Ano ba sir andrew ang best place to start with tubes? CD buffer? SET? PP? Please help a noob.
To answer your question, let me base on what I have observed.
. It all depends on the money you want to spend first.
1.. low budget: CD buffer, will let you experience "tube warmth" if your ear is sensitive to this peculiar quality.
2. SET is ultimate tube sound enjoyment if you have high sensitivity loudspeakers, that is 92dB or higher. The higher the better. Horn loaded, with 2 or 3 watts, fantastic.
3. PP if you have those difficult to drive "modern" inefficient loudspeakers with tons of crossovers, large capacitors high wattage ratings, bought accidentally or otherwise, a hand me down or got in bargain.
4. PP if you are "the rock guy pump up the volume, hey neighbor I've got great stereo, lets party-type of
listener, couple them with high efficiency horn loaded speakers, possibly bi-amp them, and help it with a little more bass with 18 inch woofers. Exciting!
5. if you are the private type, "its my music kind of Guy, in my own little private world of music", then get on with tube headphone amp. It's is not very expensive.
So , different strokes for different folks. and I respect every man's choice.