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Going to try a tube integrated.

This past week I was traveling on business and I ran across a audio dealer that sold Focal speakers. They happened to have a pair of Focal Sopra 3s connected to a Octave v80se integrated tube amplifier. Since these are the speakers I own, I had to sit down and listen. I was really impressed with the laid back presentation and nice warmth in the mids. I’ve always been a solid state guy.

So since then I have been thinking of getting a tube integrated amp a try. Another Focal dealer today told me that the VAC sigma 170i is a terrific match with the Sopra 3s as well, however, that particular dealer is not close so it is not easy for me to hear the speakers with that particular amp.

Is there anyone that can give me some advice on this? Thoughts on the VAC sigma 170i vs the Octave V80se? This is my first foray in to tubes so I don’t have a lot of experience.

Thanks!
rshad0000
rshad0000 OP
271 posts
 
Thanks for all of the advice and recommendations!

I was emailing back and forth with the Octave dealer late this afternoon and went ahead and purchased the v80 se with the super box power supply.  I’m very excited and will see where down this road tubes take me.

freediver-my room is 20 x30 and is not acoustically treated but I do have rugs and curtains strategically placed.  From what I am told and read the Octave should be easy to bias. I do not listen to music very loudly- 80 to 85 dB.
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
rshad0000 OP
I was really impressed with the laid back presentation and nice warmth in the mids. I’ve always been a solid state guy.



Your spearkers impedance v -phase angle graph. Very hard to drive for any tube  60hz to 150hz.
https://www.stereophile.com/images/417FSop3fig1.jpg

Your Octave amps frequency response (black line) into a much milder (compared to your Focals) Kanton simulated speaker load.
https://www.stereophile.com/images/917octave.Oct80fig01.jpg

I predict you’ll tire of this sound very quick and go back to the Diablo 300.

Cheers George
lukaske
307 posts
 
First try Jadis even,Audio Note, Diablo, VAC, Cayin . More priced: Zanden, DartzeeL
Primaluna and Octave is ( for me) second option. But you have to hear in on your speakers. It must be “a match”.
browndt
97 posts
 
You might consider not doing an integrated. They rarely match the
sound quality of a good separate system. I have an Allnic
L-7000 SE preamp and Allnic M-3000 MK2 mono blocks. The pair will run any speaker with really superior sound including excellent bass. Right now I have Dynaudio Evidence Platinum speakers
and this system easily handles these very demanding low impedance speakers. 
fossda
112 posts
 
Allnic makes a tube integrated about 70 - to 100 watts for anniversary model. Great gear. 
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