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Considering switching to Tubes

Hello all, 

For the last ten or so years I've been listening to music on my home stereo, and for the last 10 or so years I have been 100% content with everything about it. And then my best friend brought by a Chinese integrated tube amp, and my world fell apart. 

Currently the set up is:
Speakers: B&W 805s 
Amp: Rotel RB1070
Preamp: Rotel RC1070 
CD player: Rotel RCC1055
DAC: TEAC UD301 

The B&W and Rotel gear was purchased whe  I worked at an electronics retail store through the employee purchase program (I think it was cost -10%), the TEAC was added to try out streaming through the system, which in all honesty is what I do 99% of the time now. 

My friend and former colleague brought over a recently acquired Yaqin MC100B, and I simply can't stress enough how much more I enjoyed listen to the music off of that integrated Amp. 

Which leads me to my questions, should I just give in, and grab a relatively affordable tube amp? And secondly, I've been reading (mostly about Yaqin, because I'm not in the position currently to invest 5000+) up on their various models, and the two that seem to be what in looking for are either the MC100B which I've heard on my system and the MC13S, which I have not. The first uses KT88s and the second uses EL34s, I'm not a big bass loving guy, and the EL34s intrigue me, but I'm a hesitant to jump in without listening to them. The snag is, I live in the arctic, and the only really way for me to try them at home, is to purchase them. 

I'm open to arguments for and against swapping out the rotel, for yaqin.


Cheers, 

E 
esp803

Showing 1 response by sfar

sfar's avatar
sfar
1,771 posts
 
I also can highly recommend the Cayin brand. I bought one after having three US-made tube amps from highly regarded companies and, while they were all excellent, the Cayin sounds just as good or better, is extremely well made and the prices are reasonable. Mine came with EL34s, which sounded great, but I’m now using KT77s which are a drop-in replacement for the EL34 and really enjoy them.

One thing seems to be inevitable not long after acquiring a tube amp, you’ll start wondering what different tubes would sound like. Tube rolling is interesting and sometimes does make a positive difference but it’s best done at first with help from a reputable tube dealer. If you get to that point ask here for dealer recommendations.
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