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October 26, 2007 - 1:24pm
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Common question -- Next upgrade advice
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If my taste in music was primarily classic jazz, I would own nothing but tube amplifiers.
I've read some really good stuff about that particular Arcam player. It's nice to have a piece of gear that you are completely happy with. That makes upgrades soooo much easier.
Why tube amplifiers -- are there tube "integrated" amplifiers? Also do tube amps fit within my price range?
The NAD C372 would be a great upgrade. I have a NAD C370 and have used it on Wharfedales Pacific Evo 30's and 40's. It would give you more headroom with your present evo 8's and offer more control at higher listening levels and headroom.
I have heard the Monitor Audio Silvers series of speakers and they are completely different sounding than the EVO series by Wharfedale. They have a metal dome against a fabric dome tweeter and the kevlar driver in the EVO sounds different. I found the Monitor Audio Silvers quite a lot "brighter" than the EVO's voicing. To my ears, the Monitor Audio Silvers could become a little fatiquing, and I personally found them over bright. They are extremely detailed and quick, and will give a different sound than the EVO8's you have. An audition is a must.
I would suggest buying on the used market. You will get much better value for the money. My recommendations are based on the assumption that you'll be buying used.
Integrated:
Creek 5350SE
Musical Fidelity A300
Musical Fidelity A5
Rega Mira
Krell KAV 300i
Speakers:
Sonus Faber Concertino
Monitor Audio silver series
Revel F12 or F30
JM Lab Electra 926
Paradigm Studio 100 v2
Paradigm Studio 100 v3
You could certainly snag a tube integrated within your budget. If you've never heard your favorite music playing through tubes, you should consider a trip to a decent hi fi joint that sells tube gear.
Tubes and jazz compliment each other nicely. Tube gear has some advantages in the areas that make intimate settings sound very life like. It's like peanut butter and jelly...just made for each other.
A good tube integrated is usually more than a grand even on the used market.
If I were in his shoes, I'd call Wally.
Nice find!
Seems liking an interesting option -- I have never really thought about looking into a tube integrated. Out of curiosity -- how much space above a tube amp do you need? I know they emit a great deal of heat. It would have to be located under a glass open enclosure, with a glass ceiling about 2 inches above where the top of the integrated amp would rest.
I don't think that would be enough clearance. You would really need to provide better air circulation for that to work and biasing would be a bigger pain in the butt in that situation. I do think you would be fine with a hybrid tube/solid state design. In that scenario only the preamp section would be using tubes and they don't run as hot as output tubes. There are a few hybrids in your price range and they are very user friendly.