Beginner looking for guidance into tube sound.

You make wonderful amps but clearly this person is starting out and can’t afford them, not my Julius Futterman OTL3s.

I began by building my own Dyna 70 when I was 14 years old and it kept me quite happy from 1968 through 1980, when I moved up to the Dyna MK3s. Those were not particularly stable, I got the Futtermans in 1985, they were modified from pentode to triode in 2015 and I am still using them.


Question: do you consider the NYAL Futterman OTL3 “classic” even if it’s been completely rebuilt with Jensen audio grade foil caps?

@unreceivedogma I'm a fan of the ST-70 and have rebuilt many of them. I was only offering the advice since the ST70 is a good entry point into high end audio if its refurbished.


I regard the Futterman amps as classics but not the NYAL stuff.

Atmasphere,

Well, my cell phone finally is not correcting atmasphere.

NYAL is based on the same design (that I have listened to and am familiar with), and many knew and worked with Mr Futterman. There is a direct lineage.

Yes, it’s been stated that the NYALs were unstable. This is a controversial point as you must know. My experience has been that if you attach them to the wrong load, you are begging for trouble. I learned this the hard way, when I tried to drive a pair of Warfdales. It was not a pretty sight.

My pair have been cared for, first by Da-Hong Seetoo https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Da-Hong_Seetoo, then by George Kaye (Moscode, and a NYAL alumni), and then by Jon Specter (also a NYAL alumni, a highly regarded blues guitarist session man and cousin of Al Kooper).

Jon took the amps and rebuilt them from the ground up with audiophile parts and converted them to triode. There are only two other pairs like these.

I’m certain that my amps hold their own to anything out there. They are breathtakingly transparent.

And Jon corrected for the weaknesses in the design of these types of amps: there is now a much better bottom. I haven’t heard your amps, I know they enjoy a terrific reputation, but my copy of Canto General sounds weak on the bottom, and so I wonder if your design suffers similarly. Granted, I’m driving Altecs, known for brightness at 2K and rolling off below 100 or so.

https://www.theaudioatticvinylsundays.com

but my copy of Canto General sounds weak on the bottom

Heck, that recording can shake walls! The bass drum used was the largest in the state.

+1 @millercarbon all comments.

Been away from technology for a few days, getting caught up.
Thanks to everyone for all the input its all been valuable.
 
My conclusion seems to be that I would probably be best served buying a good preamp. That will eliminate any concerns of having the power to drive my inefficient speakers. The Aric Unlimited ii that was listed when I started this discussion got my interest up. I really like what he offers and I really like the thought of helping the small guy. As to some of the other options listed in the classifieds. A lot of them have the tubes inside the chassis. Well I have to admit I am "that guy" I want to see those beautiful glowing tubes. It HAS to make it sound better!! If anyone has other suggestions of products like the Unlimited ii or even his next step up the Transcend 6sn7 line stage don't be shy. 

I also really like those VTA "ST" kits. I am going to have to get one (probably the st120) of those for a winter project this fall!

Thanks again to everyone for the input!
J.F.