If you like heat and replacing power tubes every 6 months then go with tubes.I like a SS amp that sounds the same every day i had tube amps such as CJ premier 5s,ARC d150 etc. Im very happy with solid state however i do have a tube phono stage and love it.Good luck though!
I am TORN between Tube power amp and SS power amp.
I planned on running my Hagerman Clarinet with either my Hafler DH-500 (looking at "Ultimate" Audiophile Upgrade sold on Ebay at $975.00 - complete upgrade from power caps, driver boards to Exicon MOSFETs, which has "rave reviews") or building DIY VTA ST-120 which will cost a bit more. Does anyone had an experience on both of these amps? I know comparing tube and SS is like comparing apples and oranges, but hoping your feedback may help me decide. Cheers!
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Uh, I think replacing power tubes every 6 months is a bit of an exaggeration. Maybe I'm just lucky but I haven't had that experience. But anything is possible. No experience with the amplifiers you mention but the Hafler, if in good working condition and no issues would be my choice. I grew up during a time when there were no SS audio gear. Sure I've had my share of SS amps but I prefer the sound of a SET amp. |
I took a look at the manual for the Hagerman Clarinet line stage. It has a very high specified output impedance of 3K. That is most likely the output impedance at a mid-range frequency such as 1 kHz, and I see in the schematic that the design utilizes a 1 uF coupling capacitor at its output. A 1 uF capacitor has an impedance of about 8K at 20 Hz, which will result in an overall output impedance at 20 Hz that approaches 11,000 ohms! That will make the Clarinet unsuitable for use with many and perhaps the majority of solid state amps, as well as with more than a few tube amps. I see that the stock DH500 has an input impedance of 47K, which would result in deep bass response with the Clarinet that is marginal at best (assuming that your speakers have reasonably good deep bass extension themselves; otherwise you might not notice the issue). If the upgrade you referred to would result in a reduction of that input impedance, I wouldn’t even consider it. I know nothing about the VTA ST-120, but before deciding on it I would certainly inquire as to its input impedance. IMO 100K or more would be optimal, and as I said 47K is marginal at best. Finally, you didn’t mention what speakers you will be driving. Its characteristics (including impedance, impedance variation over the frequency range, and sensitivity) will of course be important considerations in choosing an amp. Good luck. Regards, -- Al |
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