2. amps-preamps
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A little tube magic?

I’m looking for some ideas and impressions. I’d really like to run tubes for amplification, but my system pulls double duty for music and tv. It is on probably about 8 hours a day for one or the other.  This just seems like to much to me for running tubes. I’m looking for a way to be able to keep my solid state setup but add tubes in a manner I can switch them in and out. I have couple of ideas but I am aware neither is very ideal. 
First I thought I could add a tube preamp or maybe even buffer in the tape loop of my McIntosh C46. I know this will add more complexity for the signal to pas through. I’m not sure if I can expect gains that will be better that what I lose by adding extra cables and components.

My second idea would be to add a tube power amp on some sort of switch, something similar the the Shiit SYS. Which is basically a passive preamp with two inputs and a potentiometer. I’ve read that can use it backwards kind of and have the output be the input and run the two inputs to two different amps and then switch between the two. I would think I’d need two sets of speaker cables to make this work, and switch them back and forth as needed. I’m not really fond of either idea and hope there may be a solution I’m unaware of. I really just want tubes for music and ss for tv if it’s possible.  
A third option would be to get a tube dac for music listening, but I’m unsure if I’ll be able to get the amount of tube sound I’m after. I guess I could see it as part of the solution along with tubes in the pre or power amp as well. 
Any thoughts or ideas would be much appreciated. 
brylandgoodman

Showing 7 responses by brylandgoodman

brylandgoodman OP
93 posts
 
Not a waste of time at all. I may end up giving the Foz a shot at some point.  Thanks for the suggestions. 
brylandgoodman OP
93 posts
 
I have a McIntosh C46 as my preamp so I don’t think I need the Lokius. How exactly do you suppose I would use the tone controls?  I’m not really looking to change the tonal balance really. More looking add the sense of space, presence, and bloom you can get from tubes. 
brylandgoodman OP
93 posts
 
Interesting. I had seen the foz before, but had forgotten about it. How do you feel it effects transparency and clarity? Also is it something you use on occasion or always? Basically trying to understand if you consider it a full time upgrade or just something fun to use sometimes? 
brylandgoodman OP
93 posts
 
Speakers are C7es3 XD. I listen at moderate I would say volumes. Sometimes I get peaks in the 90db range usually about 70-85 db average. I’d probably look into something that had at least 75 watts. The Mc275 would be an obvious choice with my McIntosh preamp but I’d be open others. Primaluna is another company that is appealing but my small bit of experience with Kevin Deal was a bit of a turn off.  I’ve never had or done much research on tube power amps.  I have had a few tube preamps. All of which I liked except the McIntosh c2500 didn’t float my boat really. A tube power amp would be fun to try though if I can get over tube life. I still wish there was a simple way to have both and simply switch between the two. 
brylandgoodman OP
93 posts
 
I would love to run a tube power amp but nervous about running 50+ hours a week. How long do most power tubes last?  It seems it could be pretty expensive swapping 6+ tubes on the regular. 
brylandgoodman OP
93 posts
 
Budget would be around 1,000-2,000 if I were to keep my current ss pre. If I’m replacing it then budget would be 3,000-4,000. Really would like to stick with McIntosh for the simplicity of operation for the wife and guest. Which leaves me feeling like the tape loop may be the way to go since I don’t really dig McIntosh tube preamps from my experience. I think I would be ok with a slight loss of transparency, slight. Not sure what to expect with the tape loop though. I do like that it would be a simple solution without disconnecting and reconnecting. 
I do watch television with just the two channels.  I’ve never really had much interest in surround sound. If I was building a new house I may incorporate it, but not very compatible currently with out a lot of Sheetrock work to run cables. I’m pretty sure I hate Sheetrock work more than I would like surround sound. 
brylandgoodman OP
93 posts
 
Thanks for all the replies. Definitely helping me narrow down my path. I’m starting to think a tube buffer of some sort as well as maybe a tube dac. The Modwright buffer is very intriguing. I’m not aware of another company with as much pedigree making one.

Far as a tube dac I’d be interesting to hear some suggestions for one that really adds that tube bloom. I’ve read a few reviews of both the Border Patrol as well as the MHDT Orchid. From the reviews I’m getting the impression they both have a smooth frequency response as well as being free of digital glare, I’m not really finding much that suggest they’ll give me that bloom that I want. I wish I knew other words to describe it better. It’s that sense that as a singer hits their note and it just grows and grows and fills the space in a glorious 3d sound. I get more of this from my ss McIntosh gear hooked up to my Harbeth C7es3s than I have ever had before, but I want more. Really as much as I can get while keeping the clarity and purity.

Also would like to hear peoples thoughts on running a tube pre instead of a buffer in the tape loop. Not sure if it’s a good idea to add another gain stage, or how I would go about setting the volume level on the tube pre. It would give me considerably more options though to try to find that sound I’m looking for.

Again, thanks for the many helpful replies.
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