2. amps-preamps
  3. 181023-139617

My first tube integrated: which one to get?

Hello Audiogoners. I have had only Solid State equipment for my entire life. Recently, I have been considering a purchase of an integrated tube unit. My budget is around $4.000 USD. I have been looking at two units in particular: Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III and the Cary Audio SLI-100. I’m having trouble deciding on which one to purchase. I was hoping the Audiogon community could advise me as to which one to get.

My current system consist of a pair of Emotiva XPA-100 mono blocks, Parasound P6 and a Music Hall 9.3 TT with an Goldring Erotica LX cart. My speakers are Focal Aria 926. I have a smallish room, 11’7” (3.56m) x 15’7” (4.78m). I should also note that I’m planning on getting a DAC after my integrated amp purchase.

Both tube units I’m considering provide 100 watts/channel in Ultralinear but the Rogue Audio is switchable to triode mode at 60watts/channel. The Rogue unit is of a KT120 configuration whereas the Cary unit is a KT150 design. The Rogue has an onboard MM/MC phono stage albeit solid state. The Cary has no phone stage therefore I’ll need to get some sort of step-up phono stage from my MC cart. The Cary unit, normally a $6,000 plus system is on sale for $3700. The Rogue unit is $3400. I listen to manly rock from the 60s to current and some classical. However, I have been enjoying my friends jazz collection he gave me, inspiring my to seek out more contemporary jazz recordings.

My question are:

Should I even consider this purchase?

Will I experience the upgraded tube-quality sound I’m hoping for?

Should I consider instead a tube-based preamp to go with my 250watts into 8 ohms mono blocks?

If you recommend the pre-amp path, what sorts of things should I be paying attention to?

How important is it to have the ability to switch to triode mode? I understand that acoustic jazz sounds much better in triode mode?


Is there anything else that I should be considering with this possible purchase?

I should also say that I don’t mind used if I can achieve a bigger bang for my buck. Buying either the Rogue or the Cary new provides me with a generous 3-year warranty.

There you have it. I look forward to your input. Thank you all in advance for your help.
 

diminishedchord
rootatdarkstar
4 posts
 

I briefly owned a Rogue Audio Cronus III and loved the hell out of it. That model Cary amp I have no direct experience with, but Cary is a fabulous company; I own their SLP-98 and their CAD300-sei integrated... both keepers. Cary stuff is well-built and leans towards that classic warm, tube sound in their gear.

 

Might be most cost effective to start with a tubed preamp though. Also, bear in mind power tubes put out a fair amount of heat, so if you're averse to heating your room up a bit, that's probably a +1 to the tubed pre.

fisher_400
71 posts
 

An interesting option is a single-ended 48 watt per channel 805 tube amp called Line Magnetic LM-5081A for $2500 on eBay. Some US distributors may exist. A good sounding tube amp needs the right preamp tubes and this amp has the best. tubes,

The Line Magnetic should use a Tung Sol 6SU7 to replace the 6SL7 and Sylvania 6SN7 GTA to sound best.

co93
61 posts
 

When I first got back into stereo, I bought some Vienna acoustic Mozart’s and wanted to try out tubes.  So I bough a rogue Cronus integrated and a Cary sli 80. I found that the rogue sounded much better out of the box, but the Cary was sexier (the rogue sets it’s non-power tubes down, which might be good for better protecting them, but part of the allure of tubes is watching them glow in the dark).  Once I spent a lot of time rolling the cary tubes, I got it to sound as good as the rogue.  I then sold the rogue.  

But if you want to avoid all the hassle, I recommend the rogue right out of the box

fisher_400
71 posts
 

II recommended the Line Magnetic LM-5081A single-ended amp two posts above as some push-pull tube amps recommended by others do not have the tonal quality of single-ended tube amps. Consider that.

runwell
279 posts
 

If you are new with tube amplifier,I suggest not to buy new,buy a used one instead. In case you do not like,you can resale without big loss.

This one is really good in my opinion,look:

it is not expensive,but the sound is very good in my view.

 

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