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Post by Loop 7 on May 14, 2019 17:06:54 GMT -5
Curious how many folks are into tube amps or preamps.
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Post by brubacca on May 14, 2019 18:12:11 GMT -5
Love the sound of my tube integrated amp. It is sublime after some warm up time. Currently I'm using my SS integrated. I switch them out a couple times a year.
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Post by Raven on May 14, 2019 18:18:18 GMT -5
My pre-amp is Adible Illusions Modulus L1 (Tube) power-amp PrimaLuna Dialogue Seven mono blocs (Tube) Just two auditions convert me from solid state amps to tube They sound really that good!
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novisnick
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Post by novisnick on May 14, 2019 18:47:45 GMT -5
It’s all audiobill s fault! 😁 I started with the VTA-70 , i bit Moved up to the VTA-120 set the hook! Finally received my big dog Monoblocks, M 125’s and he reeled me in! Those combined with my McIntosh C220 with phono stage finished me off! When I want to dive deeper into the music, theres just no place like tubes!
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Post by cheapthryl on May 14, 2019 20:07:40 GMT -5
Unfortunately I haven't been listening since hurricane Florence. When i get the systems back up. 1:Glow Audio Glow amp 1 2: Cary/AES superamp mk11 and AE-3 MK11 preamp 3: Gary Dodd Audio battery powered buffer/preamp (active, no gain) 4: Aric audio 3.7 with SS phono 5: Yaqin MS22b phono mm 6: Eastern Electric Minimax dac with select tube or SS output stage. I think that's all.
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novisnick
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Post by novisnick on May 14, 2019 20:12:22 GMT -5
Unfortunately I haven't been listening since hurricane Florence. When i get the systems back up. 1:Glow Audio Glow amp 1 2: Cary/AES superamp mk11 and AE-3 MK11 preamp 3: Gary Dodd Audio battery powered buffer/preamp (active, no gain) 4: Aric audio 3.7 with SS phono to play with. 🤞 soon! 🤞
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klinemj
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Post by klinemj on May 14, 2019 20:14:14 GMT -5
Love the tubey goodness of my PrimaLuna
Mark
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Post by pop on May 14, 2019 20:45:52 GMT -5
I recently acquired two Vallhalla 2s for my listening room. Been loving the sound. Nice and warm. Not really sure I’m getting super Tubey sound. But they are hybrids so....
Freya preamp will be in shortly. Pretty excited about throwing that into the setup.
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Post by Loop 7 on May 14, 2019 23:22:57 GMT -5
Yeah, audiobill is definitely to blame here. Can't thank him enough.
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Post by Loop 7 on May 14, 2019 23:24:31 GMT -5
Freya preamp will be in shortly. Pretty excited about throwing that into the setup. Definitely let us know once the Freya is up and running. My guess is that combo will be darn sweet.
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Post by garbulky on May 15, 2019 0:19:36 GMT -5
After having tried a few tube units, tubes have for the most part not ticked all my checkmarks for audio.
I've heard one tube preamp that was truly off the chain but unfortunately it was a one-off mod build by B'zilla and probably produced about 7 watts of power per channel.
I would have said I am no longer interested in tubes, but truth is I would be interested in checking out the Bob Latino SP14 just because Audio Bill likes it.
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Post by Gary Cook on May 15, 2019 1:41:10 GMT -5
I hate tube amp sound, can’t tolerate it, have to leave the room, it just sounds fake to me. I have heard a few tube amps that are OK, but that’s because they don’t sound like a tube amp. Which kinda defeats the purpose.
Cheers Gary
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Post by bluemeanies on May 15, 2019 4:05:51 GMT -5
Well I am another camper who will point the finger at audiobill....and I am very GRATEFUL that I listened to him and took his advice. I have stayed the course with my m125's and my SP14 PRE... What's the regular use of any electronic equipment? 5,10,15 hours a week OR day? In my case I listen whenever I have the opportunity whether it be for an hour or 5hours. Some weeks are more than others depending on the work schedule and the honey do list. Good poll and I am glad to see audiobill getting some accolades.
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Post by 405x5 on May 15, 2019 7:36:51 GMT -5
Curious how many folks are into tube amps or preamps. I have enough trouble keeping my windshield clean without adding electron tube dusting to the mix! 😉
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KeithL
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Post by KeithL on May 15, 2019 8:51:20 GMT -5
I was just thinking that the poll sort of left out the option I would have picked: ( ) "I've owned tube equipment in the past; but now I prefer solid state equipment."
I also didn't see: ( ) "I've never owned any tube audio equipment; and have no real interest in it." (Which has got to apply to many of our younger listeners.)
Although, to be fair, most of the people who would respond that way probably won't respond at all.
I hate tube amp sound, can’t tolerate it, have to leave the room, it just sounds fake to me. I have heard a few tube amps that are OK, but that’s because they don’t sound like a tube amp. Which kinda defeats the purpose. Cheers Gary
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Post by pop on May 15, 2019 8:58:08 GMT -5
I hate tube amp sound, can’t tolerate it, have to leave the room, it just sounds fake to me. I have heard a few tube amps that are OK, but that’s because they don’t sound like a tube amp. Which kinda defeats the purpose. Cheers Gary Wow, really? I’m not 100% versed with tubes as I just took an entry level plunge into them. My experiences have been on incredibly high end systems I’ve demoed and have always been extremely impressed. But it’s never sounded different than “solid state vs tube” it’s always just sounded very very good. These high end systems usually being McIntosh and audio research. Maybe my ear isn’t that in tune. But I have heard some systems surely if you walked in blind you would not walk away from. Maybe I guess?
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Post by pop on May 15, 2019 9:05:01 GMT -5
Surely there is a degree of nostalgia and cool factor to tubes. My Schiit Valhalla’s are my favorite pieces of audio gear to look at. To me they look like I could have spent thousands of dollars on them and the tubes in a dim room with candles lit is very relaxing and brings a cool ambience. This isn’t lost on me. But I’m also 33 years young and so it’s a bit of vintage fun for me. Even if it’s not truly vintage.
Kind of like the resurgence of vinyl. I just hooked up my new Rega Planar 1 and slapped some vinyl on. When I AB the vinyl to CD or tidal. I don’t hear too much of a difference in audio quality. But it sure is a lot cooler with the Vinyl spinning, and the whole motions you go through with it! For the little boost in audio quality vinyl is kind of a pain in the tushy. But it’s cool and fun. Bringing the whole thing together.
Go to a nice steakhouse. Spend $70 on a prime steak. It can be delicious but if they slap it on a plate and have mashed potatoes hanging off of it it might not taste as good. It’s all about covering all of the senses for audio.
My point is maybe tubes vs solid state has more to do with general ambience and your perception of pride in your system
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KeithL
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Post by KeithL on May 15, 2019 9:10:32 GMT -5
That pretty well sums up my experiences with tubes.
When I was in high school I learned electronics on tube gear. Solid state had already replaced tubes as the current technology but my electronics teacher really loved tubes. And, since there was no nostalgia about tubes yet, used tube gear could be had for almost nothing (or for nothing at all at the curb). Most tube gear is also a lot simpler to design, and simpler to fix, than solid state gear (on average).
Back then, I owned lots of tube gear, and used to buy, repair, and sell, used tube gear. And, yes, some of it actually sounded pretty good. And, yes, some of the really early solid state gear sounded really bad.
However, to borrow a quote from Stephen King (points for knowing where it came from).... "The world has moved on". I now find that good quality solid state gear sounds far better than the best tube gear (more accurate - which, to me, means better).
There have been a few times recently when I've felt nostalgic about tubes.... and bought or borrowed tube gear to play with. (We also had all of the Bob Carver products here for a while.) And, to be quite honest, none of the tube power amps have managed to sound nearly as good as good solid state gear (almost no damping). And, to be equally honest, I've heard a lot of tube preamps that had serious coloration issues. I've also heard quite a few tube preamps that, at least in casual listening, sounded just as uncolored to me as solid state ones. I just can't see any reason to pay a lot of money for a really high-end tube preamp that sounds just as good as a solid state preamp that costs far less.
After having tried a few tube units, tubes have for the most part not ticked all my checkmarks for audio. I've heard one tube preamp that was truly off the chain but unfortunately it was a one-off mod build by B'zilla and probably produced about 7 watts of power per channel. I would have said I am no longer interested in tubes, but truth is I would be interested in checking out the Bob Latino SP14 just because Audio Bill likes it.
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KeithL
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Post by KeithL on May 15, 2019 9:14:34 GMT -5
I'm quite sure you have a point there. I used to enjoy "the vinyl ritual" as well. Unless you work in a test lab - it's one of the last few excuses to handle "real high-quality equipment". Now, aside from the sound, it's just "more things I would have to do before the music starts" and "more stuff that can go wrong". Perhaps it's just my age showing. Incidentally... if you want "pretty" or "cool looking" tubes...
(You'll also find these in some incredibly expensive Woo Audio headphone amps.)
Surely there is a degree of nostalgia and cool factor to tubes. My Schiit Valhalla’s are my favorite pieces of audio gear to look at. To me they look like I could have spent thousands of dollars on them and the tubes in a dim room with candles lit is very relaxing and brings a cool ambience. This isn’t lost on me. But I’m also 33 years young and so it’s a bit of vintage fun for me. Even if it’s not truly vintage. Kind of like the resurgence of vinyl. I just hooked up my new Rega Planar 1 and slapped some vinyl on. When I AB the vinyl to CD or tidal. I don’t hear too much of a difference in audio quality. But it sure is a lot cooler with the Vinyl spinning, and the whole motions you go through with it! For the little boost in audio quality vinyl is kind of a pain in the tushy. But it’s cool and fun. Bringing the whole thing together. Go to a nice steakhouse. Spend $70 on a prime steak. It can be delicious but if they slap it on a plate and have mashed potatoes hanging off of it it might not taste as good. It’s all about covering all of the senses for audio. My point is maybe tubes vs solid state has more to do with general ambience and your perception of pride in your system
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novisnick
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Post by novisnick on May 15, 2019 9:22:12 GMT -5
I'm quite sure you have a point there.
I used to enjoy "the vinyl ritual" as well. Unless you work in a test lab - it's one of the last few excuses to handle "real high-quality equipment".
Now, aside from the sound, it's just "more things I would have to do before the music starts" and "more stuff that can go wrong". Perhaps it's just my age showing.
Surely there is a degree of nostalgia and cool factor to tubes. My Schiit Valhalla’s are my favorite pieces of audio gear to look at. To me they look like I could have spent thousands of dollars on them and the tubes in a dim room with candles lit is very relaxing and brings a cool ambience. This isn’t lost on me. But I’m also 33 years young and so it’s a bit of vintage fun for me. Even if it’s not truly vintage. Kind of like the resurgence of vinyl. I just hooked up my new Rega Planar 1 and slapped some vinyl on. When I AB the vinyl to CD or tidal. I don’t hear too much of a difference in audio quality. But it sure is a lot cooler with the Vinyl spinning, and the whole motions you go through with it! For the little boost in audio quality vinyl is kind of a pain in the tushy. But it’s cool and fun. Bringing the whole thing together. Go to a nice steakhouse. Spend $70 on a prime steak. It can be delicious but if they slap it on a plate and have mashed potatoes hanging off of it it might not taste as good. It’s all about covering all of the senses for audio. My point is maybe tubes vs solid state has more to do with general ambience and your perception of pride in your system Age 🙄
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