Am I mad? Judge me...and leave a recommendation.

[DVDdoug]

So I hate valve amps (erm...'toob' amps). I don't like their sound. I don't like their performance.

I'm sure McIntosh tube amps are just as transparent as any good as any solid state amp. I actually had once when I was in high school. Somebody gave it to me and it sounded fine but it was mono and I eventually ended giving it away to someone else. (And, I wasn't really fascinated with outdated technology.)

 

[Berwhale]

There's the LG DukeBox for the discerning audiophile who likes to take in the valve glow with his eyes closed...

 

[Count Arthur]

How to make RGB LED Controller

In this Electronic Project we are going to make a simple "RGB LED Controller Circuit using BD139 Transistors". RGB LED has great usage nowada

www.circuits-diy.com

Instead of an RGB LED strip, use RGB LED "bulbs" to illuminate the vacuum tubes from below:

Mount the three potentiometers on the front of the case with some nice retro looking knobs:

You can now adjust in the RGB colours to create an authentic looking orange, or go nuts and have purple, or whatever you want.

 

[JustJones]

I wonder if you can get tube amp scenes for TV like those fireplace scenes? You could record some different tubes and loop through them.

 

[Gringoaudio1]

Just buy a tube amp and enjoy it.

A proper HiFi enthusiats should have the following things or they are not serious:

At least 4 pairs of speakers
Several integrated amplifiers.
A few pre/power pairs.
Two broken cassette decks and one mostly working.
Random mixtapes.
A 10" NAB reel of tape with some obscure master of an artist nobody's heard of.
3 CD players- one with a jammed CD inside.
A decent turntable or three.
Two pairs of headphones.
And
At least one Tube Amp!

Hilarious!! I might be guilty!

 

[ta240]

Nice one.

Given that I’m buying it for the looks, I do want a strong element of ‘classy, finished’ look to it.

classy doesn't come cheap and gaudy costs even more.

 

[Count Arthur]

classy doesn't come cheap and gaudy costs even more.

Indeed.

 

[Anton D]

I don't know if you can tube roll....

fake tube amp

www.coolthings.com

 

[pinger]

Tube amps are cool. Not worth the trouble though with blown tubes etc. SS for me all day

 

[tmtomh]

I echo the suggestion to just get a clock or similar tube-display item.

If you want an actual piece of gear, though, maybe a Schitt Freya+ preamp? It has tubes but you can also bypass them. The tubes stick out of the top so you're good to go there - I'm just not sure if they still glow when you have them bypassed.

 

[Platypus20]

Just buy a tube amp and enjoy it.

A proper HiFi enthusiats should have the following things or they are not serious:

At least 4 pairs of speakers
Several integrated amplifiers.
A few pre/power pairs.
Two broken cassette decks and one mostly working.
Random mixtapes.
A 10" NAB reel of tape with some obscure master of an artist nobody's heard of.
3 CD players- one with a jammed CD inside.
A decent turntable or three.
Two pairs of headphones.
And
At least one Tube Amp!

Can I substitute a 8 track player/recorder for the reel to reel ??

 

[restorer-john]

Can I substitute a 8 track player/recorder for the reel to reel ??

Absolutely! Double points if it actually works.

And, if anyone has a drawer full of NOS tubes for "rolling", they get a bonus immunity card they can play anytime to avoid being kicked out of the audiophile playground.

 

[MattHooper]

So I hate valve amps (erm...'toob' amps). I don't like their sound. I don't like their performance. I don't like the fact that you have to spend a relative fortune to get a half-decent-sounding one.

Now you may disagree with any or all of that, but let's leave that to one side for the moment, because you can still help me out, even if you totally disagree. Isn't that a breath of fresh air.

I also think they look fantastic. I'm sure they're not everyone's cup of tea, but for me they look quite wonderful.

So I want one. But I'm not going to use it, at least not to power any speakers or headphones. I just want a set of massive, juicy glowing valves on my desktop.

And I want them to cost next to nothing.

Over to you for recommendations.

Many thanks.

Now imagine not only owning a nice glowy tube amp that you loved to look at, but enjoying the sound as well!

Best of both worlds!

Join us....

 

[restorer-john]

Now imagine not only owning a nice glowy tube amp that you loved to look at, but enjoying the sound as well!

Best of both worlds!

Join us....

One step at a time. Let's get the thing in his door first.

 

[tmtomh]

Absolutely! Double points if it actually works.

And, if anyone has a drawer full of NOS tubes for "rolling", they get a bonus immunity card they can play anytime to avoid being kicked out of the audiophile playground.

Elcaset is clearly the solution.

 

[coonmanx]

How much is "next to nothing"?

Monoprice Stereo Hybrid Tube Amplifier With Bluetooth & Line Output | 50 Watt 889028042670 | eBay

Monoprice Stereo Hybrid Tube Amplifier With Bluetooth & Line Output | 50 Watt.

www.ebay.com

 

[617]

Oh yeah the kondo wavac and old mckintosh stuff? Or Lamm? Absolutely sick looking.

So I hate valve amps (erm...'toob' amps). I don't like their sound. I don't like their performance. I don't like the fact that you have to spend a relative fortune to get a half-decent-sounding one.

Now you may disagree with any or all of that, but let's leave that to one side for the moment, because you can still help me out, even if you totally disagree. Isn't that a breath of fresh air.

I also think they look fantastic. I'm sure they're not everyone's cup of tea, but for me they look quite wonderful.

So I want one. But I'm not going to use it, at least not to power any speakers or headphones. I just want a set of massive, juicy glowing valves on my desktop.

And I want them to cost next to nothing.

Over to you for recommendations.

Many thanks.

 

[MaxwellsEq]

Do you have electronics repair skills or do you want to develop such skills? You could try and get a non-working valve amplifier to work. Multiple bonuses in one go.

Valve circuits are sometimes simpler to understand and (unlike SMD solutions) it's often relatively easy to replace components. But be aware of lethal voltages (which is why it's safer to start with line-level solid state kit instead).

 

[Yorkshire Mouth]

Do you have electronics repair skills or do you want to develop such skills? You could try and get a non-working valve amplifier to work. Multiple bonuses in one go.

Valve circuits are sometimes simpler to understand and (unlike SMD solutions) it's often relatively easy to replace components. But be aware of lethal voltages (which is why it's safer to start with line-level solid state kit instead).

Skill set ≤ 0.

 

[BDWoody]

But be aware of lethal voltages (which is why it's safer to start with line-level solid state kit instead).

It's the 'lethal voltages' thing that puts me off the tube world.

Working around 600v gives me the heebies.