Diving into the world of tubes...help needed!

branden,  The Vincent integrated you are considering is a solid state amp.  I think the tubes are in the preamp stage of the integrated.  That's not a bad way to introduce tubes into your system, but if you want a tube amplifier you might want to try the Primaluna or the Carver that have been recommended.  These are very good tube integrateds or amps that are beginner friendly.

branden

You have $1500/pr. speakers to drive, so let's not get nuts here.  The Raven and Rogue suggestions are quite valid.  You can buy once and be very happy, or sneak up on it and upgrade too many times.  I also don't like cheap Chinese tube gear.  Too many corners cut to obtain price.

Tone controls in this price range are the death of good sound.  The Emotiva is of course all SS, so the tube talk, it's a bit confusing.  Are you going to be tube guy or not?  Best of luck and hopefully the opinions given are more helpful than confusing.

@tomcy6 I think, as others have suggested (maybe here, maybe another forum, can't remember LOL) that for my needs and budget, having a tube preamp and SS power amp is a good idea, whether it's integrated or not.  I've heard nothing but good things about the Vincent, and it's the only one that I can audition, so I'll see if it has that "magic" sound that I'm looking for.
@celtic66 As I've just said above to tomcy6, I'm more interested in the preamp having tubes, rather than the power amp.  I just can't afford separates, nor can I justify spending all that much if I could.  I think a CAD$10 000 system (turntable, pre&power, speakers) would be my maximum spend. My mistake about the Emotiva, I was tired while writing my original post, I shouldn't have put that one :)

@michaelg63 Ha ha! I can't ever imagine spending that much on audio, it's just...too much for me!  I think for the time being, a tube preamp and a SS power amp are the way for me.  Whether it's the vincent or the PL, or one of the others suggested here.

I believe Primaluma US distributor is right here in La Verne, CA 

upsacleaudio.com

i checked out the primaluna line there, but ended up going with Line Magnetic 805ia and I’m loving it. Both Chinese. Both have premium features like point to point wiring, and high quality attenuators etc.

I got the Line Magnetic at perfect pitch audio in palm desert, CA. Super service from them. 

veerossi

You did well with Line Magnetic.  Notice, I posted ‘cheap Chinese’ which excludes better quality such as your choice.....and not cheap.