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Beginner looking for guidance into tube sound.

Hello all, I am looking for some input on the best way to add tubes to my current mess. I currently have what I am sure everyone here would consider barely a step up from my parents zenith HI-FI circa 1977. please keep in mind I am lucky if I can afford to look in the window of an actual audio store. 
I currently have a Peachtree nova 300 and a Marantz CD player and a pair of monitor audio silver 500 speakers. A friend gave me a blue sound node 2i also. I have always wanted a tube powered amp. I see these Chinese amps like the Muzishare X7 and Willsenton R8 that have lots of great reviews. Or maybe a tube DAC. Then I see the Black Ice for ss-x. Each having less tubes respectively. Not sure how much that matters but I would think the more tubes the more tube sound one could expect. I would like to be in the $1000. range but would go to $1500 if I had to. My goal is to find the best most cost effective way to enter the tube world.  
johnfritter
invalid
1,269 posts
 
"Space-Tech Laboratory - High-End Audio" http://www.thebestamp.com/Tube_Buffers/BUF-102.php

Check out this guy's stuff, he has tube dacs also in your price range and tube preamps.
johnfritter OP
64 posts
 
@oldhvymec A tube buffer is what I originally wanted to try. I just haven't had much luck finding options. Black ice foz ss-x was all I could find which sounded like a good option but I don't really need the bass control, not a deal breaker though. Maybe I need to try different terminology. If I search "tube buffer" all I get are cheap e-bay or Amazon pc boards with a knob and tube. Not overly confident in what I've seen. I will look into the Decware option and see if that leads me to more options. Thank you!

@millercarbon  You could not be more correct I do understand. But having acquired the components I have at the price I paid $.25 on the $1.00 (divorce sale). I didn't worry too much about everything being the perfect match or specs. In the end I was able to help a friend out and I ended up with fairly decent sound as a result. This is also why my budget is what it is. I really didn't want to spend more than I currently have invested just to satisfy my curiosity. Certainly a compromise or a few, but I was ok with that in this situation.
johnfritter OP
64 posts
 
@invalid Now were talking! Thank you for the link! I will check into these this is the direction I really wanted to go. Or think I want to go!
Thanks again!
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,418 posts
 
A tube buffer is a good suggestion, but it's a compromise. Once you realise you like what tubes add to your system, you're out $1125. Skip the buffer and go for the amp.

As @atmasphere commented, you need to look at specs. The amp you choose must have enough power to drive your speakers, specifically the low impedance in the bass region. Since Ralph has done the research for us, 3.1 ohms is low enough to be concerned about the amp's output power.


johnfritter OP
64 posts
 
@lowrider57 As miller carbon stated its all compromise! I just need to decide on what compromise I want to take. Right now my simple mind tells me with what have and am hearing here. I can buy different speakers and a tube amp. Or I can buy a much more expensive and powerful amp. Or I could add a good quality tube buffer to what I have which has no trouble driving the speakers. 
I know there's a lot more I have no clue about but is there a negative to adding a tube buffer? Would I be affecting the performance of my amp by adding a buffer in anyway? I would not think so but I don't know what I don't know. I like to learn I just usually do it the hard way, it's my way!
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