Do I really need separates?

How much bass and volume do you want from your system?$5000.00 is not enough for tube separates new.Before you embark on this tube quest try to audition Jeff Rowland Concentra 100watt/ch. integrated($5600.00).You may not want to go further.Just make note that Rowlands require at least 200 hours of break-in time.Aronov Audio tube separates(about $6000.00 new) would be the best overall in this price range.Your current amplifier is grossly inferior to both of these choices.

Can I swap my tube separates for your wife? No offence intended but I am jealous. You would certainly get an improvement over the Anthem with BAT or Sonic Frontier separates, but these days (assuming you do not use vinyl) a US$5,000 tube integrated, as DelveAudio suggests, is probably the best use of your money. But when you do, you should really try the Plinius 8150 (this is me being patriotic) - it does not have tubes, but has a tube-like warmth in the midrange that you may well like. Coupled with plenty of power and remote control it just might appeal. As to separates :- The Line 1 sounds nice with Amperex tubes in it (the stock Sovteks sound thin and zippy to me), would look nice together with your SFCD1, and can be gotten fairly readily for around US$1,300 second hand. But I was never too keen on SF power amps and would suggest looking at VTL or VAC.

You must check the new "Audio Advisor" you can get two VAC monoblocks for 2K (7k originaly) four 12AU7's and 4 kT88. These are great amps!

I haven't had a chance to check them out yet, but I've read a few good things about Bel Canto Designs("A few" is all the press they've gotten). They make an integrated tube unit (the SETi40) that retails for $5200, and they say they think it may sound better than their seperates. It's a single-ended triode design (which you may or may not want), but I think it puts out 35 watts RMS into 4 or 8 ohms. The only problem may be the fact that it only has 3 inputs. It was chosen by Stereophile as a class A integrated (Issue 3 of 1999, I think), and a few other mags liked it too. Check out their website... www.belcantodesigns.com (If that doesn't work, try it without the last "s")

Kora makes some very fine sounding amplifiers. Check out the design 50, I believe it is at your price point. Jeff Starrs at Kora can answer any of your questions. There are SS designs that sound incredible, but in my opinion there is just no substitute for the intimacy a great tube desing can impart. You may also want to lok at the Joule-Electra Vamp, it is a hybrid, but it retains much of there world class OTL sound and the retail is only $2800.00. Joule makes some truly incredible products and the price they charge is a bargain when compared to what some others ask for lesser equipment. I own Kora equipment and I have owned joule gear (with a new Joule purchase in the wings, so I am speaking first hand knowledge). If you awan to discuss offline I would be happy to: mmarcellas@ameritech.net Mike Marcellas