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Where is the best place to put tubes in the system?

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doug s.

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Re: Where is the best place to put tubes in the system?
« Reply #20 on: 24 Dec 2010, 09:18 pm »
i am definitely in the tube preamp camp.  i have tried quite a few tube & s/s amps, and quite a few tube & s/s preamps.  while i do prefer all tubes, (except s/s for subwoofers), if i had to give up tubes somewhere, it would definitely be the amps, not the preamp.

but, you need to find a good tubed preamp, that is neutral...

ymmv,

doug s.
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Hugh

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Re: Where is the best place to put tubes in the system?
« Reply #21 on: 24 Dec 2010, 10:05 pm »
Doug is correct.

Go for your tube pre-amp.
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doug s.

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Re: Where is the best place to put tubes in the system?
« Reply #22 on: 24 Dec 2010, 10:32 pm »
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eclein

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Re: Where is the best place to put tubes in the system?
« Reply #23 on: 24 Dec 2010, 10:55 pm »
JLM...did you figure out what pre your getting?? I think your budget is probably bigger then mine was but the Tube DAC-09 does me very well. Quiet, dead quiet, solid state output or tube output (one 5670)...anyway if you get any type that has a 5670 tube in it give me a shout, I've checked out alot and have had excellent success.
 Happy Holidays :thumb:
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JakeJ

Re: Where is the best place to put tubes in the system?
« Reply #24 on: 25 Dec 2010, 12:09 am »
I will concur with most of the recs so far.  I've heard the Mapletree and agree with Josh's assessment.  I'll throw in a shout out for Niteshade Audio's Beacon Two.  For preamps based on the noval (nine-pin) tubes the Audible Illusions are excellent and you might think about a 12AX7 or 12AU7 family of tubes you may like a used Audio Research, VTL, Manley, or possibly a Valve Amplification Company preamp.

I will say I STRONGLY recommend against Melos.  PM for my reasons.

Jake
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werd

Re: Where is the best place to put tubes in the system?
« Reply #25 on: 25 Dec 2010, 12:31 am »
when i started to get an itch for tubes i immediately found the benefits of pre amps over everything else. You can find excellent examples of scaled down tube preamps (basic preamps) that will outperform sonically way more expensive more complicated pre's you get from mainstream brands. IMO a lot of what we pay for comes in the form of complicating the preamp for the purpose of convenience. Remote controls and gated switching seems to make things more expensive as opposed to sonic integrity. Iow you can get a really nice sounding active pre amps if you don't mind no bells and whistles. 

I own a Response audio Bella Max thats a great example of this, but i am sure all the builders on this site are very good in preamps. Including Nitesade and AVA.
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doug s.

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Re: Where is the best place to put tubes in the system?
« Reply #26 on: 25 Dec 2010, 12:32 am »
jake,tell us your anti-melos stance here!  iirc, you had some reliability issues.  yes, this is the one thing that keeps folks away from the gear.  but if you have one in working order, or know someone who can work on them, they are killer sounding units.  i have been fortunate w/mine; it was upgraded by wil guering, (may he rest in peace), and it's given me trouble-free service for the more than 10 years i have owned it.  it's a keeper...  and, mark porzilli, one of the original founders, will be opening up a melos restoration and upgrade shop, hopefully this coming year.

ymmv,

doug s.

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JLM

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Re: Where is the best place to put tubes in the system?
« Reply #27 on: 25 Dec 2010, 02:24 am »
I wish I knew more about tubes and various designs of tube pre/power amps.   :scratch:

I barely made it through Introduction to Electrical Engineering.   :oops:

Two pre-amps I'm looking at are the Mapletree 2A and the Decware CSP2+.  They appear to be totally different in design and the tubes used.  How's a mother's boy to decide??
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denjo

Re: Where is the best place to put tubes in the system?
« Reply #28 on: 25 Dec 2010, 02:28 am »
First choice - tube preamp
Second choice - tube DAC

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lonewolfny42

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Re: Where is the best place to put tubes in the system?
« Reply #29 on: 25 Dec 2010, 05:04 am »
Quote from: JLM on 25 Dec 2010, 02:24 am
Two pre-amps I'm looking at are the Mapletree 2A and the Decware CSP2+.  They appear to be totally different in design and the tubes used.  How's a mother's boy to decide??

Since you've been a member here for some time...I'm sure you may have seen all the happy Mapletree owners posting reviews.....it's a good preamp to start with... :wink:

Look around in here...
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satfrat

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Re: Where is the best place to put tubes in the system?
« Reply #30 on: 25 Dec 2010, 05:24 am »
I'll throw in with both Josh & Lonewolf, I've heard the Mapletree tube pre in many different systems at the NY RAVE gatherings and it's always sounded great and usually as good as or better than the $$$ preamps that it get compared against. And a tube Dac is another quick & painless way to inject some tube love into your sound. The EE Dac is both excellent sounding in all the systems I've heard it in including my own and easy on the wallet. I happen to like the MDHT Havana tube Dac myself.  :thumb:
 
Honorable mention goes to my Butler tube hybrid amps which I absolutely love but they will hurt your wallet.
 
Cheers,
Robin
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jimdgoulding

Re: Where is the best place to put tubes in the system?
« Reply #31 on: 25 Dec 2010, 06:38 am »
Pre, imo. 
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bunky

Re: Where is the best place to put tubes in the system?
« Reply #32 on: 25 Dec 2010, 11:41 am »
A SAS Audiolabs 7A  would be a great choice for a entry level tube preamp as would a MapleTree 2A or the Odyssey Candela or a AVA tube pre for that matter.Niteshade Audio has a Beacon 2 tube preamp on tour that my friend George/Dangerbird says is pretty special.a Purity Audio Designs Basis tube pre would be a fantastic choice if you could fit it in your budget. all of these are what amounts to handmade preamplifiers made in north America by people with small companies who live this stuff  :thumb:
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TheChairGuy

Re: Where is the best place to put tubes in the system?
« Reply #33 on: 25 Dec 2010, 04:46 pm »
Quote from: JLM on 25 Dec 2010, 02:24 am
Two pre-amps I'm looking at are the Mapletree 2A and the Decware CSP2+.  They appear to be totally different in design and the tubes used.  How's a mother's boy to decide??

I've heard the Mapletree (4se I think, the one with phono stage) and it's staggeringly good for the $  :thumb:

So many Decware heads out there...but few I've heard from in all these years at AC.  The Zen Torii Mk. III is their 25watt push-pull design, two inputs and a gain control make it a fully functioning amp/preamp combo. I know you and I share a want for simple - that one does it  :)

It's fully dual mono straight back to the power supplies, strictly voltage regulated (bu tubes) and has a money back guarantee.  It's over your budget tho - at USD$2495.00.

http://www.decware.com/newsite/TORII.htm

Their mini Torii is almost sure to be under my tree one year.....too scintillating to buy a dual mono, single ended pentode with strict voltage regulation for $1500.  Just need 93db+ efficient speakers to blast out the meager 3.3 watts with authority.

It should be the equal or stronger sounding than your current 40watt chip amps with 90db + sensitive speakers.
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dB Cooper

Re: Where is the best place to put tubes in the system?
« Reply #34 on: 25 Dec 2010, 05:51 pm »
In response to the original question, best place to put tubes in the system:

IN THE TUBE SOCKETS  :roll:

Sorry, couldn't help myself.   :green: Merry Christmas everybody....
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JLM

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Re: Where is the best place to put tubes in the system?
« Reply #35 on: 26 Dec 2010, 12:19 am »
John,

Amazingly we're thinking alike (about the Torii Mk III and keeping it simple).   :thumb:  If I have to wait to afford it, I will.

BTW there are more Decheads here at AC than you might imagine.  Their forum is a mere shadow of its former self now with so much competition from other forums.
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