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!
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rodman99999
6,128 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'.
glenfihi
525 posts
 
Great reading provided by the link given by Rodman99999. As the amp question, should you go with tubes get one that has some power, which may in turn cost a pretty penny. If SS, get one with some real guts in the lower end. Having had a pair of NHT 2.9's, they do indeed thrive of power. Good hunting and good luck to you.
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