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To tube, or not to tube, that is the question

Falling head first into the hi-fi stratosphere. Read some of your posts that you should start with your speakers first then select the appropriate amp. So, I'm picking up my "new to me" Totems Sttaffs (spelled correctly don't you know) tomorrow and I am anticipating that my good old 30 year old Pioneer SA 6800 amp just ain't going to cut it any more. I should get a new amp.

I have an opportunity to purchase an Audiolab 8000S integrated amp to power the Sttafs. I really don't know if the Audiolab is the amp for these speakers but the price is right. I'm also thinking that all this chat about tubes should mean that it might be worth a try, The 8000S can act as a power amp if I hook it up to a tubed pre-amp later when I get more bucks. Or maybe I should forgo the ss integrated amp entirely and jump both feet into the tube world with either a tube integrated or a hybid. Keep in mind, I have quite an eclectic taste in music, mostly centering around electronic jazz and instrumental classical pieces, guitar acoustical renditions, vocal centered ballad material and the occassional heavy metal head banging rants. And I do have a limited budget. No Pathos amps for me. I'd be REALLY glad if I could pull this off under $500 (Do I hear the word "China"?). Would I be throwing good money to bad starting my tube journey with the 8000S? Can any amp fill this void?

I don't want to hear "Why did you get the Sttafs?" because I just did. I really liked them in the shop and I think they will be great in my home. I would like to know if reasonably priced tube amps can work with the Sttafs and if not, well, what do you suggest?

Thanks ahead for any input.
djh
djh OP
10 posts
 
Hey, thanks for the input. Obviously, I've got a lot to learn so I'll be reading these responses over and over. Spent the whole night listening to the Sttafs. Just a real treat, even with the old amp! I can only imagine what a modern amp and a good set of wires will do. My ears opened up when I played the first album I bought when I purchased my first stereo (HPM 60 speakers, Kenwood receiver, and a Duel turntable) - Dire Straits, Sultans of Swing. Funny, it felt like I was a teenager sitting in my bedroom again. The LP sounded just as warm and inviting as I remember. Kool!

I will probably keep my old Pioneer amp for a little while. I may eventually pick up a new SS integrated amp (perhaps a NAD). I really would like to experiment with the tubes though. My living room is 16x15x8' tall. Cozy enough for a lower wattage tube amp I think. I'm going to take my time exploring my options and learning more about tubes, wattages, amps, and impedances. I'll also keep my eyes on the used ads for some of the brands mentioned above.

Thanks again for your input.
springbok10
708 posts
 
I've found just the amp for you on A'gon - a TAD-60 (I have owned them) which can be used as an integrated amp with one input - has a volume control. The sound, with EL 34 tubes, is tremendous. It's reliable, easy to use and is a real tube amp. Parts Chinese, designer and assembler, American. Bizzybee.com (Paul Grzybek is the nicest guy to deal with). $750 obo on A'gon now. ($1500 new)
djh OP
10 posts
 
Re the TAD-60. If you want to use a phono, cd player, and a tuner, how can you with one input?
springbok10
708 posts
 
You cant. I figured ypu'd start with CD to see if you liked the sound and if you do, you can get a decent line-stage (Mapletree) for $400 and a Bellari phono pre-amp for $175.
springbok10
708 posts
 
Or, even better, the TAD Sig tubed 150 pre-amp - with a phono stage - $750 on A'gon. I owm one now - a terrific brtgain. But you're still spending $1500 rather than $500. On the other hand, you'll be getting really good sound.
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