2. amps-preamps
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tube amp for home theater AND 2 channel?

I posted a while back about how I was trying to do 2 separate systems in 1 room. One multichannel for home theater/gaming and 1 tube system for 2 channel. I think I decided that doing 2 separate systems is too much for me now, so I’m going to dial it back down to one system: Onkyo AVR, Monolith 5 channel amp, Klipsch La Scala for the mains and probably some other klipsch heritage speakers for center and rears.

Part of the hesitation about getting rid of the dedicated 2 channel system was that would mean probably not using a tube amp, something I’d wanted to try for a very long time.

But today I thought, what’s stopping me from using a 2 channel tube amp connected to the AVR pre-outs for Left and Right mains? Then....when I go Pure Audio or Direct thru the AVR from the Bluesound node, I would still get the benefit of tubes into the La Scalas, something I’ve wanted for a long time.

But....this tube amp would then be hooked up the whole time watching movies and playing games. Is this an issue? Is there any downside to this? I’m probably in the range of $1500-$2k for a tube amp. if I have a tube amp on for 5-6-7 hours playing games or watching movies, am I going to be drowning in tube costs?

128x128johns21
holmz's avatar
holmz
2,328 posts
 

Or run a tube preamp, and SS amps.

The HT side can bypass the preamp on some tube preamps, or at least if the preamp is on, then those preamp tubes last a lot longer than power tubes.

russ69's avatar
russ69
3,360 posts
 

A 2K tube amp hooked up to an AVR, isn't going to be that great. Burning expensive power tubes for long hours isn't going to be so great either. If I was working with a limited budget and I was driving LaScalas, I would try my Rogue Sphinx. It just has preamp tubes that will last a long time and a class D power section. It's tone would sound good with the LaScalas. Best of both designs in one package. 

soix
8,768 posts
 

Using a tube amp for TV and HT is utter madness and a waste of tubes IMHO.  You don’t need tubes to watch friggin’ TV.  If I’m you, I’d use solid state stuff for watching movies/TV and just switch in the tube stuff when I wanna get serious about listening to 2 channel.  There are some tube preamps I think from VAC, Backert, and Rogue that may deactivate the tubes when in HT bypass mode,but they’re few and far between and will get you some tube magic, but the tube amp thing is a non starter for me.  Burning amp tubes for TV?  No way!!!  Best of luck. 

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