2. amps-preamps
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Tube amp/ preamp advice

Hi everyone, I have bene listening to a Technics 1200 SL with a MM Nagaoka 110 cart for a number of years now. Primarily, I listen to rock, hip hop, electronic and jazz.

I am a purist at heart, and have always longed for the analog qualities of a tube amp and preamp. Looking to drive a set of la scalas with a woofer in tow. The space I will be moving my setup to is a loft above a 2800 square foot garage, so the la scalas seem like a good choice to really push some decibels.

Currently I am playing my technics through a pioneer receiver (cringe), however I am looking to go to a purely tube setup - I love the way my tube guitar amp sounds - its lively and warm qualities.

I'm here to ask for recommendations on a tube amp/ preamp config. I have been researching this for weeks and the amount of information/ selections are daunting. I keep jumping back and forth between integrated amps like the Linear Tube Audio, or MA352 but I really don't think an integrated is a future proof solution. I'm concerned that I will want more flexibility and be trapped with the integrated amps components.

Thank you for any suggestions

John 

mulboost

Showing 2 responses by larryi

larryi
4,188 posts
 

You need to actually hear your candidate amplifiers.  Tube amps are WAY more variable in sound than high quality solid state amps.  I personally don’t like the MC 275 amp, in particular, anything made in the past 25 years or so.  They sound so dead to me.  Obviously, a lot of others like them, do it is a personal preference.  

For the money you are budgeting, you should consider an integrated amp.  With some designs of amps, an integrated amp is essentially the same as the power amp with added input jacks, a source selector and a volume control—it costs relatively little to turn the amp into an integrated amp and the buyer gets some of the savings.  It would help to know what features you need in your amp, like, remote control, balance control etc.

larryi
4,188 posts
 

If you don't need remote control, I would agree with jond that Audio Note Oto or Soro integrated amps are great choices in warmer sounding tube gear.  My absolute favorite in your price range is the Synthesis Audio A 40 (40 wpc) integrated amp that includes a very good DAC; it also has remote control of volume and input selection).  The A 40 employs KT66 tubes.  I generally like amps that run 6l6 (like the Soro) or KT 66 (like the A 40) and EL 84 tubes (like the Oto).  I am less enamored with higher power tubes like the KT 88 or 6550, or KT 120.  

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