Check out Quicksilver Audio if you want mono amps. If you want an integrated, Rogue Audio makes nice ones. Both brands are a bang for the buck!
Best Tube Amp for B&W Bookshelf
I own a pair of CDM1’s. A few years ago I heard a tube amp at a trade show. I think it was a Manley Stingray. It sounded amazing. Would this be a good choice for my B&W’s?
Or or does anyone have a better choice? My budget is about $3500.
I listen to mostly female vocal singer-songwriter folk/pop, jazz and classical. Clean warm vocals and sweet acoustic guitars that sparkle are what I liked about the tubes I heard at the trade show.
The souce was SACD. I think it was Alison Krauss Patricia Barber or Holy Cole. On another SACD I think I also heard an acoustic finger plucked piece by Lindsay Buckingham/Fleetwood Mac ’ Never Going Back Again".
Both cuts were truly memorable and made an impression as to the beauty of tubes. I have Crown Reference II solid state amps currently in my system.
This will be my first tube amp. My head end is Emm Labs -- DAC, transport, and pre. Please can you give me advice for integratedes and/or mono blocks in the $3500 range? I realize this is not much of a budget for quality tube amps ... I just need some pointing in the right direction based on experience and with possibly the same musical tastes. Thank you.
Or or does anyone have a better choice? My budget is about $3500.
I listen to mostly female vocal singer-songwriter folk/pop, jazz and classical. Clean warm vocals and sweet acoustic guitars that sparkle are what I liked about the tubes I heard at the trade show.
The souce was SACD. I think it was Alison Krauss Patricia Barber or Holy Cole. On another SACD I think I also heard an acoustic finger plucked piece by Lindsay Buckingham/Fleetwood Mac ’ Never Going Back Again".
Both cuts were truly memorable and made an impression as to the beauty of tubes. I have Crown Reference II solid state amps currently in my system.
This will be my first tube amp. My head end is Emm Labs -- DAC, transport, and pre. Please can you give me advice for integratedes and/or mono blocks in the $3500 range? I realize this is not much of a budget for quality tube amps ... I just need some pointing in the right direction based on experience and with possibly the same musical tastes. Thank you.
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this listing in your budget: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Primaluna-Prologue-Premiums-/222323688377?hash=item33c38643b9:g:jsIAAOSwmmxW... http://www.ebay.com/itm/Prima-Luna-Prologue-Premium-Preamp-/322334715994?hash=item4b0ca5705a:g:3OoAA... The PL line has numerous write ups as unmatched value gear. You will be hard pressed to find a better deal. They have been listed for awhile. Offer $2500 for the amps. You and the seller should be able to find a middle ground. You will have a killer system for the money. I have the PL Dialogue Premium HP setup. |
Cary SLI-80, integrated, and I used it to power my B&W 805S Then I got cats and we have a new baby, so without a cage, the Cary is tempting for a cat to jump on it, or small fingers curiously reach around the tubes. Back to Solid State I am They come up for sale quite a bit, solid, you can get your money back for whatever you end up paying for it. This is fantastic integrated tube amp |
For that money you could buy an excellent Jolida integrated (actually, you could buy 2 of them), including the premium parts new one ("Fusion" 3502S) that accepts more tubes than previously (a switch is now provided for your Tube Rolling entertainment needs). I've owned one of their Factory Upgraded 502p amps for a few years now and have compared it to much more costly stuff and man…it's a GREAT sounding and well made amp for WAY less money than most, and mine has worked flawlessly. Note Jolida doesn't give me a free amp or anything else for all the hype I've provided them over the years…but they could start now (come on Jolida…almost nobody reviews your amps…seriously…). |
rocketroom, this listing is even nicer than my original suggestion. Get this one, your done. https://www.audiogon.com/listings/tube-primaluna-dialogue-premium-hp-black-2016-12-18-integrateds-43... It will blow blow away pretty much anything in the price range. There isn't any negative reviews on this amp. |
Hi! It’s been a while since I’ve been on AudioGon forums. For any and all of you that responded I want to THANK YOU! I did some research and made some phone calls... And the winner is... PrimaLuna Dialog Premium Integrated. Bought one from the factory dealer here on the west coast. Had it for about a year now. Sounds amazing! The build quality is impeccable. I HIGHLY recommend this unit! |
mzkmxc"Not even remotely true. A $3000 vs $1000 speaker is much more of a difference than a $3000 vs $1000 amp." That would depend on the specific, exact, particular components that comprise the equation and it is for that reason that your argument, claim, and pronouncement is invalid, inaccurate, and erroneous. |
I agree that it's usually better to put more of your budget into speakers, but if you have the money and want to try tubes, there are a number of good integrateds out there in your budget range - Primaluna, Rogue Audio, used ARC, etc. My first (and fairly recent) experience with tubes in my home was an Audio Research Vsi55. It's currently driving my Klipsch Heresy speakers, but has sounded great with everything I've paired it with. I prefer the less "colored, syrupy" or however you want to describe sound of tubes and the ARC sound is pretty neutral. |
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