can anyone recommend tube amp for dartzeel preamp?


Hi,

I have the dartzeel preamp and dartzeel amplifier combination and love it. I would like to have the choice of a tube amplifier to use on occasion to give me a different feel/sound. Can anyone recommend a tube amplifier that is synergistic with a dartzeel preamp. I will be using it probably 2/3 for vinyl 1/3 for cd. My speakers are moderately efficient 93db floor standing evolution acoustic mm2 with a powered woofer. I am not looking to break the bank as this tube amplifier would be as a secondary amplifier so am setting a budget for an amp to buy used on audiogon at $3,000. I am thinking something between 50 and 75 watts would probably be right.

thanks

Michael
radioheadokplayer
I am considering the mcintosh which is well-liked here thanks for the suggestion have you heard it with the dartzeel preamp?

I am tempted with mcintosh mc275 mkv but the folks at hoffman swear by the mc30? I think the mc30 would be more finicky to keep happy even assuming I find a mono pair in good shape. Is the mc275 mkv autobias?

I was also considering the BAT vk55se or the vk60

I think I will stay away from integrated because I love the Dartzeel preamp for line/phono.

I could swing the lesser priced EAR tube power amp too?

Any other less finicky preferably autobias tube amp to consider with 50 watt or more power?

Since my speakers are not high efficiency will stay away from set amp or other lower powered amps.
I would ask Jonathan for his opinion if you have not already yet done so. I cannot respond directly to your question, but note that I have a darTZeel amp and a VAC Renaissance 70/70 Mk. III tube amp that I run with a solid-state, battery-powered Rowland Coherence II preamp. The VAC is a push/pull, 65 watts/channel, zero feedback triode design that autobiases and runs 300B output tubes (it also has a sentry circuit that shuts down any output tube that begins to go outside of safe operating parameters). It is all point-to-point wired, and features very high parts and output transformer quality (ten years ago, the Mk. III retailed for $14K and the Signature version $18K). Mk. III's can be had for between $3K to $4K used. I'm not necessarily advocating this amp - I have no experience running it with Evolution Acoustics speakers - but am simply trying to give you ideas. Again, I would talk to Jonathan if I were you.
with the level of quality of your dartz amp & pre-amp I doubt that a tube pre-amp at under $5000 or even $8000 would give you as much as satisfaction with your s/s dartz amp.
Even though one is s/s and the other is tube, the cheaper tube amp will not give you the same level of refinement as the dartz.
I have tried this route on numerous occasions & it always ends up disappointing. (always to the detriment of the cheaper component.)
Personally I would hold off to that purchase.
However if you would insist, i can highly recommend you give one of those tube lamm power amp a spin. Those have similar level of pedigree as your dartz amp.
Good luck.
I agree with everyone. I don't think you would be happy unless you get Lamm or current VAC amp.
I too was a solid state guy and now tubes. To me, like vinyl, tubes are away of life(music). Either you do it or you don't! Any half way attempt will just end in disaster("I tried tubes don't see the big deal" kind of talk)! Happy with dart? Stay the course. Looking for something else? Make the move(or another set up). I did. Not looking back! That is the way I see anyway.