Best entry level tube amp?

[cmabooty]

Anyone have a recommendation for a first tube amp? I saw a mass drop deal for a dark voice 336 se, but saw mixed reviews.

A friend got a Crack and loves it, but I'm not a DIY-er.

 

[cel4145]

What headphones do you plan to use with it?

What is your budget?

Do you already have a DAC? What will the tube amp be connected to?

 

[cmabooty]

My current headphones aren't ideal for tubes:
ATH M50
Senn Amperior
Grado SR60i

I do already have a DAC, emotiva xda-2.

I'd like to get planars. Maybe HE560s?

 

[Vigrith]

Depends what you consider entry level, also do you want just OTL or are you okay with hybrid. Is the Crack entry-level price for you? It's pretty expensive considering how many cheaper options are out there nowadays.
 
I'd say sub 200 and everything taken into consideration, ie. availability, warranty, customer service, tube rolling, sound quality, versatility, etc the Vali 2 is pretty much unbeatable. That's just my opinion though, it works with planars and dynamics, I have personally heard it with 400S, 400i and 500s and it performs a lot better than you'd expect for the price (like $150).
 
I don't know what any of your headphones sound like though so far as that goes I can't really comment.

 

[cel4145]

What is your budget?

 

[pippen99]

Check out the Garage 1217 website.  Lots of choices for not a lot of money.  I have listened to a Project Ember with a HE-500 and found it quite outstanding.

 

[mysticstryk]

My current headphones aren't ideal for tubes:
ATH M50
Senn Amperior
Grado SR60i

I do already have a DAC, emotiva xda-2.

I'd like to get planars. Maybe HE560s?

 
What is your budget?  The 560 would benefit from a beefy hybrid amp (OTL amps are generally only good with high impedence headphones).  For $350 you've got the Project Ember which will drive just about anything, very versatile.  On the cheaper end you've got the Schiit Vali 2 and the Project Starlight both under $200.  I'd recommend a good solid state drive if your going with a planar and don't want to spend as much on the Project Ember though.

 

[raybone0566]

Entry level tube amp & he560 are not going to be a good combo. 560 is rather picky when amp matching. I've heard many say the ember is good match. I've owned mine for quite sometime but have only used ss amps. Violectric & audio Gd make good amps for planar phones but aren't really budget amps. To be honest if your on a budget you may want to consider the 400s instead. 560 really shines w/ upscale gear. Average w/ entry level

 

[ProtegeManiac]

Anyone have a recommendation for a first tube amp? I saw a mass drop deal for a dark voice 336 se, but saw mixed reviews.

A friend got a Crack and loves it, but I'm not a DIY-er.

Quote:

My current headphones aren't ideal for tubes:
ATH M50
Senn Amperior
Grado SR60i

I do already have a DAC, emotiva xda-2.

I'd like to get planars. Maybe HE560s?

 

Chances are your XDA-2 might even have less distortion driving the HE560 than an entry level, OTL amplifier that isn't designed for a low impedance, low sensitivity planar. OTL amps make less power at 32ohms than at 300ohms, and you're putting a low sensitivity headphone on it, which is nothing like simply reversing the output power delivery of pretty much any other amp which is higher at 32ohms than 300ohms when the 300ohm headphone it will drive has a higher sensitivity to compensate for the lower power output.

 

[cmabooty]

Thanks. I also have a schiit magni and topping T21, and a Fiio e10.

No doubt they have less distortion, but I like the tube sound better. The others are more clinical.

I guess I should have asked for the best starter tube/headphone pairing? I'll have to get new phones anyway, as all my current ones don't work well with tubes. I love the tube sound and the planar sound, so I thought about 560s, but there may be a better choice.

 

[cmabooty]

@vigrith

As far as entry level, < $300 for the amp. Just didn't want to get a firefly or something like that.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

No doubt they have less distortion, but I like the tube sound better. The others are more clinical.

 
I don't just mean euphonic distortion, I mean that OTL amplifiers tend to have a high output impedance, which leads to a loss of damping factor. You don't know which way it will distort the bass unless someone has the exact combo - you can get less bass or more bass, or less and indistinct bass or more bloated bass. That lack of a transformer is the main problem here.
 
 

I guess I should have asked for the best starter tube/headphone pairing? I'll have to get new phones anyway, as all my current ones don't work well with tubes.

 
HD600 and that Dark Voice on Massdrop.

 

I love the tube sound and the planar sound, so I thought about 560s, but there may be a better choice.

 
HE560 and Schiit Lyr2.

 

[Vigrith]

@vigrith

As far as entry level, < $300 for the amp. Just didn't want to get a firefly or something like that.

 
The Valhalla 2 is a little over $300 but I have heard nothing but good things when it comes to it (as is with all other Schiit products) even with planars, I personally have little experience with entry level amps but I too prefer planars and tubes, just recently purchased the Fireflies myself. The Darkvoice 336SE is widely regarded as a great choice too for many years now, Massdrop just had it active a couple weeks ago but they tend to re-launch it very often so that's another option. I've never heard any of the Garage 1217 amps because I reside in Europe but have also heard good things about them.
 
If I were you given you aren't sure which headphones you'll want to be getting yet I'd probably try expand my budget an extra $50~ and get a Valhalla 2, it's very recent, it's not overly warm and fairly neutral, works well with practically all impedance headphones as far as I'm aware, Schiit also advertises it as performing well with planars even though it's an OTL, they provide excellent warranty and customer service, many tube options especially if you are a little savvy with adapters and all that. The Vali 2 is also amazing for its price and performs well with all kinds of headphones, though I don't know how it'd react to the HE-560s (which btw I have auditioned at my local store with a $500~ amp along with other Hifiman hps, I ended up purchasing the newer 400S because for 1/3rd of the price it was just a no-brainer really, so take that as you will).

 

[kejar31]

Don't get the Valhalla 2 and the HE-560... It's a bad match at 45 ohms you will get like 150mW out of the Valhalla 2 :/ ... For the 560's you should really go solid state or hybrid... Maybe the HE560’s and Lyr2 or Project Ember…  If you want to keep cost down buy used… I kept an eye out and was able to pick up a lyr2 used for 350 shipped. 

 

[Jim Dickson]

I have the garage 1217 starlight and I love that amp great warranty