Question Dual mono tube amps: how to get it right?

[Al ears]

My question is why? A very-good valve amp is a very-good valve amp. Monoblocks is fine, but in reality it's more cost, more space, more valves to roll, etc.

With your budget I'd go about it differently. The below amp can be picked up new for around £2200. Until you start spending a vast amount more there's little that I've heard in the valve amp domain that's better. You can then further 'upgrade' this by sticking an excellent preamp in front of it (they have a pre bypass mode).

For £5k you've then got a truly kickass system. I'd then also roll the valves in this. However, you've got a lot of change from your budget to do this if you go this route.

My comments are not speculation btw, I've heard this exact amp in three different systems and it is utterly excellent. Especially considering what it costs.

I've also heard valve amps that cost 5x this amount and they don't sound 5x better.

ATB

Line Magnetic LM-805iA Integrated Amplifier Review

This interesting new mid-price Chinese valve amplifier gives Mark Gusew a warm glow…

www.stereonet.com

Edit: if you get the chance and are in the UK you should go to the Maverick Hifi show. There's a post on this forum with info about where and when. There will be many valve amps there you can hear for yourself to get some inspiration.

Any dealers in the UK?

 

[skinnypuppy71]

Valhifi.co.uk
I had to go look..lol

Line Magnetic — VAL HiFi

valhifi.co.uk

 

[Amormusic]

Wow! The price difference from importing from China in UK spec to buying one from the UK is immense.

I've looked very seriously at buying one of these for myself, and still might once we've moved house. I'd go for an import though and save a few thousand. I know someone else that has successfully done this with no issues.

They are very-very-good valve amps. Back to my edited comment OP. I'm pretty sure there's going to be one of these at the show... plus there will be loads of other valve amps.

If buying an amp, wrap your ears around as many as you can before you spend your cash.

 

[El Puerco Volante]

Current idea is the following:

1) Streamer and vinyl player
connected to:
2) single PrimaLuna EVO 400 pre-amplifier
connected to:
3) two PrimaLuna EVO 400 power amplifiers, each running in Mono mode (they have a switch to run them in Mono)
connected to:
4) GoldenEar Triton 2+ via "4" resistance connectors

Anything wrong in this, considering that my goal is to obtain best possible tube sound?

I don't have a problem with additional cost of the double mono amps. I have a problem if I build a system and then I will think that I could have made it better with dual Mono 😁

 

[Amormusic]

Have you heard these?

'Best possible'

What about Mastersound, Cayin, Graaf, Audionote, etc. etc. Have you heard these and eliminated them from the running? If not, how do you know what's the best possible if you haven't listened to lots of different options. Perhaps you have.

 

[El Puerco Volante]

Have you heard these?

'Best possible'

What about Mastersound, Cayin, Graaf, Audionote, etc. etc. Have you heard these and eliminated them from the running? If not, how do you know what's the best possible if you haven't listened to lots of different options. Perhaps you have.

You are quite right.

There are unfortunately no places where I live to listen to all of those systems. I'm trying to arrange a listening session for the PrimaLuna at the moment, but it's like pulling teeth.

There is one hi end dealer in the city close to which I live and that shop is the most unwelcoming place. I'd rather spend 15k on the wrong equipment then going back there 😁

 

[Jasonovich]

My question is why? A very-good valve amp is a very-good valve amp. Monoblocks is fine, but in reality it's more cost, more space, more valves to roll, etc.

With your budget I'd go about it differently. The below amp can be picked up new for around £2200. Until you start spending a vast amount more there's little that I've heard in the valve amp domain that's better. You can then further 'upgrade' this by sticking an excellent preamp in front of it (they have a pre bypass mode).

For £5k you've then got a truly kickass system. I'd then also roll the valves in this. However, you've got a lot of change from your budget to do this if you go this route.

My comments are not speculation btw, I've heard this exact amp in three different systems and it is utterly excellent. Especially considering what it costs.

I've also heard valve amps that cost 5x this amount and they don't sound 5x better.

ATB

Line Magnetic LM-805iA Integrated Amplifier Review

This interesting new mid-price Chinese valve amplifier gives Mark Gusew a warm glow…

www.stereonet.com

Edit: if you get the chance and are in the UK you should go to the Maverick Hifi show. There's a post on this forum with info about where and when. There will be many valve amps there you can hear for yourself to get some inspiration.

I'm still waiting delivery of my budget king XDUOO TA-66 headphone amp, I am gravitating towards tube rolling. I have done some catching up on the subject.
The XDUOO comes with buffer and preamp tube 6N2 and 6N5P (J class), these are Chinese centric tubes and in terms of tube rolling, there are plenty of high audio quality 6N2 and 6N5P tubes that can be replaced for the generic ones that come with the amp.

However, I recently discovered, still catching up(!), adding socket adapter for 6N2 will give you option to use 12AX7/12AU7 socketed tubes that are compatible with European types ECC82/ECC83!
Oh exciting.



It'll be a nice if we can do a future thread on tube rolling. I suspect Macintosh owners will tell you, nothing further will improve the sound of my Mac, that's cheese burger with the fries, thank you, and yes, they're probably right but we mortals on a finite budget, it's a lovely escape. Kind of reminds me of my original thread about cables

 

[Amormusic]

I'm still waiting delivery of my budget king XDUOO TA-66 headphone amp, I am gravitating towards tube rolling. I have done some catching up on the subject.
The XDUOO comes with buffer and preamp tube 6N2 and 6N5P (J class), these are Chinese centric tubes and in terms of tube rolling, there are plenty of high audio quality 6N2 and 6N5P tubes that can be replaced for the generic ones that come with the amp.

However, I recently discovered, still catching up(!), adding socket adapter for 6N2 will give you option to use 12AX7/12AU7 socketed tubes that are compatible with European types ECC82/ECC83!
Oh exciting.

View attachment 7446

It'll be a nice if we can do a future thread on tube rolling. I suspect Macintosh owners will tell you, nothing further will improve the sound of my Mac, that's cheese burger with the fries, thank you, and yes, they're probably right but we mortals on a finite budget, it's a lovely escape. Kind of reminds me of my original thread about cables

Go carefully with that. It's not quite that simple.

For example: in my JD9 valve phonostage I had a socket adapter to convert ECC83 to 5755 and had some reliability controlled Ratheons in there. This was fine to do and encouraged as they are cracking valves.

However, in my BB3 valve phonostage I asked the designer and was warned against this as it had not been spec'd and there are different loads (resistance?), I can't remember the exact answer, but in short it could damage my valve phonostage.

Just because you can make it fit doesn't mean you necessarily should. Do some digging first.

 

[Jasonovich]

Go carefully with that. It's not quite that simple.

For example: in my JD9 valve phonostage I had a socket adapter to convert ECC83 to 5755 and had some reliability controlled Ratheons in there. This was fine to do and encouraged as they are cracking valves.

However, in my BB3 valve phonostage I asked the designer and was warned against this as it had not been spec'd and there are different loads (resistance?), I can't remember the exact answer, but in short it could damage my valve phonostage.

Just because you can make it fit doesn't mean you necessarily should. Do some digging first.

Excellent point, thank you, really appreciate your feedback. I have picked up on the different loads and resistance on YouTube and the issues relating to specs of the original design. Yes, not as easy as it seems.

I'm a long way from there, I need to learn more before I embark on this project. I think I will leave sleeping dogs lie but once I have a proper foothold on the subject, I will try exchange like for like, 6N2 for another 6N2 or 6N5P for another 6N5P.
Thank you for bringing this to light, it certainly isn't as simple as switching cables!
Also there's no guarantee it would improve the sound .

 

[skinnypuppy71]

The only tube rolling I try is between my el34's and kt120.....I'd love a bash at kt150's but they'd cost a arm and leg for 8 of those things.

 

[Amormusic]

I'm a long way from there, I need to learn more before I embark on this project.

I've got a box of "spares" - quite a few different valves, types, brands, and ages. From vintage to new.

When you get to this you are welcome to borrow a few for a play. Send me a PM when you are ready and I'll post you them and you can post back when you've had fun with them.

 

[Jasonovich]

I've got a box of "spares" - quite a few different valves, types, brands, and ages. From vintage to new.

When you get to this you are welcome to borrow a few for a play. Send me a PM when you are ready and I'll post you them and you can post back when you've had fun with them.

That's very kind Amor. I am wee bit ahead of myself Still waiting for delivery of my TA-66 from AliExpress but hope soon to Get My Kicks On TA-66 Yeah thank you sounds like a plan.