2. amps-preamps
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Help with a first tube amp Please

I am looking to buy an amp.I have never heard a tube amp but I keep reading all the rave.Right now I have a Mac1900,Sansui Tu and Au 7900 and a couple Luxman recievers, all powering speakers as Sansui SP 1200, H H Scott from 1964 and ADS and a pair of newly purchased Magnepan mg2 for 75.00, that was a deal. I have a budget of up to 1000.00 tops.I don't think I want a Ying Yang amp from Ebay and I can't buy a vintage MC 275 either.I wiould like to buy an integrated amp to start with.Well thanks for your help from Rochester,Mn.
ridemypanhead

Showing 3 responses by ts0711

ts0711
91 posts
 
You may want to look into the Jolida 202, if 40 watts is enough for your speakers. It's a nice way to start with tubes providing that lush el34 midrange, and can be had (used) for under your price...

Good luck.
ts0711
91 posts
 
OP's price reange was $1000.00, you can't get a VTL IT-85 for that price. I have to admit it will smoke the just about any Jolida. I have the IT-85 (with upgrades caps) in my bedroom set-up. The Will Vincent Dynacos are also very nice but not intergrated amps. I owned Will's MKIII mono blocks for a while as well.
ts0711
91 posts
 
Entrope offers some very good advice and brings out a very interesting point, our hobby is very subjective.

I have to laugh about EL34 being light on bass and rolled off on the high's. This where it starts getting complicated; not all tubes are created equally. I use New Old Stock (NOS) Mullard tubes from the 1960’s & 70’s. They have plenty of bass control and impact as well as crisp highs (in my amps), but they cost more than my amps. Having used 6550, KT88, KT90’s (in various amps) and keep coming back to the Mullards.
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