Thinking of trying tubes...


Hello, everyone,

I've been a long time solid state guy, and I'm nowhere nere a dealer to take a listen for myself, so need some advice.

For a few years, I've used a Pass Labs X250 amplifier with a set of Dunlavy SC-IVs. I am also a guitarist, and have always used tube gear for my guitar playing--mainly a marshall for crunch and a fender twin for clean for those of you who know what they are. I have always felt that the tube sounds much more rich and present with the guitar stuff, but I know NOTHING about where to go or what to try for my audio system and would like some suggestions.

I can spend about 3500 or so and I'll go used because you get more for your audio dollar that way. Now, given what most of you know about the Pass sound, and the general relationship a powerhouse like that would have with the Dunlavys, any suggestions on where I might want to start?

If you would feel more comfortable, please feel free to email me!

Thanks all!

Roland
rnbowers

Showing 1 response by kurt_tank

If you really want to drive the Dunlavy's right, I would stretch your budget a little bit and get the VTL MB-450 monoblock amps. (Used they go for around $4,500, but you can sometimes talk the sellers down a little, closer to $4K.) They have lots of power to really get the most out of those speakers. (The bass response of the MB-450s is about as good as it gets for tube amps, unless you can spend double or triple the amount.) These amps sound really good, and have a nice touch of tube bloom in the mid-range. Not so much as to be considered bloated by any means, but just a nice touch. The treble is nicely extended and refined. Soundstaging and imaging is excellent as well. A true top notch tube amp in my book.

Cavaet time:
One, They run HOT. They will raise the temperature in your room several degrees, unless it is air conditioned.
Two, While they have very good bass response, (I consider it to be great bass for a tube amp), it can be bettered by equal quality solid state monoblock amps. (But then said solid state monoblocks don't have that nice mid-range either!)
Three, they have 10 tubes per monoblock amp, so retubing them can get a bit expensive, as can tube rolling. (But hey, that is what tube amps are all about, right?!)

Good Luck in your search!