2. amps-preamps
  3. 166972-154522

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
dcevans
180 posts
 
I agree that, with your speaker’s sensitivity, a tube preamp is the way to go. A Schiit Freya+ is huge bang for the buck, in your price range. I have never heard Zu’s or Tektons, but it seems to me, from what I have read, that many end up driving them with solid state amps. Klipsch Heresys (99 dB), which you could get used for around 1K, and tube amps are wonderful. Pair them with a SET/SEP tube amp of at least 8 wpc and you will get a delicious taste of what tubes can do. With these amps however, per the advice of atmasphere, you don’t want to turn the volume setting above 25% (2 wpc in the case of an 8 wpc amp) as you will be hearing a lot of distortion, poor harmonics. 2 watts per channel is plenty for the Heresy’s. 
Post removed 
dcevans
180 posts
 
Heck, you might be able to snag a pair of Heresys and a used Schiit Freya for $1500. 
dcevans
180 posts
 
Used Heresys 
fsgattuso
28 posts
 
I know I'm a little late here and you might not see this, but I have some experience that might help. I was in the same position years ago and I used a Peachtree iNova as a preamp into a 1970s era Dynaco ST-70 tube amp I found for under $1,000 at a vintage shop near me in Syracuse, NY area. Definitely had the "classic" tube sound. I then moved into a bigger house and needed more power so traded in the ST-70 for a pair of Dynaco mono blocks, again under $1,000 full price. Again sounded great. Then came I to some cash, sold what I had and went with the Prima Luna Dialogue Premium HP printer integrated. Very different sound! I learned that the sound of tube amps has changed from the classic days to the present. Sounded more solid state at first. But after it broke in and my ears adjusted from what I was used to with the Dynaco it is now excellent. Test if the system now is Tekton Lore speakers, Lumin D2 streamer, Rega Planar 3 table, Muse Erato CD player.
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