2. amps-preamps
  3. 191991-198165

Adding tubes to integrated setup

Hi.  New here. I have a Yamaha A-S801 integrated amp.  I have been under the impression it cannot act as a power amp alone.  I have been considering adding tubes to my setup and came across this on PrimaLunas's site that talks about mixing tubes with solid state:  https://www.primaluna-usa.com/mixing-tube-gear-with-solid-state

Does this  mean tubes can be added only to a solid state power amplifier or that they can be added to a solid state integrated amplifier as long as it meets the 10x impedance requirement?

 

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You can include a tube component into virtually any system, into any position, with no limitations.   There is only one area that you need to keep in mind.  Running a tube preamp into the small handful of the solid state or tube amplifiers that have an input impedance that falls outside the norm.  We're talking about maybe 1% of the amps out there. 

Don't get stressed.  This is easy stuff.  All you have to do is look at the owner's manual or spec sheet on your amp and you will see something that says "Input impedance".    

If you are adding a tube preamp and hooking it up to an amplifier, the input impedance of the amp should, in general terms, be ten times (or more) the output impedance of the preamp. If it isn’t 10X, or maybe it’s close, you may still get incredible performance."

steam_engine
mesch
3,481 posts
 

Tube pre-amplification can be less costly than tube amplification.   My opinion, In your case the best  and least expensive way to add tubes to your system would be to replace your 801 integrated with one using tubes in the preamp stage.  Check out the Vincent SV-500 as an example of one of the least expensive ones that I could recommend. 

With a digital based system another way would be to purchase a DAC having a tube output stage. Check out Black Ice audio or MDHT DACs  for a couple examples providing high value to $ spent. 

Your 801 has a DAC, phonostage, preamp and amplifier all contained within a single box. Many components at a very modest price. Adding tubes to your system would require significant additional expense. 

steam_engine OP
3 posts
 

Thanks I’ve been considering the PrimaLuna EVO 100 tube DAC.  I can get it heavily discounted.  

larryi
3,979 posts
 

I don’t think of tubes as a kind of flavoring, such that adding a touch here or there would really give one a proper taste of tube sound.  It would make more sense to go with a pure tube integrated.  The most significant change comes from the output side, meaning that adding a tube linestage on the front end has far less impact than going tube for the power amp.  A tube integrated gets you both.

The issue with getting a tube power amp or integrated amp is in the matching to one’s speakers, size of room, and preferred listening level.  Most tube amps are more particular than solid state amps when it comes to such matching.  To me, the best tube amps are low to medium in power, and if you truly need 100 watts or more, stick with solid state.  High-powered tube amps tend to sound hard and brittle.

You can get a small taste of tube sound with tubes on the front end, but, you will not get the full measure without running tubes as the output device.

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