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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
msnsilas's avatar
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msnsilas
2 posts
 
Best value and sound tube integrated in my opinion is the Audio Nirvana EL34 SE
made in China but engineered and serviced in the St. Louis area.
It outputs 10 watts of wonderful power for $1099.00.
Check out the Common Sense Audio website.
coltrane1's avatar
coltrane1
740 posts
 
Tube amps aren’t expensive to maintain. Whom ever said that never owned one. 
wolf_garcia
6,695 posts
 
Jolida/Black Ice are great amps...I used a Jolida 502P for years. Now I use a Freya (original version) and a Dennis Had SEP tube amp and that combo is astonishing, although it ties you to efficient speakers which for me is fine.
sgreg1
612 posts
 
Look at the Shiit Freya + tube pre amp. Under a grand and will introduce you to the world of tubes. There are a lot of industry experts who will say the most impact tubes can make in a system is at the pre amp point.
russbutton's avatar
russbutton
429 posts
 
Your best value in tube gear are the offerings from VTA.  The power amps are by Bob Latino and you very rarely see them on the used market because they're such a good deal.  

ST-70 - 35 wpc kit with tubes $909
ST-120 - 60 wpc kit with tubes $1229  (this is a Mac 275 killer)
  A used Mac 275 will run from $4000 - $8000,

They're not at all hard to build.  I built very similar Dyna kits back in my college days.  Get a soldering iron and watch a YouTube video on how to solder.  I was soldering things at age 12.  You can do it.  Just take your time.  Very good step-by-step instructions with everything you need.

If you can swing it, I'd go with the ST-120.  
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