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beginner seperate system

all the listening I do leads to crazy high prices.  anyone out there that can do great high fi on a couple grand budget?  I have nad 275bee bridged mono with focal aria 948.  I would like to experiment with maybe a tube setup or a really reverby ss if exists.  I have a couple rythmik 15 in subs that can do bass.  have a few headphone systems that really have opened my eyes on sound.  can hifi wonky/tubes be done with subs?  and lowest entry point worth the money?  would be great to find something under 5k that can play well with aria speakers.
austin_jeff
buellrider97's avatar
buellrider97
135 posts
 
Sorry you asked about separates . I own a Schiit Yiggy, Bifrost and Loki . I’m currently considering a Freya to use instead of my Rogue Pre. I am extremely pleased with their products as they offer great value . I’ve updated my Rogue with NOS Telefunkens and run a Mowwrow MPA4 power cord and MA5 Interconnects and Herbies footers, however it has too much gain and doesn’t pair well with high power amps . Don Sachs builds a fabulous pre . You might also consider Odyssey Audio too.  They offer a tube pre and a matching SS amp(s)  in stereo or mono bloc’s at reasonable prices . I was trying something similar to you , but with vintage  JBL studio monitors. I was never happy with the JBL’s and changed direction to Zu and low power. However I intend on revisiting this and I hope that you post your results, Mike. 
last_lemming
407 posts
 
Decware Rachael integrates if you fond of SET tube amps. 
kosst_amojan
2,095 posts
 
I wouldn't consider an Atma-Sphere amp for Focal speakers. Ralph is a great guy, but he designs amps intended to drive benign, sensitive speakers. 948's are moderately sensitive, but NOT benign. 
Tubes, for power amplification, aren't going to make those speakers do what they should. If you're looking for a good tube sound, aim for a simple single ended pre-amp and pipe that into a solid state class A amp that smirks mockingly at 2.5 ohms. 
gdnrbob
2,421 posts
 
Actually, Atma amps are pretty stable for a tube amp. If impedance drops are severe, he recommends using the Zero Autoformers.
Even Steve McCormack says they make his SS amps sound better.
Bob
lous's avatar
lous
82 posts
 
Hi dcevens,
As for your concern about Don's preamp, if Don should meet with some tragic circumstance after you bought a preamp from him, Roy Muttram, and Bob Latino are loosely connected with him, so I am sure that they would help, but frankly his gear is well built, he doesn't have a lot of issues or else his reputation would be shot. Beyond that, there are plenty of people who have worked with tube gear for years and would be quite capable of repairing his gear if needs be. The ONLY real problems would be parts as he is using transformers and output capacitors from Europe so there would be a time lag as neither currently have US distribution yet.
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