2. amps-preamps
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Baby Steps back to Tubes.

I have been thinking of doing this for a while now so I descided to go back to tubes gradually. I just bought a cary sl98p . I would like some recommendations for solid state amps that work well with this pre. For speakers I have NHT 3.3's so obviously, well to me anyway I would require at least 150 watts a side preferably more and high current. I am using a Musical Fidelity Tri Vista 300 integrated now and listen to more vynil than cd,s and have a Graham slee Reflex era gold for the phono end of it with a Michel Gyro SE mk II , Rega Exact II MM . Digital is an Esoteric DV 50S .I Primarily listen to rock and blues mostly 60's and 70's era.The room is 15 by 27 with 9 ft ceilings. I got away from tubes back in the late seventies when I first got married and now single and happy again thought I would give it a try again (the tubes that is!). Your experiences are much appreciated. Cheers!
has2be
audiofeil
4,011 posts
 
>>08-11-09: Cine100
Remember that a tube watt will play (4) times as loud as a solid state watt.<<

Please explain watt you just wrote.

I'm ohmfamiliar with this concept.

Thanks in advance.
rodman99999
6,206 posts
 
A little FYI regarding the perceived loudness(some cite 12db) advantage of tubes over SS: click on, "Basics of Tube Amps for First Timers": (http://www.geofex.com/tubeampfaq/taffram.htm) and read the last two subjects("SIGNIFICANCE OF MUSICAL HARMONICS" and "RELATIONSHIP OF FACTORS AND FINDINGS") covered in this JAES treatise: (http://www.dwfearn.com/tubes_vs_transistors.html)
pauly
1,012 posts
 
Go with a solid state amp with the NHT’s.

Any speaker with an impedance curve that varies a lot across its frequency range is generally not a good match for a tube amp.
polk432
1,142 posts
 
If there's any way you can swing it, get a Cary CAD120s tube amp. It has 4-6SN7's and 8-KT88's. I traded a V12R for it and it's hooked to a SLP98P. The amp runs a lot cooler and sounds fantastic. If you can afford it, you will not be unhappy. Good luck.
loose
239 posts
 

...just a passing thought...

I have heard NHT 3.3's with Pass gear and it was wonderful; vice-like grip on the bass, totally veil-free mids and extended highs, without too much 'bite'.
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