Topic: When do you use tube amps?

[Lancito]

Excuse my ignorance, what are tube amps for?  Is it used only for stereo audio listening?  I only know about HT.

[qguy]

in my case

99  percent for audio
1 percent 2 channel HT

There are very  few tube gears designed for HT.

Tube amps of the intergrated variety is similar to your AVR less the Dolby Digital/HT   features.  AVT/HT amps are 2 channels while most integrated tube amps are 2 channel only

An amplifier  amplifies the signal from your CD/DVD player to your speakers, basically the amp can be solidstate based or tube based, they try to accomplish the same thing.....which is amplify the signal

Excuse my ignorance, what are tube amps for?  Is it used only for stereo audio listening?  I only know about HT.

[Lancito]

in my case

99  percent for audio
1 percent 2 channel HT

There are very  few tube gears designed for HT.

Tube amps of the intergrated variety is similar to your AVR less the Dolby Digital/HT   features.  AVT/HT amps are 2 channels while most integrated tube amps are 2 channel only

An amplifier  amplifies the signal from your CD/DVD player to your speakers, basically the amp can be solidstate based or tube based, they try to accomplish the same thing.....which is amplify the signal

Thanks Qguy!  So it is basically for audio.  Tubes for audio and SS more for HT.  I get it.  Tnx.

[alexg]

Thanks Qguy!  So it is basically for audio.  Tubes for audio and SS more for HT.  I get it.  Tnx.

Well not necessarilty, both tube and ss are used to amplify signals.

Some people use tube amps for HT (I use 832A monoblocks for my HT), some use them strictly for audio (I use my other tube amps for audio).

Most HT AVR are solid state (SS), but some people use SS amplifiers for audio.

So you can use tubed amp for HT and audio, and you can use SS amp for HT and audio (but most HT AVR are SS). Depends on which one you would like best.

HTH.

[Philjonc]

maikli lang kasi life span ng power tubes, kaya they are being saved for audio listening nalang.

[karce]

may nakita ako picture na tubes 7 channel for HT.  pero mahal yata

[Lancito]

What is the best known tube amp na brand na medyo mid range ang price?

[Ctlim]

uyyy.. lance mukhang nagka-interest ka agad ah!!!

i believe the most popular brand here is Cayin followed by the locally made AMX of Kinetic.

what do you mean by mid range ang price? its better to establish a budget in getting tube amps... baka magulat ka sa mga range e.

[onedown]

lancito,

how much are you willing to spend? giving a figure would help folks here point you to the correct direction. there are plenty of tube amps out in the market, not including diy'ers who you can perhaps commision to build an amp for you. but before taking the plunge, ask yourself if you really want to enter the world of tubes. ask your self what kind of sound would you like to have from your system.

i suggest that you try to listen to as many tube setups as you can. by listening to various setups, it will, hopefully, help you decide if you want to use tube amps in your system.

[onedown]

lancito,

another tip: resist the urge to buy a particular brand just because it is the most popular. buy something because you want it. remember, what sounds good to me might sound terrible to you. use your ears to decide what gear to buy, and not the sales figures.

[miniracer]

the dared tube amps looks good and priced right. check out the mp-15, vp-16, vp-20 and vp-300b. I already listened to a vp-20 connected to an epos bookshelf, sounded very nice to me. 

[Le_Stat]

Audition  from the lowest price to the out of this world price.  Compare the reaction of your brain and ears to the sound that you hear.  Bring your own CD or LP, and source player - cd player or turntable.

Again, dont let price be the deciding factor.  When you get to know which brands are good for you, then that would be the time for you to decide and weigh in the factors.

Also, get to know more about tube types - 6550, el34, kt88, 6l6gc, 2a3, 300B, el84.  Mahihilo ka sa dami, sa totoo lang.

[Ctlim]

http://thetubestore.com/powertubesonly.html

know your tubes... kita naman ang popular power tube types El34, KT88, El84, 6L6.

http://www.tubedepot.com/ei-12ax7eg.html

for pre-amp tubes... you cant go wrong with these.

be careful in picking as your tube amp will most likely dictate the best speaker to pair it with... which may not even be
your "favorite" brand.

for entry level tube integrated amps, try out the 18wpc dareds... good value for money... or build one of your own thru AMX. check mo yung amx ni muypogi sa pinoybazaar... binebenta na nya.

[MAtZTER]

If you have a wide variety of music you listen to. Try Hybrids (tube pre-amp, SSpower section).

I chose hybrids for this reason, plus I am also afraid that my kids might get scalded by touching the tubes of a pure tube setup. Less maintenance too.

[onedown]

snip.

Also, get to know more about tube types - 6550, el34, kt88, 6l6gc, 2a3, 300B, el84.  Mahihilo ka sa dami, sa totoo lang.

not to mention the design of the amp. single ended triode, push pull, ultra linear, pentode, etc.

[JojoD818]

Better set your budget and listening preferences, unless you want to engage on a never ending purchase/upgrade.

I know of a guy who has a new amp no more than 6 months ago and says that it's the best he's ever heard, now he has a new amp and says this one is the best.  Obviously not a good path to follow.

[muypogi]

What is the best known tube amp na brand na medyo mid range ang price?

Try auditioning tube amps first para you get a feel on how they sound.

Try:

1) Kinetic - makers of AMX amps - 2nd floor The Forum Robinsons Pioneer
2) Audio Amplified - distributors of Cayin amps - along Libis, 2nd Floor Madision Square yata (where the Kowloon Stand is, opposite Shopwise)
3) the numerous audio shops in Makati Cinema Square, near where they sell guns and ammo. . .
4) Rockwell
5) Shangri-La Mall, 4-5th level
6) Park Square 1, Makati, GF

[karce]

uyyy.. lance mukhang nagka-interest ka agad ah!!!

i believe the most popular brand here is Cayin followed by the locally made AMX of Kinetic.

what do you mean by mid range ang price? its better to establish a budget in getting tube amps... baka magulat ka sa mga range e.

Mukhang pinaka popular na tube amp ngayon ay CAYIN na nga.  A friend of mine has one at maganda nga sya. Workmaship nya ... well personal opinion ko nga mas pulido pa kaysa mga ibang US or Europe na brand.  Sound niya ay tube na tube    .  Tapos yung customer service ng Cayin daw reliable rin kasi Ok daw yung distributor nila sa Pinas. Maalaga.  I am still saving bago ako mag audition kasi baka ma SARS bigla hehehe.

Yung Dared hybrid amp din yun diba?  I have one at una akala ko pure tube. Kaso pre-amp section lang pala yung tube. Pero ok rin sya. Ginagamit ko pang ipod sa office.  Pair ko F5000R na Aurum. Good match naman.

I've looked around at price of tubes goes from 15,000 to the sky kaya tama to set a budget muna at pila ka nga pinagamangandang match na pasok sa budget.

[miniracer]

Mukhang pinaka popular na tube amp ngayon ay CAYIN na nga.  A friend of mine has one at maganda nga sya. Workmaship nya ... well personal opinion ko nga mas pulido pa kaysa mga ibang US or Europe na brand.  Sound niya ay tube na tube    .  Tapos yung customer service ng Cayin daw reliable rin kasi Ok daw yung distributor nila sa Pinas. Maalaga.  I am still saving bago ako mag audition kasi baka ma SARS bigla hehehe.

Yung Dared hybrid amp din yun diba?  I have one at una akala ko pure tube. Kaso pre-amp section lang pala yung tube. Pero ok rin sya. Ginagamit ko pang ipod sa office.  Pair ko F5000R na Aurum. Good match naman.

I've looked around at price of tubes goes from 15,000 to the sky kaya tama to set a budget muna at pila ka nga pinagamangandang match na pasok sa budget.

only the mp-5 ang hybrid, the rest are pure tubes na.

[iceman90a]

Better set your budget and listening preferences, unless you want to engage on a never ending purchase/upgrade.

I know of a guy who has a new amp no more than 6 months ago and says that it's the best he's ever heard, now he has a new amp and says this one is the best.  Obviously not a good path to follow.

si ano ba yan Doc?

[JojoD818]

si ano ba yan Doc?

OT: ay hindi, iba ito pre mas matindi pa sa atin... no comment na ako.   

Back to topic...

[reynold]

Better set your budget and listening preferences, unless you want to engage on a never ending purchase/upgrade.

I know of a guy who has a new amp no more than 6 months ago and says that it's the best he's ever heard, now he has a new amp and says this one is the best.  Obviously not a good path to follow.

Awww, sir Jojo, medyo tinamaan ako dito ha, hehe buti na lang medyo mura lang mga binibili ko, hahaha

Dami siguro tinamaan dyan ano, aminiiinnn... hehehe

[Brian_mico]

Awww, sir Jojo, medyo tinamaan ako dito ha, hehe buti na lang medyo mura lang mga binibili ko, hahaha

Dami siguro tinamaan dyan ano, aminiiinnn... hehehe

oucccch din.... 

[rony]

OT: ay hindi, iba ito pre mas matindi pa sa atin... no comment na ako.   

Back to topic...

Pre marami pala ganyan kala ko dati si ?!#@ ano lang ang pa palit palit at pa twik twik.

[schlamm]

question, will i be spoiling my tube setup if i connect my subwoofer with my tube setup? i'm planning to use my sub to listen to other materials that have more low frequencies that i find thin when running on a 2.0 channel setup with my tubes. besides, pwede ko naman patayin yung sub pag ayaw ko.

[jpeg]

question, will i be spoiling my tube setup if i connect my subwoofer with my tube setup? i'm planning to use my sub to listen to other materials that have more low frequencies that i find thin when running on a 2.0 channel setup with my tubes. besides, pwede ko naman patayin yung sub pag ayaw ko.

Of coarse not. Try it. If it sounds better to you, then non of our comments matter. 

I use my sub when listening to music on my HT set up. I find my bookshelf speakers lacking the lower frequencies.

Jason

[XXXyzledge]

question, will i be spoiling my tube setup if i connect my subwoofer with my tube setup? i'm planning to use my sub to listen to other materials that have more low frequencies that i find thin when running on a 2.0 channel setup with my tubes. besides, pwede ko naman patayin yung sub pag ayaw ko.

your tube amp must have a pre-out for u to be able
to connect a subwoofer...

ayus yan!
on/off lang depende sa listening mood....

 

[schlamm]

your tube amp must have a pre-out for u to be able
to connect a subwoofer...

ayus yan!
on/off lang depende sa listening mood....

 

pero may speaker level inputs sub ko, yun ang gamit ng ibang setups kapag walang sub pre-out ang amp nila kagaya nitong tube amp ko.

[hi-fi heroes]

pero may speaker level inputs sub ko, yun ang gamit ng ibang setups kapag walang sub pre-out ang amp nila kagaya nitong tube amp ko.

tried a cayin MT 12 to my sub to my speakers... good sound if you're looking for bass... unfortunately after the initial happiness of the "bass sound" i found that the signal quality being reproduced was far less than if i had my cayin direct to my speakers...

my 2cents...

[Lancito]

tried a cayin MT 12 to my sub to my speakers... good sound if you're looking for bass... unfortunately after the initial happiness of the "bass sound" i found that the signal quality being reproduced was far less than if i had my cayin direct to my speakers...

my 2cents...

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