My first Tube Amplifier

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.

I heard a Primaluna integrated at a local dealer matched up with some Klipsch La Scala speakers and fell in love with the tube sound. I wanted something a little less "syrupy" for lack of a better word and ended up with a second hand Audio Research VSI55 integrated which I enjoy every work day in my home office. After that I replaced the high powered class D amp in my main system with Rogue Audio M-180 monoblocks. I think those are staying for a while. 

@shkong78i bought of Joseph Audio Pulsars, which are a little more efficient and have a great midrange.  I’m using class D Bel Canto Ref 600m monos for amplification and couldn’t be happier.  Small, no heat, and they have power in low passages.