My first Tube Amplifier
I have a pair of Primaluna mono blocks, and I could not be happier; https://www.primaluna-usa.com/prologue-premium-mono-power-amplifier/ I bought other tubes with the intention of improving them, and the last time I checked, I had the original tubes. |
Great thread, fun to read of others' journeys through tube gear. My first tube amp was a Harman Kardon Citation II, which got fully renovated. Then did the same for my HK C-V. They sounded wonderful, but I got tired of the heat they produced here in the desert and the hassle of biasing them so I sold them. The cost of replacing the power tubes was a hassle too. At the time, I felt the Modwright ss amp provided more resolution to the music I was playing through my monitor speakers. I also had a Fisher 400c which I got recapped and I tell ya, that receiver had the most amazing low end frequency response imaginable... it just had flat out balls on the LF. However, with its array of ~16 tubes, I was always taking it to the tube tech to detect and replace gassy tubes so I sold it. Wonderful amp with a warm midrange. I had a CJ M45a that melted down at soon as the new buyer got it home, luckily which was locally. Nothing special about that amp other than a very pleasant midrange. I got it fixed and sold it to a very happy buyer. I now have Spatial Audio M4 Triode Master speakers with a nominal impedance of 12 ohm and after hearing the speakers driven by Don Sach's KT88 amp, I am diving back into a tube amp! My Platinum upgraded McCormack DNA .05 sound plainly two-dimension compared to the glorious articulation, extension, air, and three-dimension sound heard with the tube amp. YMMV, depending on your speakers. I have for some time thought the magic combination in a system is a tube preamp and a ss amp. With the right speakers and properly powered tube amp, tube amps are still awesome and can do what few ss amps can do. I hasten to add that there are several manufacturers of new tubes that are sonically equal to or better than many NOS tubes, which are in dwindling supply and are plenty pricey. Shuguang, Psvane, and to a lesser extent, Genelex, make very good tubes that are reasonably priced and quite reliable. |
My
first tube amps were a set of Dodd 120 monoblocks. I read a story in the Dallas Morning News about a local tube equipment
designer that just started his company named Dodd Audio. I contacted Gary and before I knew it, I was
listening to his new Dodd 120 monoblocks in his listening room at his house in
Garland, Texas. He was using his quad
6SN7 based reference preamp and a pair of GR Research line array speakers. The sound was very impressive top to
bottom. He sealed the deal when he
played track 6 from Roger Waters Amused to Death CD, which I had never heard
before. This is the famous water drop
track. I was sitting about nine feet
back from the speakers. I closed my eyes
to listen to the sound-stage and the most unbelievable thing happened. A water drop appeared in the soundscape…directly
to my left, next to the wall, about ear height.
Yes, audio fans, we are talking about a 180-degree sound-stage. I found out later that this CD was recorded
in Q surround sound. The things I liked
about Gary’s amps were that they had that organic tube magic but they were
quick, had a refined clean sound, and the sound had weight but was not syrupy. I wrote him a check on the spot. Later on, I bought his reference preamp and
then I bought his battery powered tube preamp.
I eventually sold the reference preamp but the monoblocks and battery
preamp are in my main system right now. I also have a pair of ASL DT200 hurricanes. I
have a small listening room now (16’ x 11’ x 10’) and my speakers are Kef
LS50s. The difference in refinement is
obvious between the Dodds and the Hurricanes.
However, the Hurricanes have added authority that makes them very special
in larger rooms but that’s another story.
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