Topic: What's the biggest reason why you won't go tubes?

[geriboy]

biglang nabuhay ang thread na ito...

Nabuhay ka uli sir Jojo!

[Superman]

biglang nabuhay ang thread na ito...

Oo nga bro...just hoping this will not scare the hell out of people who would want to dive into tubes...sometimes not all we read are true and applicable...tons of misconceptions. One must learn to filter what he reads...

Best is to share based on actual experience and to compare also via actual experience...Welcome back!

[baliw]

good man yourself.....
i have a friend, an OFW engineer working in an Oil and Gas project in papua new guinea,
he is pestering me to make him a tube amp, but i had to politely turn him down,
how can he when he is home only maybe one month in a year....

At least he has a month to enjoy, a good break from 11 months of oil and gas

[tony]

At least he has a month to enjoy, a good break from 11 months of oil and gas

that is also true......
my experience as an OFW, gusto ko laboy ng laboy, kain sa labas, at pasyal dito pasyal doon...

[tony]

just hoping this will not scare the hell out of people who would want to dive into tubes...

only those committed enough should go into tubes, hindi yung naulukan lang...

and only after having auditioned and actually liked it...

those who are happy with their SS amps should be left alone....

[CoolTOYZPH]

If heat and electirc consumption is the concern, Hybrid is an option.
Tube Pre-amp + Solidstate Power-Amp, even a T-Amp.

some newcomers can't take the heat and that is one of their concerns....
they complain that transformers are hot....
some complain that filaments light up like lamp bulbs at first...
power consumption is truly higher than SS and nothing to do with your speakers...
once you flick the switch on and the cathodes get hot and plates draw current,
power consumption is up, that is the nature of the beast...
and the power consumption stays whether playing music on your speakers or not...

[tony]

^or class D or T. with 90% efficiency compared, to the 64 to 70% of class AB, or 50% of tube pp classA or the 25% of the tube single ended amps...

[Superman]

Time to buy some popcorn...

[dudong]

Oo nga bro...just hoping this will not scare the hell out of people who would want to dive into tubes...sometimes not all we read are true and applicable...tons of misconceptions. One must learn to filter what he reads...

Best is to share based on actual experience and to compare also via actual experience...Welcome back!

Jen with so much acronyms going around no wonder its a scary process... PP, PPP, SET, DHT and so on.

Then there are the options; Modern (currently manufactured) Amps, Vintage Amps and DIY Amps.

When you have finally decided what to buy, you hear/read about NOS tubes and how they are so much better than current production tubes.  Then names like Mullard, Amperex Bugle Boys and Telefunken will tickle your curiosity... add to that the terms xf1, fat base, smooth plates, long plates and a whole lot more!

But in the end you will never regret it!  When you turn it on, electricity/heat will be the last of your concerns.  As for maintenance, I am sure when the time comes, you will have an extra tube amp because you will not be satisfied with just one amp.

In my case, I've been collecting vintage amps for years.

[Superman]

Jen with so much acronyms going around no wonder its a scary process... PP, PPP, SET, DHT and so on.

Then there are the options; Modern (currently manufactured) Amps, Vintage Amps and DIY Amps.

When you have finally decided what to buy, you hear/read about NOS tubes and how they are so much better than current production tubes.  Then names like Mullard, Amperex Bugle Boys and Telefunken will tickle your curiosity... add to that the terms xf1, fat base, smooth plates, long plates and a whole lot more!

But in the end you will never regret it!  When you turn it on, electricity/heat will be the last of your concerns.  As for maintenance, I am sure when the time comes, you will have an extra tube amp because you will not be satisfied with just one amp.

In my case, I've been collecting vintage amps for years.

Hi DJ! Oh yes...as long as we choose what to believe and hear...so we learn the right way...

[CoolTOYZPH]

+1,000
It is not the technicality of the sound, it is the actual experience and enjoyment.

Hi DJ! Oh yes...as long as we choose what to believe and hear...so we learn the right way...

[tony]

well the title of this thread is about why one will not go into tubes,
i merely gave some technical details as to why....

at the end of the day, it is all about your enjoyment of music, nothing more, nothing less...

this is an actual experience:

Sir tony, mykel and i had a mini-shootout yesterday in my house.  My system is quite cheap but still reveals the differences on the amps.  We used 3 amps - a leben 300x (el84 pushpull 15 watts advertized with NOS mullard output tubes, but uses sovtek in the test, and GE 5751 preamp priced at 155k), a heavily modified amx (6 watter SEP priced for 16.5k) and your push pull amp.

The amx is the worse.  Hands down.  Walang "balls" at muddy lows tapos rolled-off highs.  Hindi kaya ung speakers.  Hehe.

Between the leben and tecson amp, we both agree that your amp is sonically better..., by a MILE!  The leben has a typical tube sound- lutang na lutang midrange but lacks details on highs and lows and namimili ng genre.  Very mellow, warm and ramdam mong "mabagal" tumunog.

On the otherhand, your amp has the PRAT and fast-attack we normally hear on high-end amps.  Mykel, who has a full Naim set which is very very good sounding, is impressed on how detailed and fast your amp is.  Kung merong advantage ung leben, it would be the aeathetics and looks.

The leben is loaned for a home audition of Mykel.  After the shootout, we packed it to be returned today.  Hehehe.

Told him your selling the amp for 18k and ill get it by 2nd week september when the buyer of my amp pays.  That is if its still available.  Hehehe.

Thanks for the amp sir.  I will return it this week and hope maaabutan ko pa.

Paeng

[bosyo]

problema ko lang sa tubo ay ang init kaya minsan SS ang gamit ko, nasa harapan ko lang kasi.

kaya lang mas gusto ni misis ang SQ ngg tubo, mas natural daw.

[JojoD818]

Nabuhay ka uli sir Jojo!

Doc! Hahaha!

Napasyal lang po, officially I am still in hiatus.

[CoolTOYZPH]

The real estate mogul is in the back

Doc! Hahaha!

Napasyal lang po, officially I am still in hiatus.

[JojoD818]

Oo nga bro...just hoping this will not scare the hell out of people who would want to dive into tubes...sometimes not all we read are true and applicable...tons of misconceptions. One must learn to filter what he reads...

Fear is a powerful weapon bro. But once the dust settles, everything should be clear. I wish those people who want to try tubes a happy experience...

Best is to share based on actual experience and to compare also via actual experience...Welcome back!

This reminds me... I recently acquired an entry-level DAP for digital source duties, good thing I asked advise from some head-fi friends to point me in the right direction. Incidentally, those who I asked have the actual experience making my choice a truly viable decision.

Oh I'm not back yet, though I reckon it would be unlimited playtime once I finish this one. 

[CoolTOYZPH]

^ tukayo lumakas ang hangin.

[Superman]

+1,000
It is not the technicality of the sound, it is the actual experience and enjoyment.

Thanks Jo!

Do take note that I have mentioned some brands and models not to push the brand nor push a particular model. I also do not intend to compare which is better than the other...just happily aharing my experience. And for the record this should be discourage anyone to go (or not to go) tubes...happily sharing my experienxe with tubes for a particular speaker model/brand indicated in this thread.

Have used Leben CS300 and CS600 hooked up w/ the Reference 3A MM DeCapo BE which I own and the matching is heavenly...I am quite sure matching of amps w/ similar topology and tubes (like Dynaco, Eico, AN, etc.) would also pair well...I have also used AN, Unison and Line Magnetic and they're all excellent wS the Ref3A with different sonic characters.

At the end of the day, most especially for newbies, learn to choose what to learn in this enjoyable hobby. Your choice of equipment, your choice of "sound" is YOU, it is what defines you...not any marketing fuzz of pushing certain products, brands or even sellers...

Good luck and all the best to your PDVD newbies. Lots of members here who can properly guide you as you venture into this fun hobby, be it tubes or ss, bookshelves or floorstander, with or without subs, NOS or new production tubes, etc.


JojoD, bro tama na yang hiatus bro.

Logging out now...will but popcorn at the mall...

[JojoD818]

The real estate mogul is in the back

Sshhhh... just putting things in order so I can have unlimited playtime with my projects tukayo.

[JojoD818]

^ tukayo lumakas ang hangin.

Always a good thing to build with strong foundations...

[CoolTOYZPH]

^ did not see that strong hot air coming our way. Woooosh!

[JojoD818]

JojoD, bro tama na yang hiatus bro.

Logging out now...will but popcorn at the mall...

Saglit lang ito, I'll be back in a jiffy.

^ did not see that strong hot air coming our way. Woooosh!

Must be early summer this year tukayo...

People need not worry about using tubes during hot summer days, the tubes are built to take the heat, it is usually the other components that can't.

[romeoalltheway]

good man yourself.....
i have a friend, an OFW engineer working in an Oil and Gas project in papua new guinea,
he is pestering me to make him a tube amp, but i had to politely turn him down,
how can he when he is home only maybe one month in a year....

Haha you spared him the trouble

[dudong]

I like to own one someday... but afraid of the ff

1. Electric bill
2. Maintenance
3. Heat
4. Since i dont know anything about tubes, i dont know kung ok sya sa LAHAT ng type ng music

Going back to the topic...

Did you get the answer you were looking for Courage?

Bring your speakers to my place and decide for yourself.  I have a Scott 222B currently hooked up.  Let me know.

[tony]

Thats why my AMP is still SS, kahit pa kaliwat kanan ang pang kukulam ng mga members dito na Tube amp ang best for my speakers he he he

[tony]

Haha you spared him the trouble

glad you liked the rsh humor.....

walang pilitan kung ayaw.....kung gusto ng tubes magkukusa yan....

[Courage]

Going back to the topic...

Did you get the answer you were looking for Courage?

Bring your speakers to my place and decide for yourself.  I have a Scott 222B currently hooked up.  Let me know.

Thanks for the offer bro.... But to be honest, i'm not looking for anything or any changes right now.. I do like to experience tube but the urge is not strong enough for me to go out there and audition. I'm happy with my setup right now.

I posted here simply because of the topic and what i felt regarding tubes. I did have the opportunity before of owning a tube, but i ended up with SS because of my fears of owning one he he he.. Di naman ako nag sisi kasi naging sobrang saya ko naman sa setup ko ngayon..

[tetablanco]

well the title of this thread is about why one will not go into tubes,
i merely gave some technical details as to why....

at the end of the day, it is all about your enjoyment of music, nothing more, nothing less...

this is an actual experience:

I for one am rather new to tubes but I became hopelessly hooked ever since I came across Master Tony's tube amps (I am the proud owner of two of them - 2A3 and 5894).  Having been initiated into audio by Jen (Superman) and mentored by no less than Sir Tony himself, I became more discerning as a listener of music and more appreciative of the subtle nuances of each piece of music I encounter.  No regrets whatsoever being a tube groupie!

[dudong]

That's why we have this forum, and that's why there are people willing to share their experiences and give advice.

If one member is scared of taking the plunge or have reservations going to tubes, then by all means we help them and guide them.

We are not here to instill FEAR!  There are a lot of new members here, and your remarks are one sided.  Its ironic because you are a vacuum tube amp builder yourself.

Kung sinasabi mong wag magbuyo, mangasar, mangkulam then by all means wag ka rin MANAKOT!

This hobby is expensive as it is, pwede ka naman makinig sa AM radio kung gusto mo.  But since we are in a specialized forum, it means gusto mo ng magandang tunog, and that means better therefore pricier stuff as it comes with the territory.

People will buy and sell stuff, you lose money along the way as you go on with your pursuit of perfection/satisfaction/happiness.  All consumer products will depreciate and you will lose money when you decide to sell.  Isa lang naman ang consumer item na nagaappreciate ang value... Birkin.

Pasensya na sa rant... just my 7cents, from my wife's 7 you know what!

[Superman]

I for one am rather new to tubes but I became hopelessly hooked ever since I came across Master Tony's tube amps (I am the proud owner of two of them - 2A3 and 5894).  Having been initiated into audio by Jen (Superman) and mentored by no less than Sir Tony himself, I became more discerning as a listener of music and more appreciative of the subtle nuances of each piece of music I encounter.  No regrets whatsoever being a tube groupie!

Hey buddy!

Thank you! I am sure you're very happy and enjoying your audio rig! Hope to visit you soon bro! All the best!