Stereo Equipment

[sweatboard]

Does anyone know if it's possible to get a tube amplifier for my stereo for a reasonable price?  Also if anyone has a tube amp can you tell me about how much better it sounds?  Thanks

[headhunter]

IMO tube amps (and especially tube pre-amps) sound much better than solid state but are a heck of a lot more work (biasing, etc).

Depending on how you define reasonable price and how much power you might need to drive your speakers ( some speakers need a ton of juice and some are more efficient), there are plenty of decent price tube amps around.

Happy to try and help if you want to pm me.

[sweatboard]

yeah, I'm going to send you a pm when I get a chance and get a little more educated.  Thanks. 

[Hawkeye]

Bumping this thread because I've been upgrading/obsessing over my stereo lately.

Anyone want to share details about their gear?  What do you enjoy your music through?

In order of "evolution," in my main rig:

Amp/preamp - Panasonic SA-XR25 -> Emotiva UPA-2 preamp+USP-1 amp

Speakers - Klipsch SF-3 -> KEF 103.2 (now in the office) -> Wharfedale Diamond 9.6 (now for sale, if anyone needs some nice speakers!) -> Magnepan 2.7QR

DIY 8" sub (made by a buddy)

Turntable - Audio Technica AT-PL50 -> Rega RP1+Bellari VP130 tube phono stage

Digital - blu-ray player for CD's and streaming from Spotify; I had a Peachtree DAC-it, but I am trading that towards my new Magnepan speakers

In the office, I've got:
Speakers - KEF 103.2 bookshelf (on stands)

Amp/preamp - Sherbourn PA 2-50

In general, I think buying used is the way to go for high-end audio stuff.  You can get speakers at half price (or better).  Audiogon, ebay, forums, there are so many choices out there these days...anyone can find and afford a pretty nice stereo.  Amp/preamp wise, it's hard to beat Emotiva for the price:performance ratio.

If anyone wants to "talk shop" on their gear, here's the place!

And if anyone lives with about 3 hours of Asheville, NC, and is interested in some Wharfedale Diamond 9.6 speakers, let me know!  They are nice.  $999+ when new, I would sell them for $325 or close to it.  I would meet halfway as well.

http://www.audioreview.com/cat/speakers/floorstanding-speakers/wharfedale/diamond-9-6/prd_336376_1594crx.aspx

Wharfedale Diamond 9.6

[Hawkeye]

Don't know if anyone is into headphones, but I just picked up some Stax 'phones for $40!!!  They are a lower-end/older model, but I thought I'd check out the Stax sound.  They are definitely smooooooth.  M. Ward sounds incredible on them.

Here's some for $10!  I typically see these go for $130 or so (asking price).

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vnitage-Stax-SR-44-Electret-Earspeaker-System-in-Original-Box-/310792172472?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item485ca833b8#ht_474wt_1362