My first system was a Zenith portable (Victrola). This was 1958 so of course it was all tubes. Eventually I stopped using it when I was given the OK to use my father's system. Bozak B 103s, Stereo 70, HH Scott preamp and tuner. Rec o cut TT with a huge ESL arm. And the best part, an Ampex Tape machine also all tubes. Back then you could get prerecorded tapes of just about anything and boy did they sound good. In 1967 I built my first real system with a Dyna Stereo 70 and PAS 3X.
The only tube equipment I have owned since are a Marantz 7C preamp
and several ARC phono amps. From the Stereo 70 I made a huge jump to the FuzzLinear 700. Then I got into ESLs and my first ones, Acoustat Xs came with their own special high voltage tube amps. Trying to compare them with other amps is hard. They did what they were designed for very well. With the addition of sub woofers they were punchy enough. In 1982 I got a set of Krell KMA 100s and have only owned class A SS amps since. Regular tube amps just do not work well with ESLs. Now there is Atma-Sphere which I have not been able to hear yet but are certainly a consideration as ESL owners seem to be very happy with them.
The only tube equipment I have owned since are a Marantz 7C preamp
and several ARC phono amps. From the Stereo 70 I made a huge jump to the FuzzLinear 700. Then I got into ESLs and my first ones, Acoustat Xs came with their own special high voltage tube amps. Trying to compare them with other amps is hard. They did what they were designed for very well. With the addition of sub woofers they were punchy enough. In 1982 I got a set of Krell KMA 100s and have only owned class A SS amps since. Regular tube amps just do not work well with ESLs. Now there is Atma-Sphere which I have not been able to hear yet but are certainly a consideration as ESL owners seem to be very happy with them.