i love the musical paradise amp. i used 6l6 which they recomended for quiet headphone playback and then switched to gold lion kt 77 and got a much bigger sound thru my open baffles. the kt's seem not as tubey but still exlnt. the advantage with this amp is getting to choose between various styles of tubes which is like getting 4 amps for one price. with the money saved you can but exlnt tubes
Tube integrated amp under $1000
Getting close to taking a plunge on a small tube integrated amp preferably under $1000. Open for suggestions. Small size and WAF matters. The two leading contenders I have actually heard are Glow Audio Amp 1 and Jolida fx10.
Only knock I know of against either is Jolida runs hot and can shorten lifespan. How has that turned out for owners?
Will run 90db small monitors initially and needs a headphone Jack as well. Ability to drive lower impedance headphones like Sennheiser Momentum without noise or hum desired.
Only knock I know of against either is Jolida runs hot and can shorten lifespan. How has that turned out for owners?
Will run 90db small monitors initially and needs a headphone Jack as well. Ability to drive lower impedance headphones like Sennheiser Momentum without noise or hum desired.
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Tube amp experiment has been put off again. The Triangle speakers I would have used have found a happy home in my second system running off the most impressive Bel Canto C5i digital Class D integrated that has everything needed in a small box and sounds fabulous as well especially with the more efficient Triangles. Outstanding headphone amp as well. This setup is now sounding the best it has in years and can’t imagine dissecting it again at this point or adding yet another limited system on a tight budget that would only get limited usage. I do have some very nice less tube friendly gear siting idle at this point. Might need to do some house cleaning and acquire some funding there first before doing anything else new. The interest to try different things never does end it seems. |
Mapman, From your other posts i know you use a computer as a source. Great for a multi system person. Sounds like you need a tube headphone amp, preamp combination. Maybe one that includes DAC. I am thinking this is what I need as well. One way I found around the DAC issue is to use a HRT music streamer connected directly to the inputs of my Schiit Vahalla via dual male RCA connectors I found on Ebay. The Vahalla lacks pre outs however Hi Mapman If your looking for a piece of kit that fits the above bill you should (if you can) audition a Quad PA One headphone/preamp/USB DAC it would fit your computer audio set up excellently Retails in the UK for £1200 new, there's a "open box" on e bay for £750 which in my eyes is excellent value for money. Its been reviewed very favourably in both of the UKs leading hi fi magazines (HI FI World and HI FI News) I don't know of its availability in the US but it has transformed my headphone listening. I use it with Seinnheiser 800s and Audio Technica W5000s. I also own the considerably more expensive Bryston Headphone amp and the little Quad kicks its Butt Cheers Mark |
Mapman, From your other posts i know you use a computer as a source. Great for a multi system person. Sounds like you need a tube headphone amp, preamp combination. Maybe one that includes DAC. I am thinking this is what I need as well. One way I found around the DAC issue is to use a HRT music streamer connected directly to the inputs of my Schiit Vahalla via dual male RCA connectors I found on Ebay. The Vahalla lacks pre outs however. |
I've had some of my vintage stuff checked out/repaired by a guy named Scott who owns SG Custom Sound in Douglaston NY. He's a musician, tech, and carries Jolida products. I was interested in a piece years ago and when I asked him if I should be cautious of Chinese manufacturing he replied that they build according to the specs/materials they're instructed to, so... If someone with his background saw no issue with it neither could I. Cool guy, cool shop. Just a third party endorsement perhaps more valuable than mine! |
If you can get the Dared VP-80 (link below) for $1K you'll never look back...even with stock tubes it destroys everything I've heard in the sub-$3K category. I deeply regret selling mine and going back to SS gear, to be honest, but financial circumstances dictated it. While the Dared i30 is certainly good, the VP-80 is orders of magnitude better. It is genuinely superb. https://www.audiogon.com/listings/tube-dared-audio-vp-80-tube-integrated-amplifier-clean-2016-03-17-... |
I have the following for sale - a very nice int tube amp for $550: http://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649257633-vista-audio-i34-integrated-amplifier-black-knobs/ |
Thanks for the input from those who posted. Actually, I must re-think this a bit. Wife will not be happy with any wires showing in our living room. Go figure? Given that I’m thinking going portable with a small headphone amp only, maybe one with tubes even although that might result in me buying another pair of good quality headphones with higher impedance in any case. This might be the best solution to add music to that one room in my house missing it currently. That and maybe a pair of small good quality active studio monitors. |
Mik I'm considering the Musical Paradise and had read that. Have never heard it though. I wonder if it would have hum with 18 ohm Sennheiser Momentum phones? bb I heard GLow at Capital Audiofest a few years back and the system it was in was one of the best I thought. This is for a third system that would not be played too loud so I'm thinking I can get by. Currently using a vintage 15 watt SS Yamaha receiver there with very good results |