I currently have a tube amp and Yes - they sound great, sometimes awesome, but I'm not sure they are worth the ongoing effort/expense.
OK - slam me if you must but hear me out first...
The following comments only pertain to amps in Nycjdc's price range - the better amps are awesome and have been designed to minimize maintenance.
You need to take some time to understand the TLC they MAY require and the path you are about to go down.
1. Depending on the amp you purchase - you may have to bias the power tubes - if the amp you buy requires biasing...
- some need biasing as often as every three months
- some less frequently
- and a few, more often
- you will need a GOOD digital multimeter, but they are inexpensive these days (aound $40)
- you will need to learn how to do it - generally it is simple and not a big deal - I got some instruction from my retailer
- some manufacturers recommend you take it in to be biased
- good ones provide instructions in the manual
2. after a while you may want to try different tubes, because you have read what a difference in sound tubes from different manufacturers can make:
- some amps permit a wide range of tubes to be used
- other do not
- they will sound different
- and power tubes can get expensive
3. tubes need replacing - from what I have read
- pre-amp tubes after about 6000 hours
- power tubes after about 2000 hours
- a set for my amp cost $300
- I can get away with $200, but the sound is no where near as good
4. Tube amps requires a lot more space in your rack
- if that's where you are going to put it
- they are larger and get WARM! - some get HOT!
5 From what I have read, the less expensive tube amps - integrated in particular, do not have the same dynamic presentation (a relatives Solid State setup confirms this) as a similarly priced Solid State amp and they have a little more trouble driving some speakers.
But - they do sound great!
If I had my time again - I would opt for
- a tube pre-amp to get that nice rich warm tube sound
.....long tube life, less expensive tubes and no biasing
- with a solid state power amp for the punch and bass depth
.....and eliminate the power tube biasing and replacement expense
Beware of some amps from China:
- some come with a 110v power transformer and may not be ideally designed to run @120v
- net result - the tube heater element runs too hot
- this can lead to premature tube failure e.g. after only 6 months
- also if the element burns out and falls across the plates inside the power tubes you could end up with a huge repair bill - nasty! (this can happen anyway - but it is rare)
For more details on my experience with the amp I selected - a Raysonic SP120 - see my review Raysonic SP120
For the record - I still love my amp - it is the best sounding amp I have ever owned to date by a huge margin.
I also, looked into the Manley Stingray mentioned above and it does sound like a very good amp, but take a read of their web site - I took some of their comments to mean - they don't appreciate you trying out other tubes - but perhaps their tubes provide the best sound anyway, but I'd like to be the judge of that - not the manufacturer.
This has been my experience and is just my opinion
Others will promote tubes as providing the absolute best sound
- they are extremely good and have a distinct sound,
- but they take some TLC and ongoing expense that you should be aware of.
Regards
OK - slam me if you must but hear me out first...
The following comments only pertain to amps in Nycjdc's price range - the better amps are awesome and have been designed to minimize maintenance.
You need to take some time to understand the TLC they MAY require and the path you are about to go down.
1. Depending on the amp you purchase - you may have to bias the power tubes - if the amp you buy requires biasing...
- some need biasing as often as every three months
- some less frequently
- and a few, more often
- you will need a GOOD digital multimeter, but they are inexpensive these days (aound $40)
- you will need to learn how to do it - generally it is simple and not a big deal - I got some instruction from my retailer
- some manufacturers recommend you take it in to be biased
- good ones provide instructions in the manual
2. after a while you may want to try different tubes, because you have read what a difference in sound tubes from different manufacturers can make:
- some amps permit a wide range of tubes to be used
- other do not
- they will sound different
- and power tubes can get expensive
3. tubes need replacing - from what I have read
- pre-amp tubes after about 6000 hours
- power tubes after about 2000 hours
- a set for my amp cost $300
- I can get away with $200, but the sound is no where near as good
4. Tube amps requires a lot more space in your rack
- if that's where you are going to put it
- they are larger and get WARM! - some get HOT!
5 From what I have read, the less expensive tube amps - integrated in particular, do not have the same dynamic presentation (a relatives Solid State setup confirms this) as a similarly priced Solid State amp and they have a little more trouble driving some speakers.
But - they do sound great!
If I had my time again - I would opt for
- a tube pre-amp to get that nice rich warm tube sound
.....long tube life, less expensive tubes and no biasing
- with a solid state power amp for the punch and bass depth
.....and eliminate the power tube biasing and replacement expense
Beware of some amps from China:
- some come with a 110v power transformer and may not be ideally designed to run @120v
- net result - the tube heater element runs too hot
- this can lead to premature tube failure e.g. after only 6 months
- also if the element burns out and falls across the plates inside the power tubes you could end up with a huge repair bill - nasty! (this can happen anyway - but it is rare)
For more details on my experience with the amp I selected - a Raysonic SP120 - see my review Raysonic SP120
For the record - I still love my amp - it is the best sounding amp I have ever owned to date by a huge margin.
I also, looked into the Manley Stingray mentioned above and it does sound like a very good amp, but take a read of their web site - I took some of their comments to mean - they don't appreciate you trying out other tubes - but perhaps their tubes provide the best sound anyway, but I'd like to be the judge of that - not the manufacturer.
This has been my experience and is just my opinion
Others will promote tubes as providing the absolute best sound
- they are extremely good and have a distinct sound,
- but they take some TLC and ongoing expense that you should be aware of.
Regards