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My first Tube Amplifier

I have a 40 years of audio history starting with Garrard Turntable, Fisher Intergrated(SS), ADS bookself speaker on 1978.

But I started using tube amplifier on 1999.

Since then I had been using only tube amplifier in my main system.

My last SS main amplifier was Krell KSA 150 to drive Apogee Duetta Signature speakers.


http://www.jadis-electronics.com/photos/ja500/45/3/ja500.jpg

My first tube amplifier was Jadis 500 which comprised of 4 pieces weighing 120 lb each.

B&W 801 driven by Jadis 500 gave most deep and powerful bass at my home.

But it generated too much heat so it was hard to use during summer.

It was memorable experience to use it for 4 years.

I may not go back to such monster tube amplifier again.



How about you?

What is your first tube amplifier?



I bet two cents on no one had used larger one as the first tube amplifier than mine.


128x128shkong78
shkong78's avatar
shkong78 OP
515 posts
 
@firstcat1

I agree with you tubes produce "music" to ears.

Tube amp tend to give the impression that live music is played in front of you.
lowtubes
29 posts
 
Don’t want to stray far from this topic but can I get opinions on the best power tubes people like and what is it about their sound quality that makes them sound good to you. I personally like EL34’s because of the way they present  detail and resolution in a non aggressive way. My #1 tube is the 300b because it sounds more like music than any other power tube I’ve heard. What are your favorites?
shkong78's avatar
shkong78 OP
515 posts
 
@lowtubes

My most favorite tube is Western Electric 300B original made in 1930's.

I still keep it.


The second most favorite is Tungsol KT120 which has a good dynamics and balanced sound.

I also like Nos Telefuken 12AX7 and Amperex Sn7.


kudlacek's avatar
kudlacek
20 posts
 
H.H.Scott 299
unreceivedogma's avatar
unreceivedogma
196 posts
 
Like others here, I am of the generation where I thought all of us argued over whether Heathkit, Dynaco or McIntosh was the best.

In 1968, when I was 14, I put my money from mowing neighbor’s lawns and shoveling their snow into a Dyna Stereo 70, still considered a classic that -especially with upgraded caps, etc - performs as well as many of today’s amps costing 10 times as much or more.

In 1978, I graduated to a pair of Dyna MK III mono blocs.

I still own these amps for back up or parties.

In 1986, I moved on to a pair of The NY Audiolab version of the Julius Futterman output transformerless monoblocs, The OTL-3.

Two years ago, I had Jon Specter, formerly of The NY Audiolabs, convert the OTL-3s from pentode to triode and upgrade all the caps to Jansen foil/oil audio caps. Jon’s cousin, btw, is Al Kooper.
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