2. amps-preamps
  3. 1103816815

Tube Newbie

I have been running a fairly beautiful 5.1 surround set-up over the last few years, and have grown a bit weary of my 2-channel quality. While I love the quality of surround sources (DVD, HDTV, ProLogic II), I tend to get listening fatigue with dynamic music. My goal is to warm-up 2-channel, making it more itimate witout wiping out the detail and punch in my 5.1 sources.

A good friend has suggested a CD player with a tubed output stage, like the Ah line carried by Upscale Audio. I am also considering a VTL 2-channel amp (around $2K) to drive the L/Rs of my system.

I am wondering how difficult it is to deal with tubes. I have read about "biasing" tube-based amps and have no idea what that intails.

My current system consists of: Gallo Reference 3s L/R, 7 channels of amplification from Parasound Halo (A52/A23), Def Tech SuperCube II sub, Gallo Dues for the surrounds and a soon-to-be-upgraded B&W LCR600 for the center channel. The Gallo Reference 3s have the second coil of the woofer bi-amped via an Outlaw Audio ICBM (hence the 7-channels of amplification). Processing is via an older Rotel RSX-1055 (using the pre-amp outs) while I figure out what pre/pro to get. The DVD/CD player is an Integra 5.3 using the analog outs for 2-channel.

Thanks,
Ted
teonyc

Showing 1 response by jphii

jphii
485 posts
 
Dealing with tubes is not a hassle considering some of the other lengths we go to in our systems. The easiest way to deal with the biasing problem is to buy an amp(s) that does it for you. Also, every tube cd player I've heard sounds better than SS at this end of the scale. The Ah! is nice. I have an Audio Note ANCD2. I've never even screwed with the tube in it, I like the sound the way it is. I think the Audio Note DACs should give you much of the same sound.

You have a lot of options you can try that are on the inexpensive side. Plus, you can usally get most of your money back if you buy used, in case you don't like the sound. But having a "bias" towards tubes myself, I'm guessing you just might like it.

FWIW,

Joe
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