2. amps-preamps
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I Feel Overwhelmed....Please Help

Hello, all.

I have recently decided to begin upgrading to stereo components around the entry level audiophile range, and move away from home theater stuff. I need help, as I had no idea until I began recently researching modern amps, preamps, integrateds, etc, just how huge the selection there is available.

Currently, I have the following:

Harman Kardon AVR 235 A/V receiver
Front L&R channels:
50 Watts per channel
@ <0.07% THD, 20Hz–20kHz into 8 ohms

Harman Kardon FL 8385 CD Changer

Klipsch KG 5.5 Floorstanding Speakers
frequency response 34Hz-20kHz±3dB
power handling 100 watts maximum continuous (500 watts peak)
sensitivity 98dB @ 1watt/1meter
nominal impedance 8 ohms
tweeter K-85-K 1" (2.54cm) Polymer dome compression driver
high frequency horn 90°x60° Tractrix® Horn
woofer Two K-1023-K 10" (25.4cm) Injected Carbon Graphite cones
Bass reflex via front-mounted port

Grado Labs SR325 Headphones

I use the receiver strictly for stereo music playback with my HK CD changer, or I play .flac or .mp3 files via input to the receiver from my computer sound cards optical digital output.

I want to keep my Klipsch speakers for now, along with my Grado cans, which I love. OTOH, I have not been particularly happy with the two HK components. Although the sound is not totally bad, it is a tad too bright, and it is fatiguing to listen over long periods of time. My room acoustics are not ideal either, with hardwood floors and drywall throughout. The listening rooms dimensions are 14'x13', with speaker placement along and near the corners of the 13' wall. At present, I cannot afford any of the acoustic treatments I see on the various internet sites.

From what I have seen so far, I think I would favor the warm, rich, clear sound of tube components. My Klipsch speakers are highly efficient at 8 ohms, so I should not need higher power, but I don't want to lose bass response either. I have not had much experience listening to higher end audio, but I really loved the sound of a friends McIntosh receiver (late 70's vintage), and another friends 60's vintage tubed HH Scott receiver, both systems paired with matching speaker pairs of the same brands respectively. Those experiences are why I believe I should really consider tube amps.

Would someone please be so kind as to suggest components that would allow me to play CD, CD-R, and digital music files based upon what I stated above? I suppose I could do without the ability to directly play back the digital files, but a CD player is a must have. Oh yeah, my budget is up to $3000, but I want to get as much as I can for the best possible price under that ceiling. Thanks.
chap_cat
mrjstark
1,112 posts
 
Dave, if you want to play that game fine.
Tell me what tubes and which preamp did you have in mind.
I have had quite a few preamps and I never spend more then $400 on NOS tubes. And that was the most that I have ever spend on tubes for the single unit (in fact those are my Cyber mono blocks ). For exemple my present preamp is using 2 , 6922 or 7308 tubes. It is design to double the live of tubes as well so it not that bad. Two of the best tubes of that kind are (IMO) Amperex 7308 PQ white label and 6922 orange lable (nice tube for the money) and Mullards work nice with that design as well. I bought 6 pairs (one pair of each) for the total of $200. Since my preamp runs on batteries , no need for expensive cords which can cost from $100 to $1000 and more. In my opinion that is a good deal. On top of everything ,I can swap the tubes to complement the music of choice. Then again , that is me.......your preferences are different and I respect that as long as it is your opinion and not the formula for success as you claim.

Regards
Mariusz
dcstep
1,518 posts
 
Mariusz, I'm not playing a game. I payed just under $300 for a Holland GZ34 rectifier. I've seen 300Bs for many times more and I've seen GZ34s as high as $700+. If you've got an intergrated amp with several tubes and you're going for the best sound possible, as I assumed, then $1500 is not much.

I spent over $9000 for my SS, integrated, including the phono-stage. Without looking back at my example, I think it only came to $5000, so I wasn't implying that $1500 was a ton of money. (I spent that on 3 ICs this week!!). You seem shocked that someone would spend that kind of money, but I thought that I was offering a real world example.

Let me give another example. I bought the Woo Audio WA6 for around $600 new. The NOS rectifier was $250 and if I replaced the power tubes with comparable, highest quality tubes, I'd spend another $200. That doesn't quite double the investment, but it gets it close.

My point is, once again, being able to tube roll is NOT an automatic advantage to owning tube equipment, UNLESS you enjoy doing that kind of thing. I think there are at least as many equipment owners that would rather not have to do such things to maximize the performance of their rigs.

Dave
mrjstark
1,112 posts
 
Dave, I am not saying that it is an advantage......but just another choice. I own RWA which is a T-amp and it doesn't fit in neither camp , but it sounds wonderfull. It is the sound that I found appealing not the technology behind it. I have heard few very good SS designs but the ones that I like cost an arm and a leg.

There are many sources for NOS tubes. Prices verry from reasonable to outrageous and sick. So I can see how one could end up paying top dollar for good tubes.

I might just add that there are excellent designs out there and it does't matter which cape one is going to choose but the sonic qualities that suit that person best.

Listening is the key. Just use your own ears to do it.

Cheers
Mariusz
phaelon
1,053 posts
 
"being able to tube roll is NOT an automatic advantage to owning tube equipment, UNLESS you enjoy doing that kind of thing"

I don't enjoy doing that kind of thing but I sincerely enjoy the music so much more. Maybe I got lucky but in my system it's been the greatest "bang for the buck" improvement I've heard - and please don't tell me the improvement is subjective.
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