Looking for Advice w/ Tube Amplifier

[Jez Mur]

Hi all,

I'm hoping to get some advice on a tube amplifier for my home audio set up. I've wanted to swap out my SS amp for a tube for years to play my record collection ever since a friend introduced me to his, and since one of the channels on my SS recently died, I thought now could be a good time. I love the warm, immersive capabilities of the tube amp, but I've gotten mixed advice on what would work with my current equipment. My speakers are the Bach model from Vienna Acoustics.

I'm thinking about the Reisong A10 EL 34. The more expensive option I'm looking at is the BoyuuRange Reisong A50 MKIII 300B. These both seem to be high-quality and affordable entrees into tube listening, but I've heard that the A10 works better with bookshelf speakers w/ higher sensitivity. Another contact told me the A10 would work, but only if I don't listen to my music loud. I'm not quite sure what that means...I like the option of being able to crank it when the kids aren't home, but otherwise I want some power for the music to carry from my living room (where my turntable is) to the rest of the first floor, particularly when entertaining (I'm in a cape, so not a huge house but not tiny either).

Please let me know what you think and if you have suggestions!

Jez

 

[Nyjblbob]

Look for a deal on a used Rogue Integrated amp. Best for Quality and Value
Made in the USA and supported by them.

 

[Katalyst]

I've wanted to swap out my SS amp for a tube for years to play my record collection ever since a friend introduced me to his

What did your friend have for amplifier and speakers?

 

[richiem46]

If you are willing to consider a Vintage amplifier an HH Scott LK-72B would be a nice fit. It is about 35W per channel which would drive your speakers nicely and they are just nice sounding amplifiers.

 

[zackthedog]

I would not recommend either of those amplifiers. The 300B is poorly designed and doesn't reach full power without significant modifications, and the A10 really won't be enough for your speakers. The Wilsenton 300B amp is a much better amp if you want single-ended, but I think you'd be better off with a push-pull amp, like the Wilsenton R8 or a Black Ice Fusion.

 

[nerdorama]

A used Primaluna would be a decent choice. Pay the AK subscriber fee of $25 and post a want to buy ad in Barter Town. IMO a much better way to get something good at a fair price.

 

[CohibaJoe]

Hi all,

I'm hoping to get some advice on a tube amplifier for my home audio set up. I've wanted to swap out my SS amp for a tube for years to play my record collection ever since a friend introduced me to his, and since one of the channels on my SS recently died, I thought now could be a good time. I love the warm, immersive capabilities of the tube amp, but I've gotten mixed advice on what would work with my current equipment. My speakers are the Bach model from Vienna Acoustics.

I'm thinking about the Reisong A10 EL 34. The more expensive option I'm looking at is the BoyuuRange Reisong A50 MKIII 300B. These both seem to be high-quality and affordable entrees into tube listening, but I've heard that the A10 works better with bookshelf speakers w/ higher sensitivity. Another contact told me the A10 would work, but only if I don't listen to my music loud. I'm not quite sure what that means...I like the option of being able to crank it when the kids aren't home, but otherwise I want some power for the music to carry from my living room (where my turntable is) to the rest of the first floor, particularly when entertaining (I'm in a cape, so not a huge house but not tiny either).

Please let me know what you think and if you have suggestions!

Jez

What is the price range you're looking to spend?

 

[TriodeLuvr]

I would never buy a Chinese amp. That would be a sacrifice, not an asset. For new equipment, Elekit and Bottlehead get a thumbs-up.

Jack

 

[kward]

Look carefully at the impedance curves for your Vienna Acoustic speakers. The link you referenced above says 6 ohms nominal, 90 dB efficient, and anything as little as 30 watts can drive them. Taking that at face value, those amps you listed above are quite underpowered.

But that's only half the story. It also depends on room size and the impedance and phase curves of the Vienna Acoustics speakers. You can get an idea of what I'm referring to by looking at the many graphs produced by Stereophile as they measure loudspeakers. Tube amps (especially low powered ones in the 10 to 12 watt range) will have an easier time driving a pair of speakers if: 1) the speakers have high sensitivity (greater than 90 dB), 2) the speaker's impedance curve doesn't deviate a lot from the tap the speaker is connected to, 3) the phase doesn't shift muc (say + or - 30 degrees from zero) over the audio bandwidth.

Here's one data point from my own experience: I once had a pair of 92 dB efficient, 8 ohm nominal, bookshelf speakers from a fairly well known Canadian manufacturer. I drove those speakers with a 12 watt EL-84 Push Pull amp. That combo was "DOA", absolutely not synergistic, did not work well together. Oh I got music to come out of the cones, but it was not at all an enjoyable experience. It was because those speakers, while high sensitivity, had large impedance swings down low, e.g., down to 2 ohms in some parts of the audio band and with relatively large phase swings. I then swapped out those speakers for a less expensive pair of British low budget bookshelf speakers, 90 dB efficient, but with a much flatter impedance curve and less dramatic swings in phase over the frequency range. That's when magic happened, it was a great pairing for a low wattage tube amp.

 

[dcgibby]

If you really want to go with tubes I would consider a complete system change to provide better synergy. Those speakers are quite nice but not very suitable for a tube system. You need something with a higher sensitivity to work with the relatively low powered tubes. Take a look at Tekton Design (https://tektondesign.com/). They have several models specifically designed for low power amps. I also agree with several posters above that you might prefer something from Rogue or PrimaLuna. They are very high quality and big bang for the buck. Also you can save money with a kit. All of my Elekit amps have been excellent. I listen to a TU-8900 all day most days and I never get tired of it. I realize all of this is probably over your current budget, but once you go down this rabbit hole you realize what you originally got is unsatisfying and you wind up spending more in the long run to get what you really want. Don't ask me how I know.

 

[peterh]

Hi all,

I'm hoping to get some advice on a tube amplifier for my home audio set up. I've wanted to swap out my SS amp for a tube for years to play my record collection ever since a friend introduced me to his, and since one of the channels on my SS recently died, I thought now could be a good time. I love the warm, immersive capabilities of the tube amp, but I've gotten mixed advice on what would work with my current equipment. My speakers are the Bach model from Vienna Acoustics.

I'm thinking about the Reisong A10 EL 34. The more expensive option I'm looking at is the BoyuuRange Reisong A50 MKIII 300B. These both seem to be high-quality and affordable entrees into tube listening, but I've heard that the A10 works better with bookshelf speakers w/ higher sensitivity. Another contact told me the A10 would work, but only if I don't listen to my music loud. I'm not quite sure what that means...I like the option of being able to crank it when the kids aren't home, but otherwise I want some power for the music to carry from my living room (where my turntable is) to the rest of the first floor, particularly when entertaining (I'm in a cape, so not a huge house but not tiny either).

Please let me know what you think and if you have suggestions!

Jez

You could try a used Dynaco SCA35 that is in good shape. You might need to replace the EL84 but
a matched quad is $88 https://www.eurotubes.com/store/pc/EL84-Matched-Quad-56p136.htm
is relativly cheap.
A used SCA35 could cost around $500 and provided it's undamaged you could resell it if you
need more power.

 

[dcgibby]

Another option to consider is pairing a new (used) SS amp with a tube phono stage or preamp with a phono stage. The SS amp provides the punch needed for your speakers and the preamp provides the tubey sound you're looking for. Something like a Project Tube Box or a Vincent PHO 701.

 

[TriodeLuvr]

Another option to consider is pairing a new (used) SS amp with a tube phono stage or preamp with a phono stage. The SS amp provides the punch needed for your speakers and the preamp provides the tubey sound you're looking for. Something like a Project Tube Box or a Vincent PHO 701.

Sorry, but I think that's the worst possible option. It has been my experience that a tube-type power stage is critical to achieving the sonic benefit of having tubes in the system. There may be some SS amps that compete well in this regard, but IMO they are few and far between.

Jack

 

[Lavane]

Look carefully at the impedance curves for your Vienna Acoustic speakers. The link you referenced above says 6 ohms nominal, 90 dB efficient, and anything as little as 30 watts can drive them. Taking that at face value, those amps you listed above are quite underpowered.

But that's only half the story. It also depends on room size and the impedance and phase curves of the Vienna Acoustics speakers. You can get an idea of what I'm referring to by looking at the many graphs produced by Stereophile as they measure loudspeakers. Tube amps (especially low powered ones in the 10 to 12 watt range) will have an easier time driving a pair of speakers if: 1) the speakers have high sensitivity (greater than 90 dB), 2) the speaker's impedance curve doesn't deviate a lot from the tap the speaker is connected to, 3) the phase doesn't shift muc (say + or - 30 degrees from zero) over the audio bandwidth.

Here's one data point from my own experience: I once had a pair of 92 dB efficient, 8 ohm nominal, bookshelf speakers from a fairly well known Canadian manufacturer. I drove those speakers with a 12 watt EL-84 Push Pull amp. That combo was "DOA", absolutely not synergistic, did not work well together. Oh I got music to come out of the cones, but it was not at all an enjoyable experience. It was because those speakers, while high sensitivity, had large impedance swings down low, e.g., down to 2 ohms in some parts of the audio band and with relatively large phase swings. I then swapped out those speakers for a less expensive pair of British low budget bookshelf speakers, 90 dB efficient, but with a much flatter impedance curve and less dramatic swings in phase over the frequency range. That's when magic happened, it was a great pairing for a low wattage tube amp.

Impedance swings do matter for sure. I have a pair of 90db speakers that can swing down 2 ohms also. My 17wpc tube amp sounds really bad with them. Very dull. They sound just fine with my bigger amps though.

Sorry, but I think that's the worst possible option. It has been my experience that a tube-type power stage is critical to achieving the sonic benefit of having tubes in the system. There may be some SS amps that compete well in this regard, but IMO they are few and far between.

Jack

I've tried it both ways. Tube preamp, SS amp, and SS preamp and tube amp.
In the end, neither did it for me. Although, the Marantz model 33 SS preamp I restored did sound pretty darn good with my VTA ST-70 tube amp.
But all tube does sound better.