Are tubes any good?

Asere · Mar 30, 2024

Currently my 2 ch gear consists of Thorens 125 turntable, Lounge Copla phono preamp and Sutherland TZ Vibe along with Parasound hca 1500a amp with Magnepan lrs speakers.
I've taken an interest in tubes but I am not too sure if tube integrated amps will be able to power Magnepan.
I hear different things and thought I'd ask here to see if tubes is even worth it since I've never owned tubes.

Sonnie Parker · Mar 31, 2024

I'm not sure how these Maggies compare to yours, but we used a Rogue Cronus Magnum Integrated Tube Amp - 100 WPC (8Ω) integrated tube amp with KT-120 tubes during our evaluation event several years ago with the Magnepan MG12/QR speakers. This amp performed extremely well will all the speakers in that event, including the Maggies.

Asere · Mar 31, 2024

Sonnie said:
I'm not sure how these Maggies compare to yours, but we used a Rogue Cronus Magnum Integrated Tube Amp - 100 WPC (8Ω) integrated tube amp with KT-120 tubes during our evaluation event several years ago with the Magnepan MG12/QR speakers. This amp performed extremely well will all the speakers in that event, including the Maggies.

Thanks Sonnie. I always said I wanted to own a mcintosh even if its pre owned because the price range is out of my league. The MA252 is hybrid. You think it may work with Magnepan?

Sonnie Parker · Mar 31, 2024

I would think so... that sure is a crazy good looking amp.

Travis Ballstadt · Apr 1, 2024

I have a Jolida 202BRC integrated amp in my 2ch system and I love it. It's a little 40w guy that I'm using to drive a pair of Rega RS5 speakers. Not super-efficient at 89db, 6ohm load, in a fairly large room. It does just great, sounds wonderful, though I wouldn't try to push it much harder than I am currently running it. I rarely turn the volume up past the halfway point, though.

I've had it for about 7 years now, and I just got it back out of the shop a couple weeks ago. It had blown a resistor and gone into protection mode, so I had the resistor replaced, new tubes, and a complete once over. I'm glad to have it back, but I had also already begun looking at a PrimaLuna integrated amp that I would have replaced it with.

Nice thing about shops that sell tube integrated amps is that you can usually get an in-home trial out of them, so you can run it in your room on your Magnepans and see if it does what you'd like it to do. Spend a week with it to make your decision.

Asere · Apr 1, 2024

Travis Ballstadt said:
I have a Jolida 202BRC integrated amp in my 2ch system and I love it. It's a little 40w guy that I'm using to drive a pair of Rega RS5 speakers. Not super-efficient at 89db, 6ohm load, in a fairly large room. It does just great, sounds wonderful, though I wouldn't try to push it much harder than I am currently running it. I rarely turn the volume up past the halfway point, though.

I've had it for about 7 years now, and I just got it back out of the shop a couple weeks ago. It had blown a resistor and gone into protection mode, so I had the resistor replaced, new tubes, and a complete once over. I'm glad to have it back, but I had also already begun looking at a PrimaLuna integrated amp that I would have replaced it with.

Nice thing about shops that sell tube integrated amps is that you can usually get an in-home trial out of them, so you can run it in your room on your Magnepans and see if it does what you'd like it to do. Spend a week with it to make your decision.

I looked into Prima Luna 400 but per the rep it would not work with my LRS. Idk, I think tubes will work with Maggies but depending on how loud you listen.

Travis Ballstadt · Apr 1, 2024

Asere said:
I looked into Prima Luna 400 but per the rep it would not work with my LRS. Idk, I think tubes will work with Maggies but depending on how loud you listen.

Yeah, the 400 is pretty similar in output to my Jolida, if you're not a concert-level guy I think you'd enjoy it. Ask for a test run.

ddude003 · Apr 2, 2024

I've had a Prima Luna Dialogue Premium preamp for several years now... Sounds great and have had no issues with it... Matched with an McIntosh MC152 power amplifier these drive my Martin Logan ESLs with ease...

Whether you go with a tube integrated or tube pre/SS hybrid you should be looking for something that will drive a 4 ohm load at over 100 to 150 watts... For Horns, ESLs and Magnetic Planers you will want a Power Paradigm amplifier... See: http://www.atma-sphere.com/en/resources-paradigms-in-amplifier-design.html

You should talk to "Uncle Kevvy" at Upscale Audio and see what his opinion is about the PrimaLuna 400 driving your Magnepan lrs...

VinceHoffman · Apr 6, 2024

The two channel signal chain side of our dual duty 2.1/5.1.4 big rig features Canadian made tubed preamplification- a Coincident Statement Linestage Mk 2 and a Foundation Research V5 phono stage. For me some good tubed gear in the signal chain always provides a more believable sense of the artists in my room but does so with the trade-off of a slightly higher noise floor when compared to the very best of solid state gear. This has always proven to be a trade-off I'm happy to make.

nikto34 · Apr 13, 2024

Asere said:
Currently my 2 ch gear consists of Thorens 125 turntable, Lounge Copla phono preamp and Sutherland TZ Vibe along with Parasound hca 1500a amp with Magnepan lrs speakers.
I've taken an interest in tubes but I am not too sure if tube integrated amps will be able to power Magnepan.
I hear different things and thought I'd ask here to see if tubes is even worth it since I've never owned tubes.

A good tube amp should be able to drive most speakers. I enjoy my tubes daily in my office system. I have a full tube setup with a McIntosh MC275 and C2300. My other gear is all A/B solid state. I like the sound of it all but there is something about the tube system that I seem to enjoy just a little more. Especially on vocals and instrumentals.
My recommendation would be to ease yourself into tubes and find some solid less expensive gear to get started with to make sure you like the sound. Then you can move up from there. That is how I got started in tubes with a relative inexpensive hybrid tube integrated from Parts Express. Then gradually upgraded to all tubes and then worked my way to the tube gear I enjoy today.
Another option would be to find some tube gear that you can listen too locally in an extended fashion.

vincenzo_uli · Jun 24, 2024

In my experience, tubes can sound fantastic, but it's crucial to consider the system as a whole. Different families of tubes have distinct sounds, they will degrade over time, and linearity is always a challenge. However, in the right system (e.g., a multi-way horn system), they can definitely deliver exceptional performance. Remember that a DHT is very different from, say, an 845. It's wise to demo some classic combinations at a reputable and experienced dealer or with audiophile friends. Additionally, you can replicate much of the "magic" of tubes with high-end solid-state amplifiers, such as those from Hiraga (Le Classe A 30W). For your Maggies, the best match would probably be a Conrad-Johnson Premier 350. I heard that paired with a 20.7, and the combination was outstanding. The LRS is a little gem, so don't go cheap on electronics.

Sonnie Parker · Oct 4, 2024

Hey Asere... what did you end up with?

Asere · Oct 5, 2024

Sonnie Parker said:
Hey Asere... what did you end up with?

After all this research, nothing lol.
I went ahead and settled for my solid state amp. Instead I bought the Eversolo A6 streamer.

Sonnie Parker · Oct 5, 2024

I just recently picked up the A6 as well. Been using it with my headphone amp. It is very nice.

Asere · Oct 5, 2024

Yes it is. It has a nice display and crisp clear sound to it.

DanDan · Oct 7, 2024

I read that most of that euphonic sound of tube gear is caused by the transformers.

Are tubes any good?

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