Ack! I'm completely confused about tube amps.

[Czilla9000]

Ok here's the deal...

As I detailed in another thread, I want to get a JVC DX1000 for its sound and collector value.

However, the consensus seems to be that it will sound like crap (or not reach anywhere near its potential) coming straight from my Macbook or iPhone. Currently, the only amp I have is electrostatic. I don't have any dynamic amps.

So I'm looking for an amp ($500-600) to use with the JVC's when I finally get them. In general, from past experiences, I am very skeptical about spending money on amps. However, I've heard others say the JVC's sound good with tubes. Now, in my six years as a HeadFi member I've never heard tubes...I know...it is a travesty.

I also read some stuff recently that made a good argument for tubes beating solid state.

In general I like big soundstages and warm lush sound.... so it seems like I should probably go with tubes especially considering the JVC's I want are supposed to sound good with them.

Ideally I would like a DAC tube combo so I can use it with my Macbook. However, the xCanV8 seems like the only option. Should I go with that?

The TTVG Portable Millet tube amp also looks appealing...would I get real tube sound out of it? If only it had a built in DAC...




Now here is where I get really lost....I keep on hearing about all these tube amps that don't seem to have clear websites where I can buy them. People recommend amps here all the time that I can't seem to find out how to order or get clear manufacture info about. Don't get me started on tube rolling...

Back in the ol' days Headroom was your pretty much your only option (ok, for solid state) and things were clear. Tyll was dictator of the ss amp world

Now it's like Mogadushu Somalia...there are all these small companies and DIYers running around peddling their wares and I have no idea what to get or how to order. Ack!

thanks

EDIT: The Tube FAQ is very helpful on understanding tube amps, but my confusion comes from finding out WHAT model to buy and WHERE/HOW to buy it.

 

[djork]

Hi there, Skylab has the DX1000 and is using it with a couple types of tube amps - darkvoice 337 and the singlepower extreme. you might wanna PM him for opinion.

 

[riceboy]

I use my JVC-DX1000 out of my SinglePower PPX3 Slam and I like it. I've used it with my higher end SinglePower custom builded amp called "The Dragon" as well. They both sounded great. I haven't used them out of a Dark Voice or Woo Audio tube amp. Best of luck on your search.

 

[92135011]

Think you are going to need to do some emailing/phoning to find out dealer lists. Reading around, it seems amps such as the earmax are very good. There is also another maker called antique sound labs. Both of these have good followings and will have dealers around.

 

[Czilla9000]

I thought I remember reading that the Darkvoice and the JVC's were a big no-no together.

Anyway how would I go about ordering a Darkvoice? So often when I hear about an amp I don't know how to order it.

Would it be possible or wise to commission a DIYer to build me a combo DAC tube amp?

 

[djork]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Czilla9000 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I thought I remember reading that the Darkvoice and the JVC's were a big no-no together. Anyway how would I go about ordering a Darkvoice? So often when I hear about an amp I don't know how to order it. Would it be possible or wise to commission a DIYer to build me a combo DAC tube amp?

There's a couple of sellers of darkvoice products on Ebay i think, one is jasmine eBay Store - Jasmine Hifi Audio Store: and the other is casque hi-end eBay Store - HIGH END CASQUE: Headphone Amps Ampli Casque, Headphones Casque, TUBE AMPLIFIER Amplificateurs

 

[Sovkiller]

Why do you want to use particularly tubes? The DX is a very sensitive low Z heapdhone, so my guess is that it will pair very well with a SS high current Class A amp...

Also you will have more options in the price range you are looking for. As per tube amps, in that price range, not sure how good they will be, they usually tend to be a lot more expensive, unless hybrids, keep in mind that you may need an OTL amp, those for low Z are not so frequent, and usually use expensive and big tubes...Avoid transformer coupled amps please...!!!

 

[slwiser]

Check out the Yamamoto HA-02. It uses only one tube type and it is readily available. The amp sounds beautiful. It is designed for low Z headphones. I know of no comparisons of the DX1000 with the Yamamoto though. 6moons has a nice review of the Yamamoto.

 

[sacd lover]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sovkiller /img/forum/go_quote.gif Why do you want to use particularly tubes? The DX is a very sensitive low Z heapdhone, so my guess is that it will pair very well with a SS high current Class A amp... Also you will have more options in the price range you are looking for. As per tube amps, in that price range, not sure how good they will be, they usually tend to be a lot more expensive, unless hybrids, keep in mind that you may need an OTL amp, those for low Z are not so frequent, and usually use expensive and big tubes...Avoid transformer coupled amps please...!!!

Sovkiller .... you just became the King of Misinformation about tube amps.

Transformer coupled amps are usually designed for low impedances, like the Mapletree Ear+, and work best with low Z headphones. OTL 's can become current starved at low impedances. But, if the OTL amp has high output power, like a Singlepower Extreme, then the amp will still have current output to drive a low impedance headphone with authority. If the DX-1000 is truly a high sensitivity headphone .... that will make the headphone easier for any tube amp to drive.

A lot of transformer coupled amps have multiple taps off the transformer and have a switch so you can select a given impedance.The Woo 6 at around $600 has a high/ low impedance switch .... and so does several others.

For OTL's I would look for a used PPX3 SLAM which is I know is awesome amp with low impedance Grados. The better tube amps are beyond your price point new. With the falling dollar even the former budget priced Mapletree Ear+ is almost $800 usd.

For your requirements I would look at the Woo 6 here .....

WooAudio6 - Single-Ended Class A Tube Headphone Amplifier with Output Transformer

 

[Czilla9000]

What about the DIY designs like the Millet Starving Students and others? Could I commission a HeadFier to build me one of the those with an intregrated DAC?

Thanks.

 

[Uncle Erik]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Czilla9000 /img/forum/go_quote.gif What about the DIY designs like the Millet Starving Students and others? Could I commission a HeadFier to build me one of the those with an intregrated DAC? Thanks.

Sure. There are a number of DIY DAC offerings and any of those can be added to the amp of your choice. The only integrated project I know of is this:

HeadWize - Project: Hi-End Transformer-Coupled Tube Headphone Amplifier With Digital Input by Andrea Ciuffoli

I think it'd be outside your budget, as the iron alone runs close to $750.

But there are a number of other tube designs that will run $200-$300 in parts and leave the rest for construction. And I think you can get an Alien DAC kit from Glass Jar Audio for about $40.

 

[92135011]

How about one of those bottlehead amps. SEX is selling for 369 plus you can impove the SEX with better transformers for 40. You will have to put it all together yourself, but they do include everything except solder and an iron. I was going to buy one of these 300B kits back in the day, but got an audionote amp instead...always tend to spend more than I originally intend...sigh

 

[sacd lover]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 92135011 /img/forum/go_quote.gif How about one of those bottlehead amps. SEX is selling for 369 plus you can impove the SEX with better transformers for 40. You will have to put it all together yourself, but they do include everything except solder and an iron. I was going to buy one of these 300B kits back in the day, but got an audionote amp instead...always tend to spend more than I originally intend...sigh

The Bottlehead is a very good amp. Mine has an upgraded attenuator and a high/ low impedenace switch to go between my Senns and Grados. I like the Bottlehead better than the Woo 6 or Mapletree Ear+. The bass is excellent.

 

[Czilla9000]

I'm trying to keep things simple. I was wondering if I could get someone else to build me an amp.

So often I hear about things on HeadFi that I don't know how to order. For instance, the Zero DAC. I hear people talk about it all the time but when I Google it no official website comes up. The Little Dot amps are another example. Where do you order these things?

It's frustrating to hear about amps and then have no idea how to order them. I don't mean to sound angry but how do you guys keep track of all this stuff? What am I missing?

 

[fuzydice]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Czilla9000 /img/forum/go_quote.gif So often I hear about things on HeadFi that I don't know how to order. For instance, the Zero DAC. I hear people talk about it all the time but when I Google it no official website comes up. The Little Dot amps are another example. Where do you order these things?

You can order the little dot products directly from Little-Tube. See the Purchasing Information sticky for specs, pics, warranty and how to order. In general, look for the long threads about a particular product (like the Zero or little dot mkIII, for example) in the appropriate forum here on head-fi and you'll eventually see someone describe how they obtained theirs.