|
|
Post by frisco on Nov 12, 2016 16:55:32 GMT -5
Looking for a fairly modest tube amp or integrated.
Ive heard
primaluna ( thought it was too tubey)
jolida fusion ( no wow factor would like higher power)
that leaves the boblatino 120 and the rogue atlas/chronus. Has anyone experience comparing these two.
(I have a bias towards the rogue because of good experience with the sphinx but have no easy way to audition the tube amp (atlas) or integrated (chronus)
Frisco
|
|
|
|
Post by milsap195 on Nov 12, 2016 17:46:16 GMT -5
Vincent makes some great tube products.
|
|
|
|
Post by garbulky on Nov 12, 2016 18:46:53 GMT -5
I haven't heard much tube amps but I like the Bob Latin ST-120. Clean sounding, realistic sounding with a tiny bit of tube romance. I liked the 6550 tube option it had. The KT 120's was also good but it wasn't broken in so I couldn't evaluate.
|
|
|
|
Post by novisnick on Nov 12, 2016 18:46:59 GMT -5
What kind of budget are you looking at? Sometimes you really do get what you pay for.  |
|
|
|
Post by Boomzilla on Nov 12, 2016 19:07:08 GMT -5
I've heard the Rogue Cronus Magnum (but not in my house). I've also heard the TFHF ST-120. Unfortunately, with a different room & different speakers, I couldn't tell you anything useful about the Rogue. The TFHF ST120 audition was, fortunately, and due to the generosity of novisnick, in my own home with my own speakers. We listened with (broken-in) 6550 tubes and with (brand-new) KT-120 tubes. I liked the KT-120s, but garbulky and novisnick preferred the 6550s. With my Tekton Pendragon speakers, Nick's ST120 was impressive enough that I bought one for myself (due to arrive this Thursday). For what it's worth... Boomzilla |
|
|
|
Post by Loop 7 on Nov 12, 2016 20:54:14 GMT -5
Tubes newbie here...
Does McIntosh tube gear fall into the "mid level" category?
|
|
|
|
Post by frisco on Nov 12, 2016 21:27:04 GMT -5
What kind of budget are you looking at? Sometimes you really do get what you pay for. Probably 1.5 to 3k. Maybe that's entry level for tubes. i might get a chance to hear the rogue over thanksgiving. |
|
|
|
Post by novisnick on Nov 12, 2016 21:34:54 GMT -5
What kind of budget are you looking at? Sometimes you really do get what you pay for. Probably 1.5 to 3k. Maybe that's entry level for tubes. i might get a chance to hear the rogue over thanksgiving. I think you've set a reasonable point for yourself. You'll get a better deal and higher return on good used gear at that point. If you can live without a warranty. You can still get into decent new gear at that pricepoint as well. Depends on what you find and if you like it, isn't that always the way. ive been very lucky and blessed in my searches. |
|
|
|
Post by leonski on Nov 12, 2016 21:37:30 GMT -5
I hope frisco knows that some tube amps are NOT compatible with some speakers. Huge impedance swings and certain type of reactance do NOT go well with tubes and transformers.
So, to give a better answer you'd need to know what kind of speakers? And what the listener values in a presentation, since 'too tubey' and 'uninvolving' DO help but aren't IT.
Entry level for tubes? Down WELL below 1000$, but you need some fairly sensitive speakers to match what is really fairly low power.
Especially if you are willing to BUILD a KIT.
|
|
|
|
Post by leonski on Nov 12, 2016 22:52:00 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by frisco on Nov 13, 2016 1:14:56 GMT -5
I hope frisco knows that some tube amps are NOT compatible with some speakers. Huge impedance swings and certain type of reactance do NOT go well with tubes and transformers. So, to give a better answer you'd need to know what kind of speakers? And what the listener values in a presentation, since 'too tubey' and 'uninvolving' DO help but aren't IT. Entry level for tubes? Down WELL below 1000$, but you need some fairly sensitive speakers to match what is really fairly low power. Especially if you are willing to BUILD a KIT. Leonski, thanks. My speaker choices are bookshelfs from the phase tech pc series (1.5 and 60CA) 4ohms but not too demanding and according to comments on the web this series plays nice with tubes. In fact stereophile reviewed the 60CAs using a tube amp with no problems. So there is no reason to think that tubes generally will be problematic, but which tube is best for them --that is the question. |
|
|
|
Post by Boomzilla on Nov 13, 2016 1:34:32 GMT -5
Tubes newbie here... Does McIntosh tube gear fall into the "mid level" category? That's a very good question. From a pricing standpoint, no - McIntosh is "high level" not mid. But from a performance standpoint, I'd argue that there IS no "mid level." There's either "entry level" consisting of Chinese brands on the far economy end of the scale and "high end" consisting of most of the brands discussed in this thread (including Rogue, Tubes4HiFi, Dynaco, and McIntosh). |
|
|
|
Post by dac0964 on Nov 13, 2016 5:16:55 GMT -5
Looking for a fairly modest tube amp or integrated. Ive heard primaluna ( thought it was too tubey) jolida fusion ( no wow factor would like higher power) that leaves the boblatino 120 and the rogue atlas/chronus. Has anyone experience comparing these two. (I have a bias towards the rogue because of good experience with the sphinx but have no easy way to audition the tube amp (atlas) or integrated (chronus) Frisco I've been using for over a year now the Jolida 3502S integrated. Bought it with Upgrade 1 and using EL34. It was ok but i wasn't too thrilled about the bass (although i'm not a total bass-head) so i replaced them with Tungsol KT-120 and wow big difference. I'm now getting the bass that I've been looking for without losing overall tonal balance with the mids and highs. Very happy right now with my Jolida and would probably be here for a long time. I've also recently purchased the Oppo-105D last month and together with the Jolida they've elevated my system to a new level. There's more detail and tranparency in the sound and the tube amp makes it sweeter to listen to. But that's just me and my ear. |
|
|
|
Post by audiobill on Nov 13, 2016 5:56:35 GMT -5
That Canadian ST70 is about $2,500, double the tubes4hifi All American version which is the best value in tube audio. And the Canadian version sports a solid state rectifier, not a 5AR4 tube. Hafler and Dynaco are not owned by them, the names only may be. |
|
|
|
Post by tweed on Nov 13, 2016 9:31:45 GMT -5
I might add that if you lack either the time or skills, Bill (audiobill) does just fantastic work with building a a tubes4hifi kit.
|
|
|
|
Post by pedrocols on Nov 13, 2016 10:15:21 GMT -5
Do not get discouraged about building your own amps! There is plenty of support if you decide to go with one of the tubes4hifi kits. Of course audiobill can be a great resource! Bill is a great guy! He called me one time just to assist with some issues I was having with my music streaming set up. |
|
|
|
Post by simpleman68 on Nov 13, 2016 10:46:09 GMT -5
I hope frisco knows that some tube amps are NOT compatible with some speakers. Huge impedance swings and certain type of reactance do NOT go well with tubes and transformers. So, to give a better answer you'd need to know what kind of speakers? And what the listener values in a presentation, since 'too tubey' and 'uninvolving' DO help but aren't IT. Entry level for tubes? Down WELL below 1000$, but you need some fairly sensitive speakers to match what is really fairly low power. Especially if you are willing to BUILD a KIT. Leonski, thanks. My speaker choices are bookshelfs from the phase tech pc series (1.5 and 60CA) 4ohms but not too demanding and according to comments on the web this series plays nice with tubes. In fact stereophile reviewed the 60CAs using a tube amp with no problems. So there is no reason to think that tubes generally will be problematic, but which tube is best for them --that is the question. Will be selling my audiobill built (audiobillt) ST 70 soon to upgrade to another glow box. I'll keep you in mind. Scott  |
|
|
|
Post by LuisM on Nov 13, 2016 14:38:09 GMT -5
I have the Latino M125's. I run them with SS Rectifiers and KT 120 tubes in mostly triode mode. I have owned a Rouge stereo unit and sold my ARC VT 100 MKIII. The Latino amps are step above and better bang for the bucks.
If you can solder buy the Latino 120 - more power, can be used in pentode or triode mode,and can use kt88, 90 etc. You should also to take into consideration the sensitivity of your speakers as well as the size of your room.
|
|
|
|
Post by LuisM on Nov 13, 2016 15:10:59 GMT -5
Another option you may wish to consider is a vintage Scott 299c. They can be had for roughly five or six hundred dollars and if you're willing to invest another two to $300 on upgrading the electrolytic capacitors and New tubes you'll have a screaming bargain well within your budget.
Look up a guy named Blackie Pagano he's in the Bowery New York City this guy is a renowned tube repair MASTER. You'll thank me.
The new reissue of tung-sol and mullard tubes are excellent choices for the money, they are low noise and clean sounding.
Please note that this will leave you with a very classic tube sounding integrated. MIDRANGE TO DIE FOR The unit has a very good MM Phono section too. I found a New Old Stock mullard rectifier and it was worth the splurge. I listen to my unit with a pair of Klipsch heresy speakers and I'm very pleased this set up. This is a hard combination to beat. Of course YMMV
|
|
|
|
Post by audiobill on Nov 13, 2016 15:13:33 GMT -5
Luis, is that you?? How are your amps running?  Bill |
|
