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My first Tube Amplifier

I have a 40 years of audio history starting with Garrard Turntable, Fisher Intergrated(SS), ADS bookself speaker on 1978.

But I started using tube amplifier on 1999.

Since then I had been using only tube amplifier in my main system.

My last SS main amplifier was Krell KSA 150 to drive Apogee Duetta Signature speakers.


http://www.jadis-electronics.com/photos/ja500/45/3/ja500.jpg

My first tube amplifier was Jadis 500 which comprised of 4 pieces weighing 120 lb each.

B&W 801 driven by Jadis 500 gave most deep and powerful bass at my home.

But it generated too much heat so it was hard to use during summer.

It was memorable experience to use it for 4 years.

I may not go back to such monster tube amplifier again.



How about you?

What is your first tube amplifier?



I bet two cents on no one had used larger one as the first tube amplifier than mine.


128x128shkong78
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,487 posts
 
I neglected to mention.....Brooks’ tech Tom Carione was in the shop on Wednesdays and Saturdays (and remains so, the shop now run by Brooks’ widow Sheila), and Saturday was my regular visiting day. I can’t tell you how many times I would enter the shop and see Tom at his work bench, a Jadis amp sitting upside down on it, taken apart for repair. Not once did I see a Music Reference amp like that! I also never saw a MR amp on the used product shelves, but lots (and lots) of ARC’s. Tom showed me the scorches around the output tube sockets on the circuit board in all of them. Make of that what you will.
melody05
7 posts
 
Have been switching between SS and Tube last 15 years, finally Tube has kept me engaged with lush and warmness.Currently  own Audio note Oto and Luxman MQ-38
fishcat1's avatar
fishcat1
26 posts
 
I started with a Jolida 502 Tube integrated.  Now I have an ARC VS115, REF 5 preamp and a TAD-60 EL34 push pull amp.  I've dabbled in Class D but find myself right back with tubes.  Can't live without tubes in the chain somewhere.  I've been a semi professional musician for over 20 years and tubes produce "music" to theses ears.  Solid state leaves me cold and uncomfortable over the long haul. 
shkong78's avatar
shkong78 OP
1,463 posts
 
@firstcat1

I agree with you tubes produce "music" to ears.

Tube amp tend to give the impression that live music is played in front of you.
lowtubes
100 posts
 
Don’t want to stray far from this topic but can I get opinions on the best power tubes people like and what is it about their sound quality that makes them sound good to you. I personally like EL34’s because of the way they present  detail and resolution in a non aggressive way. My #1 tube is the 300b because it sounds more like music than any other power tube I’ve heard. What are your favorites?
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