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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
bdgregory
1,580 posts
 
djh, if you're serious about a tube amp and can find the $ for the TAD, or a similar amp with volume control w/i your budget, here's an option: Use your Pioneer as a switch for your CD, Tuner, Phono. Connect the power amp to the Tape output of the Pioneer, and use the volume control on the power amp.

This is hardly an ideal rig, but accomplishes a couple of things -
1) bypasses much the preamp section of the pioneer sending the cleanest output to the amp. It will sound very nice.
2) gets you a better amp for your budget, and a better upgrade platform when you're ready to go to a separate preamp.

The other option to consider is a tube preamp with a SS power amp. You may be able to find a combination used in your budget range.

Finally - there's a lot of great used SS gear that may kill anything tube in this price range, and give you a very satisfying rig until you're ready for the next step. You may be able to get most of your investment back on resale that way. Also, you'll increase your options if you consider separate pre & power amps in addition to integrated amps
eagleman6722
217 posts
 
I second the TAD pre and amp combo. I am running them with Vandy 2CE signatures and the sound changes dramatically with rolling tubes. If you want to stay integrated you can usually find a DK Design for unnder $1500. i have seen them as low as 1100. It has a phono stage.
pauly
456 posts
 
Djh, give Totem a call and ask them what amps they recommend.

I use 88db sensitive speaker with a 12wpc SE tube amp, but my speakers are designed to be used with tube amps and have both a high nominal impedance and a benign impedance curve.

Many speakers are not suitable for use with tube amps and to do so may lead you to dislike both your speakers and the tube amp you select.

Regards
Paul
djh OP
10 posts
 
You know what Pauly? That's probably the best thing for me to do. My heads swimming in all of this jargon. And it may be for naught. Now I will be VERY dissappointed if I'm advised not to use tubed amps. I so want to hear what the fuss is about. Perhaps I should have called BEFORE I bought the Sttafs. But they are sooo cute and sounded sooo nice;-) Too late now. I'll make the call and take it from there.

Surely I can at least plug in a tubed pre-amp! I'll make the call.

Thanks to all for the kind advise. Kept me busy searching the web's dictionaries and all the used amp sites. It's fun but I think my wife's on to me...
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