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power amps....tubes vs SS
Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:37 pm
by MooseTrackz
Ah Gentlemen,
I'm in need of your valued opinions/experiences, my power amp (a hafler 500) died a sad and ignominious death in the recent past and I'm looking to replace it with something with a bit of ooomph, for those occasions when one needs to annoy the cows four fields over! I'm open to suggestions here and have been looking at tube and solid state and also the hybrids with what seems to be the best of both routes, what say ye? Thanks!
Re: power amps....tubes vs SS
Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 1:05 am
by Ivor
what speakers do they need to drive?
Re: power amps....tubes vs SS
Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 1:59 pm
by james
Valve amps have higher running costs since the valves have to be replaced periodically ?!
Re: power amps....tubes vs SS
Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 2:07 pm
by Diapason
If you're thinking "oomph" then valves would not really be the conventional route, unless you're running very high-senstivity speakers (think horns!) High-powered valves are an option, of course, but harder to find and generally pricey.
I'd probably stick to SS, but I wouldn't rule out Class D amps either. Some of them are awful of course, but when it's done right the bass and drive is amazing, and they just sound unburstable.
Re: power amps....tubes vs SS
Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 4:01 pm
by ConorW
Hi
I have a Hafler P3000 Trans Nova power amp available. Will take €75 (a bargain). Might see you through for a while.
It is a US 120V device.
I have it on Adverts
http://www.adverts.ie/home-audio/hafler ... mp/1653035
Conor
Re: power amps....tubes vs SS
Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2013 6:42 pm
by ConorW
Sorry, Hafler P3000 now sold
Re: power amps....tubes vs SS
Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 1:03 am
by MooseTrackz
so what exactly is the attraction of tube amps? More expensive, parts that need replacing on some cosmic schedule, lowish power? What's the secret then? I'm intrigued.
Re: power amps....tubes vs SS
Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 1:14 am
by Ivor
MooseTrackz wrote:so what exactly is the attraction of tube amps? More expensive, parts that need replacing on some cosmic schedule, lowish power? What's the secret then? I'm intrigued.
A warm musical, and some would say, more natural sound. I've also found tubes to be more detailed than SS or at least they present the detail with more subtlety than SS.
Re: power amps....tubes vs SS
Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 8:58 am
by Diapason
It's the midrange magic: voices and instruments floating in the air, not forced at you, instrumental timbres, imaging, just a lifelike sound. It all hinges on what you listen to and what sound you like, though. Not to mention the rest of your system.