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Tube amp decision - Thoughts

Looking for a synergistic connection. I have, IMO, a very good setup. But I believe I errored in one important aspect. I always wanted a ruler flat response. I believe I achieved that. Great recordings sound great. But the majority of recordings seem to sound a bit thin in our system. Not to others audiophile types but I have to admit now that impact has got to be part of the quotient for greater enjoyment.

I have a pair of rather efficient Tyler Acoustic Decades. They sound very accurate as they're reputed to be and most folks run tube amps with them, perhaps to warm them up a bit.
My system consists of a Pass labs X350.5 which has played stellar through Dynaudio, MBL and AV123 Line Arrays.
An Allnic L3000 preamp really makes this system sing in 3D.
Sources are a VPI Scoutmaster and a modified Oppo BDP83SE backed by a BDP95 in stock form. A lot of attention has been paid to my AC.

It's all well and good but my family and I feel that it lacks impact and warmth with a lot of "modern" CD's or streamed FLAC files. I have Def Techs in our TV room which having built-in subs are pretty fun to listen to if not so transparent and refined. But it did drive home a weakness (perceived)in our 2 channel setup.

Having visited many audio shows, my wife and I always seemed to love the rooms with Prima Luna Dialogue amps playing in them. Of course they are generally partnered with NOLA speakers. That seemes to be an amazingingly synergistic combination. Rogue Audio amps as well seemed to captivate us. But there are a lot of great tube amps out there. Thus the post.

I'm going to build a pair of LS-9 line arrays. I owned the LS6's and sold them some time ago. These are also tube friendly speakers.

So given a $5500 dollar budget new or used, where to go?

Thanks for your responses.
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desalvo55 OP
257 posts
 
I've never owned a tube amp. My preamps have been tube based. Cary SLP-05, Audio research and my current Allnic. We've rolled many a tube on the Cary. I don't wish to "tube roll" the amps other than establishing the primary set that works well with the amp which from what I've read, isn't usually the set that ships with the amp.

I do like amps that can switch between triode and ultralinear. Seems like a good thing with the desparity of recordings.

Selling the Pass is probably a dumb move and not the first dumb move I've made in this hobby. But we do wish to experience tube amps and no doubt we've been drawn to systems employing tube gear.

I am not familiar with Quicksilver.
mechans
3,048 posts
 
If you want warmth I would say Conrad Johson. I am not sure of what it is you are really aiming for. $5500 is a goodly amount. I bought a used Jadis DA-60 for much less. It doesn't sound like that's what you want. If you are willing to go Chinese my Opera Consonance Cyber 800s are real giant killers. They are 6CA7 based monoblocks incredible definition dynamics air and stage . I warmed them up by using Cardas Golden Ref ICs just great.
rrog
1,958 posts
 
Desalvo, Quicksilver Audio is what all high end companies should be. Great sound, great reliability and Quicksilver products are backed by a great company with personal service.

Sebrof, EL84s are wonderful sounding tubes, but not all EL84 amplifiers have the characteristics of your Stingray. That has more to do with Manley Labs. If you want to warm up the sound a little replace the 12AT7s with NOS Telefunfens. The original Stingray came with EI 12AT7s. Also , depending on which version you have, the later versions are less powerful due to an output tube change which resulted in a smaller power transformer. This is why many believe the original Stingray is the best sounding.
mikirob
955 posts
 
I recently purchased a Primaluna Dialogue 1. A nice, feature laden, well built integrated that is fun. To get the warm full sound you must get out of the stock tubes. I fooled around with various tubes, a snap since this unit self-bias, plus accepts many different tubes so you can tailor your sound. The KT 90s will give you a big warm sound; but the tube I chose was a NOS Russian tube 6N3C-E also known as a 6P3S-E recommended by Jeff Day of 6 Moons and Positive Feedback, read his blog on this tube. It costs only $65.00 a matched quad from Jim McShane, one of the best tube guys in the business...also, I tube rolled the 12AU7s and settled on an RCA Clear Top Side Getter. The 12AX7s are now Sylvania Black Plate with gold pin 3 mica. Wow! Warm, full, detailed, great top end but no screechy violins, huge layered stage, wonderful tone, timber...almost lush, but not quite with my Tekton Lore, very dynamic as well. Read Joe's Tube Lore, it really helps in tube direction .
larryken
537 posts
 
if you really like "ruler like response" I doubt you'd like tubes. tubelovers relish the "inaccuracy" presented by tube sound.
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