Do you have both a Solid State and Tube System?

I'm going to have to give Constellation another listen. :)

Dpod4 said:
All tubes everywhere except my Constellation Centaur amp which is a perfect match with Magico S5 speakers and sounds like an set amp. Oh so delicate and ballsy at the same time.
Click to expand...
 
With Magico it is a match made in heaven. Can't speak to how it sounds with other speakers.
 
Albert said:
I use both tube and ss amps in my main system. I use the ss amp (Jeff Rowland model 5) for casual listening and HT. For music I usually use tube amps (either Ray Lumley M100 mono blocks or a Beard P100) as I find the sound more engaging. Perhaps tube amps work better with planar speakers.View attachment 6367
Click to expand...

Looks good Albert.
 
For me the tube system is great for when I have time to listen to tubes (warm-up and all that good stuff) and the SS system is for all of the times I don`t have the time. If that makes sense.
 
Thanks for the replies, all. Sounds like most of us, except the post about SS being an iPod :), are on a similar page with both systems.

I would love to hear a VAC amp with my old VAC pre since it was stated that they can bring out the best of both.

My systems are in 2 different rooms so many times it just depends on where I feel like sitting, but lately even though the SS setup is far lacking from my main setup in many areas, I have found myself really enjoying it. The older JM Labs speakers had not been driven with a powerful amp nor connected with real cables until I cobbled this together several months ago. Amazing $700 pair of speakers (1992?) for what they are.
 
Brian - if you can find a VAC PA100/100 and send it to VAC to be modded to the phi200 specs (or as close as possible) - that would be a killer amp for the money.
 
Mine is a combo .. SS amp and CD player and TT speed control, tubed preamp and phono stage and analogue turntable. You just gotta have tubes somewhere in there to get the beauty of the music to come through. But I agree, I like what a SS amp does for the speed and control.
 
Ok, now I'm thinking again (and you know what happens when I think..ha ha ha).
I love Steampunk and was looking at some stuff I can't afford in that respect and remembering that Geddy Lee of Rush is into Steampunk too (he had me with the first note he plucked on his Bass, but I digress).
Anyway, I got to thinking that I would like to have some Steampunk of my own and seeing that there are Steampunk PC items available, they are priced outside of the reach of most folk such as myself (although for the work involved to create them, I'd say the prices are more in line with reality) I thought. Wouldn't it be something to see a Steampunk Stereo system.
Then reading this thread again, it hit me: Hey, why not start by building a Tube based system. Tube gear looks Steampunk and some of it looks very Steampunk!

So now you guys have me thinking about getting my first (and most likely only) tube gear. It's your fault Brian my friend, you started it! (I'm only teasing).

Seriously though, like I said I've never heard a 100% tube based system and know next to nothing about it. I've heard a tube phono Preamp on a solid state based system, but that don't count and sounded horrible, but that's about it.
I'd like some good advice on getting into a tube based set up of course. I'd also like to know if there are inexpensive tube amps available that are safe and such. I know I can probably get a tube Phono preamp for an affordable inexpensive price, but I fear that it won't cut it if I hooked it up to a solid state amp I still won't have heard tubes. I could be wrong on that and please let me know if I am.
I know I'm probably leaving out more crucial info so let me know. I really need guidance if I'm going to do this. I would also need to save up even for inexpensive stuff because there are a couple of other things I need to take care of first, but not too major.

~Eric
 
BobM said:
Here's someplace to start... though I'm not all that certain about its signal to noise ratio, or it's ability to maintain a constant speed.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSiVWkk5zaQ
Click to expand...


Well, I don't need another TT and that unit is not for sale anyway, but it's cool to see it! Besides something like that would cost at least $20k, no doubt about it.
Build by the piece is the order of the day and perhaps starting with a tube amp is the right thing?
 
dlb2 said:
Tubes, tubes, beautiful tubes! How I love my tubes. But I do have a solid-state system as well. It's called an iPod. :)
Click to expand...

Me loves tubes :heart::heart::heart:but I also have an SS system. It's called a Bose wave radio/cd player:roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:
 
OUCH! Tough crowd. :)

Hey Bob - have you ever compared the 275 MKVI to the 2301's? Curious which you like better and why?

Mike
 
JBLfan said:
For me the tube system is great for when I have time to listen to tubes (warm-up and all that good stuff) and the SS system is for all of the times I don`t have the time. If that makes sense.
Click to expand...

Ironically my tube system warms up faster than my SS.
 
I figure if I'm used to waiting for my PC to boot up, I'd have no trouble waiting for tubes to warm up. I'm pretty patient about most stuff anyway.
 
Eric, Line Magnetic or Prima Luna spring to mind. These punch way above their weight but may still be more than you are willing to pay.
 
Mike said:
Brian - if you can find a VAC PA100/100 and send it to VAC to be modded to the phi200 specs (or as close as possible) - that would be a killer amp for the money.
Click to expand...

They were the ones that were made about the same time as my pre? 90s?

I saw a few 30/30s out there but will keep an eye out. Kevin, at VAC is great to work with. He spent about 30 minutes talking to me about tubes and helped me properly retube my Pre.
 
sharkmouth said:
Eric, Line Magnetic or Prima Luna spring to mind. These punch way above their weight but may still be more than you are willing to pay.
Click to expand...

Thank you. Yes, I'm looking at Line Magnetic. I just took a look at Prima Luna you suggested and they have one, the Proloque Four at a very good list price right now, but unfortunately it goes up another $300 soon as I am not ready to purchase right now. It's also pretty ugly, sadly.
Like I said, I need education in tubes and such and need to establish a plan if I'm going to dip my toe in the tube waters. I do want to see what is available for a person of my means though so I can make a plan if possible.
 
MusicDirector said:
So now you guys have me thinking about getting my first (and most likely only) tube gear. It's your fault Brian my friend, you started it! (I'm only teasing).


~Eric
Click to expand...

Eric, to be technically honest, my main system is not 100% tubes. The Counterpoint amp is Hybrid so it uses both tubes for input(me thinks) and SS for output, with tube Rectifiers in there somewhere. I don't fully understand the whole topology of it.

There are some pretty decent smaller less expensive gear out there. Steve Monte of Quest for Sound has is own Sound Quest line he builds himself. He has a minimalist little integrated at 15wpc that when paired to some high eficiency speakers, like Omegas or anything 90db and up, it kicks. He also has his own CD player, that can get a custom tube Mod from Granite Audio. Plenty other what I call affordable integrateds out there like the Sound Quest @ $1350 With Headphone circuit.

Quest For Sound - High End Audio
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top