Pre amp and Power amp advice needed
I’m looking for a tube pre amp and a tube power amp. A suggestion that I’ve got are Rogue Audio RP-5 + Atlas Magnum II. This is just within my budget. But I don’t think I will be using KT-120 because EL34 is the type of tube I really like.
Today I have a Line Magnetic LM-34ia, but I’m tired of all the hassle with bad soldering and problems with the balance sliding to the right. The unit has been away for repairing for two month now. This time.
Any suggestions?
The speakers are Tannoy Legacy Eaton. Slightly rolled of and slightly dark sounding (says some).
I'm not sure that the Rogue accomodates the EL34 that you like, does it? If I had those speakers I'd probably consider a couple of EL34 integrated choices like the
VTL IT-85 on the higher end of power and the Leben 600x on the lower end. I think you'll get more bang for the buck within your budget with these integrateds. |
VTA amps and kits from Tubes4hifi. Great sounding robust amps and great support. Highly recommended. http://www.tubes4hifi.com/home.html |
Please check out the Cary Audio direct sales website. They have a big markdown since March for the Corona Virus epidemic, but it ends on Sunday. https://carydirect.com/shop-now.html |
I had a Cary 120 running my Tannoy FSMs 94 sens. 4ohms. Tired of tubes issues I sold it and bought a Pass Labs XA25. I was and am a lover of tube sound but the Pass offers much more in my experience. I am shopping/saving now for the tube preamp I want to pair with these two pieces. So far I like the information and opinions on the Supratek Chardonnay pre. $2k new. |
I have a Prima Luna Dialogue for my preamp. The quality of the construction is very good from what I can tell. The PrimaLuna EVO power amps use the EL34s and if their power amps are anything like their preamps, they should be great. You can also switch them over to triode mode if you prefer. I've also heard great things about Quick Silver amps and they come with EL34s too |
Simna, The Rogue Atlas Magnum can indeed support EL34 tubes. I had a Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum II and I tried some EL34 / Gold Lion KT88 tubes. You just have to bias them higher (I believe 55ma, you can e-mail Rogue and they will get back to you often same day). Coming from the KT 120 the other tubes were a big disappointment in my experience. The KT 120 are excellent tubes. You can make the amp sound warmer and more tube like by changing the small signal tubes in the Atlas and your Preamp. FYI having owned the Cronus Magnum II (same amplifier as the Atlas) you might want to think about getting the Stereo 100 amplifier instead of the Atlas. I have the 100 and it is an upgrade in every way. With the same budget you could get the RH-5 headphone / line stage instead of the RP-5. Both the RH-5 and Stereo 100 are Stereophile class A rated. Another advantage of the RH-5 / Stereo 100 (see my virtual system) is that they can use balanced connections leading to lower noise and much better dynamics. A lot to consider, I have been a Rogue Audio fan for many years and they are a solid choice. |
If you want pieces that won’t live in the shop, stick with Rogue (most affordable), Luxman, VTL, CJ, or Audio Research. Avoid anything made in China!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Triode designs require gawd aweful speaker designs, usual involving horns (squawwwwk) or multiple cheap drivers with massive crossover induced distortion (Tekton). |
@chorus I had a Cary 120 running my Tannoy FSMs 94 sens. 4ohms. I had a similar journey with the Cary 120 a couple of years ago. It was just too noisy with such a large array of tubes and this persistent transformer hum that drove me insane. I actually traded it back into Cary for a new SLI80-HS for my second system which I actually really enjoy and happens to be dead quiet (amazingly) even paired with 99dB Forte III's. I replaced the Cary 120 in my main system with a Pass XA30.8 but kept running it with my VAC Ren MK5 linestage. I'm in sonic heaven these days as I feel the XA30.8 gives me everything I love about tube sound but with much more bass extension and grip and can drive speakers with much more authority even at much lower "rated" power. I'm a huge fan of pairing Class A SS amps with tube preamps and suggest the OP consider that route in his range of options. |
@three_easy_payments @chilli42 Hmm... yet another Primaluna fan. What's wrong with my ears? @avanti1960 This is very interesting. Rogue Audio is one of the few US brands I can find and have a chance listening to. At my home. I think the small tubes are ECC82:s and ECC83:s which I have a bunch of in different brands. Are they used in matched pairs? Have you tried EL34:s in the Stereo 100 amplifier or maybe you don't like the sound of EL34:s at all? Regarding RP-5 and RH-5; isn't RP-5 "more a pre amplifier" than RH-5. Because I'm not interested in the headphone amp at all because I'm a Stax guy (Stax + Mjölnir = heaven). And the Rouge Audio agent in Sweden doesn't have any Rouge HPA at all. Is the RH-5 more expensive than RP-5 in the US? Is the balanced option the only benefit with the RH-5? Which speakers do you use? How are their character considered to be? Bright? Rolled of? Forward? etc. |
@simna Atlas Magnum uses a matched pair of 12AU7 / ECC82 as the amp drivers and a matched pair of 12AX7 / ECC83 as the phase splitters. There are numerous NOS tubes that can give the amp a warmer flavor. The RP-5 preamp uses (4) ECC82 tubes, two matched pairs. I did not try the EL34s in the Stereo 100, just the Cronus Magnum II. The sound was less dynamic, somewhat dull and weak compared to the KT120s. It was quite a contrast. RP-5 is a better preamp than the RH-5 but the RH-5 still has an excellent line stage preamp regardless. The use of XLR connectors was important- I do not use the headphone amp. The RP-5 is $3500 including phono stage, The RH-5 is $2500 no phono stage, $2900 with phono. The preamp below the RP-5 is the RP-1 ($1900). The RH-5 is a much better sounding preamp than the RP-1. The RH-5 has 3 switchable gain settings and balanced connections. My Speakers are Harbeth SHL5+, they are forgiving but somewhat forward in the upper midrange / treble. I had Harbeth C7ES3 with the Cronus Magnum. Very smooth and rich and more forgiving / less forward than the SHL5+. The star of the show is the Stereo 100 amplifier - a very dynamic, powerful tube amp that is refined, transparent and with a huge sound stage. |
@ avanti1960 Wonder why they just used a box to put the Stereo 100 in. In my eyes this is one of the most boring looking amps I have ever seen. Is it better in every way over the Atlas Magum II? Read something about there was an upgrade for the Cronus making it way better than the standard version. Do you know if there's something like that for the Atlas Magnum II? I'm listening to the music not only with the ears, but also with my eyes. Just like enjoying a good meal . @ebm I can look at it, but there's no dealer in Sweden for VAC. None in the whole Scandinavia actually. |
"Primaluna and Tannoy doesn't seem to be a good pair." You tried already? Anything under $3000-$6000 USD I'd go integrated. PS Audio www.perfect-sense.se not tubes but a lot of bang for your Krona. Unless you have an exceptional room and all the rest just listen to your music and enjoy. Put some power into those Tannoys! Best to Queen Silvia. |