2. amps-preamps
  3. 134169-768

Getting into tubes

I'm thinking about getting my first tube integrated amp and been reading all I can about them. I've narrowed my list of manufacturers down to four: Raven Audio (Blackhawk/Osprey), Primaluna (Dialogue Premium), Ars Sonum Filarmonia and Decware (Zen Mystery Amp). All have their pros and cons. First, a bit about my system:

Merlin TSM Black Magic Edition
Sunfire True Sub Mk2 (and oldie but still runs well)
MSB Analog Dac 
Macbook Air streaming Tidal through Audirvana
Spectral SDR-3000SL running into the MSB

Room is small, about 10 X 11. I listen to jazz ( mostly trio's and female vocals) and some classic rock. 

My laundry list for what I'm looking for in a tube amp is as follows:

1. Obviously they have to sound great. From what I've been reading, seems like all these amps all sound fantastic to various individuals that have used them. 
2. Ease of use: self biasing tubes. Don't want the fuss of having to bias the tubes myself. I know that with the Decware ZMA, you have to bias yourself but it appears to be a simple process.
3. Overall build of the unit. Each of the manufacturers all look to have excellent build qualities. I've seen pictures of the insides of all units. Looks like the Primaluna is built like a beast on the inside. Also the ZMA is all point to point, no circuit boards of any type. That's a big plus.
4. Remote control: now this is a semi big one for me. I do a lot of late night listening and am constantly changing the volume. Raven Audio and Primaluna checks this box off but the Filharmonia and ZMA doesn't. However I have a DAC (MSB Analog) that has a volume control built in that I believe may work?
5. Subwoofer output. It would be nice to have a dedicated sub out for ease of connecting the sub. I know that there is the option to connect the sub through the speaker level inputs, but I have read its difficult to do that with the Filarmonia and ZMA if the spades are too thick. 
6. Reliability and after care service.

For those that have experience with any of these amps, any advice would be greatly appreciated! I've been going back and forth trying to decide. Thanks!
jzzmn88
oranda
13 posts
 
Well, I’m going to go against the majority here and say that for smaller speakers with under 90 dB sensitivity, I personally prefer solid-state amps... especially those that are biased heavily into Class A. Great results have been reported for your Merlins with both tube and solid state amps, but if it were me, a Pass Labs or Sugden integrated would be at the top of my list. The Positive Feedback review of your speakers mention that they achieved the best results with Pass Labs mono-blocks, which does not surprise me. Good luck and let us know what you decide.
brf
1,715 posts
 
I use a Cary SLI 80 F1 with Merlin TSM speakers in a secondary system and the combination works very well. With the choice of triode or ultralinear at the flip of a switch, plus a tube rollers dream, you can tailor the sound to your specific preference. It is also bullet proof with point to point wiring.
kadiddlehopper
5 posts
 
Lot's of good suggestions. I would like to add Octave Audio. I have the V110SE with the Super Black box. This is an expensive combo but the sound quality is superb. The V110SE comes with additional input tubes to match the amp to your speakers and they can handle pretty much any speaker. The Black Box is loaded with Super capacitors to provide instantaneous and huge amounts of power. Read about it on their web site. While other tube amps can certainly drive your 86db speakers, the Octave with black box will excel at it and will grow with you if you ever change speakers. I'm using the Octave with Vienna Acoustics Beethoven Concert Grands, a beautiful match.

Let's do your check list:
1. Check, Great sound. I've only compared it to one amp on your list, Primaluna Dialog premium, and the PL is not in the same league as the Octave.
2. half Check, while not actually self biasing you just turn a screw and lights tell you when it is biased correctly, no meter needed, takes about 45 seconds to adjust all 4 tubes and once the tubes settle in you won't need to adjust more than once every few months, if that.
3. Check, great quality
4. Check, high quality remote for volume control.
5. Check, it has pre-out for subs.
6. Check, my Super Black box died after about a week, they replaced it, no questions asked and very quickly. The system has been flawless since then, about 16 months now.

pryso
1,928 posts
 
jzzmn88, I was friends with Jud Barber of Joule-Electra (we are no longer in touch) and attended the CES multiple years.  Jud and Bobby greatly respected one another and demoed their gear together.  The point of that was that Bobby chose tube electronics for his demos.  So that alone suggests you are on the right track.

Many good model suggestions have been made here.  Unfortunately none of us can say what you may like best.  So if you can narrow your candidate list down to a practical number (2 or 3) and arrange auditions with those I'm certain you will end up happy.

Regarding your laundry list, two comments. 
*  In a room that small it should be easy to place your components next to your listening seat so within easy reach.  That could eliminate the need for a remote control (which I otherwise appreciate).
*  So long as the manufacturer provides test points and adjustments on the top plate, biasing should not be a big deal.  It can be easy, quick, and infrequent in a well-designed amp.
skiroe's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
skiroe
131 posts
 
If I am going for  tube sound I want to do just that which means tube rectified and not s/s rectified which is what many manufacturers do.  Decware uses tube rectification and I have held on to my Taboo EL84 based tube amp.   From what I recall tube rectification operates in a more of a synergistic  and less complicated manner within that topology.   Not to mention half the fun is trying out different power tubes,  input tubes..  AND  rectification tubes  or why bother.     The special rectifier tubes I have collected over the years  are Bugle Boy 5AR4,  Russian made 5U4G ,   Bendix  6106 (5y3 equivalent?   And of course the famous Russian Melz  6sn7 equivalent if you can find the real Mcoy.    Yep,  dont leave out tube rectification.      
More to discover