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Tube-aholics Anonymous?

Is there a support group or 12-step program for audiophiles who have sworn off tubes but find themselves constantly tempted to go, as it were, back on the bottle?

I owned lots of tube gear in my reckless youth. I built the Dyna Stereo 70 and PAS3 at least twice. Later, I tried Conrad-Johnson and Quicksilver power amps. In an attempt to get off the wagon, I tried any number of tubed preamps (CJ, Quicksilver, Melos, Audio Research, Cary, Eastern Electric…) driving solid state power amps. I even tried a trendy tube integrated (the Primaluna Prologue).

At some point, I realized that rather than listening to music, I was fiddling with bias adjustments, listening for undue hiss or microphonics, obsessing over some obscure and overpriced NOS valve proclaimed as the Holy Grail of audio, or (based on hard experience) worrying that a tube would fail and take out the speakers.

I decided to kick the habit. I picked up a Naim Nait 5i a couple of years ago. I like the amp. I enjoy the music. There is nothing to adjust. It plays music reliably, fuss-free. I should be happy, right?

But every now and then I scan the Audiogon ads and come across some cool pics of hot valves, and the siren song lures me back. Oh, help me to resist…

You guys who are still out there knocking back the tubes, please don’t tell me what I’m missing. I just need the strength to stay solid – solid-state, that is.
jhold
philefreak
423 posts
 
Blindjim, that's the funniest thing I've heard in a while. I wouldn't put tubes as BMWs. A Spectron switching amp is a new BMW M3. While traditional SS amps are more like a Honda. But a SET Tube amp (300B,2A3,45) is like a 2002 BMW just fun as h#*l.
lithojoe
119 posts
 
I've had the best tube amps made years ago. Now my analogy is tube being a vintage late 80's town car; to solid state being the Rolls Royce ride. One of the problems is most have not experienced the best in solid state yet, as many manufacturers are still playing games. Like, more with the look as to the substance.It's not hard today to get to the BMW sound, but the Rolls, not that is another story.
philefreak
423 posts
 
I think P/P tube amps are a dying breed. IMHO the future is state of the art SS, Digital,and SET tube amps. The reason most went ape hockey over P/P tube amps was that the last twenty years was that digital sources and SS amps were just aweful. I've not heard a current production P/P tube amp that could keep up with a current SS or switching amp. SETs are just a pleasure reserved for those with good taste and they're getting better and better. My opinion only.
Post removed 
blindjim
3,092 posts
 
Philefreak

Thank you. I had hopes that it would have not been taken as a slight to any one actually in recovery, but as simple humor by way of caricature and over emphasis…. As I can really get wrapped up in this deal… and indeed, I have at times.

Too many times I’ve elevated this ‘hobby’ far beyond the level it deserves. In turn, I’ve lost perspective on just how unimportant it really is. I can then lose myself in the process. After all, it is only a hobby… not a life…. nor family… nor a career (for me)… but plain and simple enjoyment... and it should remain just that and not more.

Regardless the passion or desire, or the money being spent, happiness is but one result I derive from it. I feel It should always remain just a part of life, not life itself.

My set up is not the best, nor the worst, but is quite good. Since I’ve gone to tube power finally. I enjoy it each time I turn it on and sit down to listen. That should be good enough for me, and usually it is. To lose such a perspective I no longer merely view the fly in the web, but take it’s place.... and I sure have in the past found myself smack in the middle of that web now and then.

It’s never the tubes, or gear, the accessories or the topologies that capture us into that web, it is our own hands which spring that trap..

When we lose the ability to laugh at ourselves, we are indeed lost.
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