Adding a tube amp is a good idea?


Dear all, 

Hope your 2025 is off to a good start! I am thinking about adding a tube amp. Particularly Audio Research ref S80. Nicely used unit can be had for a reasonable price so I am considering it. You can see my virtual system for a full list but my system consists of LTA preamp, Pass Labs X250.8 amp and JA Perspective2 speakers. Totally happy and satisfied with the sound I get from the system, but just want to have another amp for a different flavour. Do you guys think ref 80s sounds different enough, for better or worse? Let me know what you think. Thanks 

 

128x128panerai557

Regarding the power match between your speakers and the ARC S80, much would depend on the size of the room and loudness levels desired. They are not difficult to drive impedance/phase angle wise.

@panerai557 

Have you ever considered a Hybrid preamp and/or amplifier? You get the flavor of tubes and the power of SS without most of the heat.  My first taste came from an ARC SP9mkll.  It uses 6922 tubes for its input stage and SS for its output. (I still love its sound) And now I am using PS Audio BHK preamp and amps.  All three have tube input stages and SS outputs.

Just a thought.

And I moved from the PS Audio hybrid BHK 250 to an all-tube Zesto Bia 120 ( now replaced by the even more powerful Bia 200). I liked the BHK 250 very much - it is obviously a very good amp. But the Zesto changed everything. Suddenly it felt like the music was being piped straight to the right side of my brain. The creative, arty side. The BHK had better bass - deeper, a little more controlled. But everything else was in favor of the all-tube, Class A Zesto. No regrets in the two years since I made the change.

@lucky_doggg7 ​​​​​thanks for taking time posting your response. Jeff Joseph thinks that the amp would sound pretty good. He demos the speakers using Dosh tube amp with smiliar power. I also heard the previous version of the speakers with EAR V12 integrated tube amp and that output 50w, sounded planty loud for my listening level. Yes there are many other choices, but I always had desire to own AR gear. Pass was the same way. Hopefully those two amps provide me with different sound for enjoyment