How to get into tubes?

[I-SIG]

Everyone keeps harping on tubes. I like my Parasound HCA-2200 SS amp, so I know I don't want to dump it.

Withthat out of the way what's the best method to get into tubes without breaking the bank? CDP? Preamp? other?

Thanks,
Wes

[tonyv1]

Definitely a tube preamp.
Everything has to go through the preamp and will benefit from the warm lush sound of the preamp. Check the used market and Bottlehead sells a preamp kit if you want to DIY, plus they're inexpensive.

[hoosier21]

Pm sent

[HBombToo]

6dj8 is a solid tube for preamps!
go easy on the billfold and enjoy.
Tubes are way cool.
HBomb

[organ]

Go tube pre amp first. You will notice a big difference. Make sure you research the pre amp before buying. Some tube pre's sound like SS. If you want 100% tube sound in the pre, buy one with tube rectification. SS rectification is fine too.

Remember to turn on the tube pre before your SS amp. Let the tube pre heat up for about 30sec before turning on your SS amp or else you'll get a big KABOOM sound.

Maurice

[TroyD]

I'll agree, I like the tube pre / SS amp combo as well. I feel that you really get the best of both worlds.

Tube pres can be had fairly reasonable (depending on your definition of reasonable).

BDT

[danger boy]

just how reasonable are we talking about guys? $100 to $250 reasonable or more $$ ?

[Zero]

For a *good* tube pre, Im wagering around $500.00.

[ezc]

I started with a tube cdp. Sounds much better than my ss cdp. I dont have a amp or preamp yet in my system. I run the cdp through a Rotel 1065 receiver 2 chanel. My cdp is a Njoe Tjoeb & was purchased from upscale audio & was $699. Highly tweakable, they sell opp amp chip upgrades that are plug in or a upsampler that can be installed at any time. I have gone to the better burr brown opp amps & upgraded pc only. Recently I have changed the tubes & wow what a difference. I looked at other tube cdp & the cost for most was about double or more. CDP may be a starting point also! www.upscaleaudio.com is the link for the player, good reviews &so far for me great player!I wanted to buy one used but couldnt find a used tjoeb for sale!

[madmax]

I started out all SS. Later I got a tube CD player. OK, a little improvement was there. Later I tried a very cheap tube preamp. The sound was different but not better. (It was a very cheap pre). I kinda gave up. A few years later I found a Jolida EL34 amp at 50 watts per channel. It made more difference in my system than anything else ever had. I immediatly fell in love and gave up using all the SS amps. A few months later I hooked up one of my SS amps and it just didn't do it for me anymore. Sometimes when I want something really loud or want to watch movies the SS amps are great but for my two channel, no SS amps there.
madmax

[Libertyc]

Check out this preamp $400 shipped:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=14974&item=5705499613&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

It has very good reviews and has very good build quality.

Another option might be trying a Dynaco ST70 which you find on ebay. The prices of these amps keep going up, but you can still find a good deal.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=71545&item=5705417370&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

[I-SIG]

Got a couple of PM's recommending the Dared units. Their website is down so what's the poop on the Dared pre's, namely the 2000 model.

Wes