What do you like about your tube amplifier?

Niteshade · « **Reply #20 on:** 13 Jun 2010, 10:09 pm »

Aside from sound, what I like most about a tube amplifier is that the tubes are user-changeable. That is a GIANT plus in my book!

Mariusz · « **Reply #21 on:** 13 Jun 2010, 11:08 pm »

The way they GLOW
The way they sound (especially, the middle-range)

They are fun to use (search,swap,compare)

SET Man · « **Reply #22 on:** 18 Jun 2010, 12:54 am »

Quote from: Tyson on 12 Jun 2010, 03:20 am

SS owners talk about accuracy, tube owners talk about enjoyment. 'Nuff said.

Hey!

Yup.

So, I guess SS owners at concert would be busy thinking of how the hall effect the sound while tube owners would be just enjoying the performance

Anyway, as for the topic of this thread? Well, I like my SET amps because they sound good to me!

I've been with them for 10.5 years now, so I think that said something

Welborne Labs "Apollo" with KR Audio 842VHD triode tube and NOS GE 6EA7, 18 watts of pure SET power bliss. Beside sounding good to me they are fortunately look pretty too.

Take care,
Buddy

mjosef · « **Reply #23 on:** 18 Jun 2010, 04:17 am »

the pretty lights...
Not like...the extra heat in summer.

This Q reminds me of teentimes...usually pits an us vs. them.

Thebiker · « **Reply #24 on:** 22 Jun 2010, 03:55 am »

They just sound more organic and musical than SS. I once tried to go back to SS with McIntosh separates.....couldn't do it, returned the Macs and I bought another tube amp instead

.

JMHO & YMMV

Walt

SET Man · « **Reply #25 on:** 24 Jun 2010, 03:12 am »

Quote from: mjosef on 18 Jun 2010, 04:17 am

the pretty lights...
Not like...the extra heat in summer.

This Q reminds me of teentimes...usually pits an us vs. them.

Hey!

There is no glow with my tubes

But heat? YES! And it is getting hot here in NYC.

My system turn my room into sauna quick. So, I have to turn on the window AC unit while listening. Can't wait to see the electric bill!

Take care,
Buddy

DARTH AUDIO · « **Reply #26 on:** 24 Jun 2010, 11:45 am »

After 6 years they just keep playing great music!! And it doen't matter what kind of music I play! They can rock and they can be delicate.

rollo · « **Reply #27 on:** 24 Jun 2010, 02:03 pm »

Quote from: JimJ on 11 Jun 2010, 04:57 pm

They haven't blown up yet, I'm happy about that

Wish I could say that. Well being able to adjust bias and swap tubes for a different character when desired. Besides they heat up the basement in the Winter.

charles

silver_strings · « **Reply #28 on:** 7 Jul 2010, 07:32 am »

I love how realistic they make music sound. Heres a pic of my audiospace and my nuera amp

versus rider · « **Reply #29 on:** 13 Jul 2010, 06:02 pm »

J Sound Labs 300B, I really didn't think I could better my 2A3 mono's but this are superb. Air and space between instruments, cymbals sound real, bass too.

versus rider · « **Reply #30 on:** 13 Jul 2010, 06:05 pm »

not too shabby inside, parts selected for their sonic ability, tested for synergy not for the name on them.

Mariusz · « **Reply #31 on:** 13 Jul 2010, 06:46 pm »

300B PSE MONOBLOCKS (will try to take better pics)

mitch stl · « **Reply #32 on:** 14 Jul 2010, 03:31 am »

Everyone else is showing off their tube amp so here's my Image 65i.

Steve · « **Reply #33 on:** 15 Jul 2010, 07:02 pm »

Quote from: Thebiker on 22 Jun 2010, 03:55 am

They just sound more organic and musical than SS.
JMHO & YMMV

Walt

Hi Walt,

May I add that I like the inner detail better (like hearing the recording studio reflections), soundstaging (depth, width etc.), naturalness which is similar to what you stated, just sounds incredible.

Cheers.

Mariusz · « **Reply #34 on:** 16 Jul 2010, 05:19 am »

Quote from: Mariusz on 13 Jul 2010, 06:46 pm

300B PSE MONOBLOCKS (will try to take better pics)

And matching preamp

Berto · « **Reply #35 on:** 16 Jul 2010, 05:47 pm »

For my newly aquired Atma-sphere Ma-1's. The following >

An incredible & neutral 3-d sound, with IMO nothing lacking from top to bottom.

Point to point wiring w/no printed circuit boards which will accumulate dust and eventually leak.

Ability to run 4 down from 14 power tubes (huge reduction in heat in the summer)

SS polished steel chasis, standy mode to prolong tube life, auto biasing, fully balanced on the 600 ohm standard which was built to remove all audible artifacts in the XLR IC.

Never will become absolete w/Atma's upgrade offerings.

& that beautiful tube glow all about sums it up

PS. Just read Zybar wonderful review (on page 1) of his newer version of same Amps, he definitely did a helluva lot better in describing the sound then i did.

adydula · « **Reply #36 on:** 28 Jul 2010, 07:27 pm »

It looks really 'cool' or I mean 'hot' or is that 'warm' lol
Very nice sounding compared to my trusty old AVR.

Alex

JWJ356 · « **Reply #37 on:** 23 Aug 2010, 06:49 pm »

I see references to 6 years, 10 ½ years. Well my 60Wers have been going strong for 50 years. Scratch-built brutes built military electronics style. One built over the winter of 58-59. The other over the winter of 59-60 (had to go stereo, you know). Lots of 6550s, KT-88s over the years (even EL-34s), American, British, Russian. But always U.S. 6SN7s. Solid state rectification then and the original diodes are still in place. Now with the bogus Gold Lion tubes (Russian) for the last two years and the cathode currents hold nice and steady. Perhaps my wife will put them in my casket just to get rid of them (just kidding).

bunky · « **Reply #38 on:** 26 Aug 2010, 12:51 am »

My Golden Tube Audio SE-40 was modded by a gentleman named Loc Vu who is one of the resident guru's at the Yahoo Golden Tube Group. it use's Russian PIO caps and 5881/6L6 power tubes. i am currently running Tung Sol 5881's but i have a matched sextet of Russian 63PS-E coming to me from Jim McShane.this amplifier has wonderful synergy with my 93db Silverline Sonatina 2's and Response Audio/ Purity Audio Designs Basis Plus + linestage.i have another SE-40 that i am going to send to Loc Vu to be modded so i can run them as a pair of 80 wpc class A monoblocks.thanks....WCW III

sebrof · « **Reply #39 on:** 2 Sep 2010, 01:45 am »

Tube amps, especially SETs, just sound more natural to me.
Here's my last build - a 2A3 SE based on the Western Electric WE91A. I think I'll keep this one for a long time.