Budget Tube Amp (newbie)


I'm new to tube amps. I need some advice as to a good budget tube amp with good bass that will push my large Advent speakers. Please keep in mind that I don't know anything about tube amps and don't want to pull the trigger until I can get some advice. I'm new to the Forum. Many thanks from an old guy.
Best regards,
Rob
shutupuface

Showing 2 responses by millercarbon

Just to be clear, in case you're considering Dynaco, their kits are designed to be easily built even with no skill or knowledge. All you need is a soldering pen and something to cut and strip wire. They are great for what they are, but tend to agree with bdp24 that you can in general do better, maybe even for the money. Dynaco are still good, just not the stone bargain they were back in the day when there was a lot less competition for affordable good sounding gear.

You really will want to stay with integrateds and away from separates. Big thing the people pushing separates never mention is they cannot compete with integrateds, not even close, without a really good interconnect, and an extra power cord or two. Separates make no sense, value-wise, even when the budget is huge. My system is pushing $100k and I wouldn't dream of separates. Waste of money! Some guys seem to be made of it. So watch out.

Since you're new to tube gear there's a few features to be aware of and watch for. Tubes are all biased, a small current that improves linearity. Some amps bias is automatic, others you have to set yourself. Its not a big deal, usually turn a screw or knob while looking at a meter, and doesn't have to be done often. But you do need to do this. 

Some amps run only one tube type, like say KT88, others you can use different tubes like KT88 & 6550C. While there are indeed differences between different tubes like this, and even between different brands of the same tube, still these differences are relatively small compared to the difference between different amps. Transformers have probably the greatest impact on sound, point to point wiring and design next, then tube type, and finally tube brand. Keep this in mind and it will help shopping and making sense of reviews.

Now all that said I would second and third the guys pointing you at the Rogue Cronus Magnum above. Ticks all the boxes, and then some, and close enough to your budget to be worth the stretch even if you can't quite get him down there. Good luck!
Okay well it takes precisely zero electrical knowledge to build a Dynaco. I would know, having built an ST400 as a teenager who was pretty sure electricity travels through wires. An old refurbished Dynaco would be one candidate. Another would be a Melody integrated, which is what I have now, no longer made but reliable and probably under $1k if you can find one.

Aside from specific amps, some general info it will help to keep in mind. Solid state watts are not equal to tube watts. Two different tube amps, 50-60 watts, drove my speakers just as well as a McCormack DNA-1 which is 150 solid state watts.

Everyone focuses on the tubes, when the reality of tube amps is a lot of the sound quality you get comes from the transformers. So if you find one you really like don't be put off by the tubes it runs, but go by the sound quality. That said, KT88 tubes tend to be really neutral and smooth, 6550 are a little less smooth, and EL34 have about as good a midrange as you will ever find. All of these can have really good bass, and extended treble too, it just depends on the amp design and transformer.

So between the high power you don't need and the high price you don't want this means you should be looking at integrated tube amps 50-60 watts or so. You do not need more power. You do not want separates. There are a lot of really great integrateds ranging from about $5k for a new Prima Luna (outstanding if you can swing it) down to whatever you can find, say something like this- 
https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9hf6f-jas-bravo-2-3-integrated-tube-amplifier-tube
Which might seem not enough power but probably will be fine and sounds like a pretty sweet little amp for the money.