Baby Steps back to Tubes.


I have been thinking of doing this for a while now so I descided to go back to tubes gradually. I just bought a cary sl98p . I would like some recommendations for solid state amps that work well with this pre. For speakers I have NHT 3.3's so obviously, well to me anyway I would require at least 150 watts a side preferably more and high current. I am using a Musical Fidelity Tri Vista 300 integrated now and listen to more vynil than cd,s and have a Graham slee Reflex era gold for the phono end of it with a Michel Gyro SE mk II , Rega Exact II MM . Digital is an Esoteric DV 50S .I Primarily listen to rock and blues mostly 60's and 70's era.The room is 15 by 27 with 9 ft ceilings. I got away from tubes back in the late seventies when I first got married and now single and happy again thought I would give it a try again (the tubes that is!). Your experiences are much appreciated. Cheers!
128x128has2be

Showing 4 responses by has2be

I understand what cine100 was trying to say and without getting away from my initial reason for the post I realise that tube watts do seem to have the perception of playing louder. Thanks Rodman9999 for the link. Some very good reading and info for sure. Because at this point (now anyway) I would like to keep the NHT 3.3's in my system and for the very reason that Pauly made of the variation of the impedance of the NHT's and the 87 db sensitivity I thought for these speakers anyway solid state would be an "easier" match other than an expensive more powerful tube amp(s).Thinking in the 2 to 3 thousand used or new region max, less if there are some good amps out there I,m not aware of. Cheers
Thanks Rodman9999, thats exactly the type of options I would like to know about . Not nessacarily the well known but some of the descent not so known brands.Thanks! Keep em comin! Pauly, I fully agree with you on tube friendly speakers and the importance of it when using tube amps. I like the NHT 3.3's and they are by no means tube friendly by any stretch of the imagination. Thats why I thought a good ss state or maybe a hybrid would be best for my system. I know if I went for an all out tube amp I would then be looking for speakers . Thats what I,m trying to avoid for now, till I can afford to make more changes. If I had the money the Reference 3A Grand Veena with 30-40 quality tube watts/ch would make me very happy !
No that was not my question. It was a statement or more a wish to happen quicker. The question is the one asked at the start of the thread! Eventually down the road I may like to go tube amp and change speakers. But not right now. Thanks , have been eyeing the pass labs and have heard the X250.5 at the fellows house I bought the Esoteric DV50S from. Impressive. Cheers
Thanks Guys for all the good ideas and products to do some looking into. Tvad, good advice on the speaker part and possibly reworking the amp yet again. I,m trying to avoid that and I will look into the Moscode. Thanks again guys! Cheers