughts on how to best start up my addiction again?
portlandlay
mani-2
42 posts
 
Affordable is a relative term; but how's $1000 sound. Can't go wrong with Roger Modjeski's creations:
https://www.audiogon.com/listings/tube-music-reference-rm-200-with-kt-120-2017-02-12-amplifiers-9270...
jyprez's avatar
jyprez
241 posts
 

Why not put some of that time to use and build your own? There are lots of kits out there on the web - Bottlehead etc. Just search for tube amp kits. I've built a few and am starting to design my own.

Much cheaper and you get the added fun of building and the satisfaction of having made it yourself.

portlandlay OP
62 posts
 
Both of these sound like good paths.  $1000k is in the budget and building my own is absolutely a possibility.  I am just so far removed I need the guidance.  I will check these options out for sure.  I am familiar with Bottlehead but what other kits are all the rage?
jyprez's avatar
jyprez
241 posts
 

There are many out there so I hesitate to make a recommendation of one over the other but you should at least look at Bruce Rosenblitz site at http://www.transcendentsound.com as a start.

He wrote a gook book on tubes and circuits which is where I started although I have read a half dozen books on the subject from there.

The subject is quite vast on the web today not to mention youtube and other online sources. You can have a lot of fun learning and building here. 

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