ARCHIVED FORUM -- March 2012 to February 2022READ ONLY FORUM
This is the second Archived Forum which was active between 1st March 2012 and 23rd February 2022
Does anyone have any experience of Tube Amps - I am tempted to try one - currently I have a BM6500 connected to Beoviox Penta's in my main system and it sounds very good, also have a BM1500 >S45's and a BM2400-2 >S60's - I stream via apple TV or airport express and a DAC, for vinyl I use a BG1500 with 20EN and tend to swap things around - just wondering if it is a total waste of money or if it would be better than what I currently have - looking at spending around £300 on a chinese one. It's just one of those irritable nagging things that followed getting an old valve radio up and running with an airport express - it sounds really really clear which is why I started wondering about Valve amps. OR would I better off waiting and try and source a BM4400 and have that with my BG4004 when it eventually runs properly?
Interested in anyones views if they have tried and compared.
Tube amps can sound very good, some very well designed ones sound very similar to solid state, most have a kind of warm, smooth, ear pleasing sound that while perhaps not as accurate as solid state can still sound very pleasing. It's like the LP/digital thing, LPs are not as accurate, but some of their faults can be very musical sounding.
For me, I have had tube gear. The system I had before getting my BS9000/BL8000 was a Dynaco FM3 tube FM tuner, an Audio by Van Alstine Super PAS 3i tube preamp, and a McIntosh MC240 40 w/ch tube amp, driving NHT speakers. When I first got the BL9000 I ran it into the tube amp and NHT speakers. Then I upgraded to the BL8000s and traded the tube amp with a friend for a Rolleiflex TLR camera.
Which is better is totally a matter of taste, but I always try and keep at least one tube amp setup around, in my den, because it's kind of like technological archaeology. Tube amps are generally less "accurate" and run hotter, and require more maintenance, as tubes wear out, but they can be fun. For my main system though I prefer the ease of use, accuracy, and reliability of solid state, particularly my B&O setup, currently a Playmaker, Beogram 3000 tangential with MMC2, BS9000, and BL9s.
I find that whenever I listen to most tube setups, while I find they sound good initially, eventually I tire of the colorations they induce, but that's just me, I have friends who have all tube setups who will never go solid state because to their ears solid state doesn't sound as good.
Chinese amps can be good or bad, I have a little 7.5 watt Chinese integrated that's running 6L6GCs in single ended mode. I've spec'd it out and it performs fairly well frequency response wise, high on distortion but mainly even order so it makes it sound warm. Some Chinese gear I've read about have been iffy with respect to safety, tubes have high voltages to bias the tubes and some of the amps didn't isolate that well, so make sure if you go that route to check reviews from people (of course if they were electrocuted I guess they wouldn't leave a review!).
So, if I were pressed to give a recommendation it's that I'd not give up my main setup but getting a tube setup to play with would be well worth it. Use it in another room, or as a second system with some good, efficient small speakers. Good luck with whatever you decide!
Jeff
I'm afraid I'm recovering from the BeoVirus.
Everybody needs a second rig - for playing
MM
There is a tv - and there is a BV
Agree MM, and thanks Jeff for the advice, I am going to try one for my study with the BG1500 and S60's - my problem is that I get one setup sounding good and then start messing with the others and can't stop moving things around - but it is fun!
I have my play system, and used to move things around more than I do now. Actually I have several play systems in my den/workroom, but since I went B&O my main system has been remarkably stable. I got the BL8000s in 1997, and just last year moved them to the dining room as I had moved to a much larger house and they were lost in the huge new living room, so then I got the BL9s.
So, I fully understand!
I go along with all that is said so far - I have some of the older tube driven B&O amps and they are very warm, lovely sound. However, I'd still look out for a BM4400 as they are absolutely wonderful.
Dave.