Should I(GLite user) up/downgrade to tube amps(Little Dot)?

[tjumper78]

My source is laptop->KECES DA-151, and my headphones are HD650 and DT990 2005(and planning on getting DT990 Manufaktur in the near future). I mainly listen to rock and pop but I do enjoy many other genres. I am a fan of warm sound and huge amount of quality bass sound.
I've been using Gilmore Lite for a while and I can say I've been satisfied with it. However, GLite has been the only non-portable amp that I've tried until now, and I want to try a tube amp. I've been reading reviews on Little Dot MKIII and MKIV.
I'd love to just purchase a tube amp and compare it to my GLite but I just could not do so because of my currently tight financial situation. So if I were to buy another amp, I'd have to sell the GLite.
From what I've read, GLite sounds bright and cold while tube amps sound warm and provide better(?) bass.
1. Just looking at the price, GLite costs a lot more than both MKIII and MKIV. Does that mean GLite provides "better" SQ? I know it is not a good question because GLite and Little Dots have different sound signature. I am just asking in general, by just looking at the price tag.
2. I am worried about the sound becoming too warm or muddy with Little Dots since my headphones are warm sounding products in the first place.
3. Are the Little Dot tube amps good for rock and pop music?
4. How long do those tubes last? Say with 2 hours of daily use.
5. What is a difference between LD MKIV and MKIV SE?
6. Any kind of opinions, suggestions and recommendations will be highly appreciated.
Thank you.

 

[Carmantom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjumper78 /img/forum/go_quote.gif My source is laptop->KECES DA-151, and my headphones are HD650 and DT990 2005(and planning on getting DT990 Manufaktur in the near future). I mainly listen to rock and pop but I do enjoy many other genres. I am a fan of warm sound and huge amount of quality bass sound. I've been using Gilmore Lite for a while and I can say I've been satisfied with it. However, GLite has been the only non-portable amp that I've tried until now, and I want to try a tube amp. I've been reading reviews on Little Dot MKIII and MKIV. I'd love to just purchase a tube amp and compare it to my GLite but I just could not do so because of my currently tight financial situation. So if I were to buy another amp, I'd have to sell the GLite. From what I've read, GLite sounds bright and cold while tube amps sound warm and provide better(?) bass. 1. Just looking at the price, GLite costs a lot more than both MKIII and MKIV. Does that mean GLite provides "better" SQ? I know it is not a good question because GLite and Little Dots have different sound signature. I am just asking in general, by just looking at the price tag. 2. I am worried about the sound becoming too warm or muddy with Little Dots since my headphones are warm sounding products in the first place. 3. Are the Little Dot tube amps good for rock and pop music? 4. How long do those tubes last? Say with 2 hours of daily use. 5. What is a difference between LD MKIV and MKIV SE? 6. Any kind of opinions, suggestions and recommendations will be highly appreciated. Thank you.

I don't know if it helps. There is quite a following of Little Tube here. Maybe this link will provide some info. I personally owned the MK IV SE and did not like it. It was too warm and muddy for me. I was using HD 600s with it. Here is the link:
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/rev...re-amp-309855/

 

[tfarney]

I wouldn't sell the G-Lite to acquire a mid-priced tube amp, without a long audition and comparison. The Senns are warm already. I'd be afraid I'd end up with a lot of smooth, but not enough definition.

Do you have the upgraded power supply for the G-Lite? If you do decide to sell it, let me know.

Tim

 

[tjumper78]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tfarney /img/forum/go_quote.gif I wouldn't sell the G-Lite to acquire a mid-priced tube amp, without a long audition and comparison. The Senns are warm already. I'd be afraid I'd end up with a lot of smooth, but not enough definition. Do you have the upgraded power supply for the G-Lite? If you do decide to sell it, let me know. Tim

yea i am worried about the sound becoming too smooth and too warm. however, a lot of people have claimed that tube amps + senn phones giving such sound was false. so i am trying to find out more about that stuff here.

btw, yes i have the amp + dps combo.

 

[jh4db536]

if i were you, id get the Darkvoice 33X

 

[Drag0n]

Woo Audio

 

[mchang]

I had some of the same questions and concerns as you, tjumper78.

I have the HD-650 paired with the GLite+DPS. My source is OMZ v41. I used to have the DT-990 ('05 edition). I chose to pick up a Darkvoice 332 tube amp after my GLite arrived (originally to complement, then I thought would replace GLite, and currently is back to being a complement).

The sound is quite different between the two. For me, the GLite is extremely detailed and bright. It works well with jazz and vocals. The DV (with Svetlana and WE tubes, which many report gives a SS-like sound) is not as detailed and is warm. It works well with rock. I'm still evaluating which is better with electronica and trip hop (most of my music).

I've wrestled with whether to keep one or both amps. I must say that the GLite is less hassle -- this may be because I've had to troubleshoot my tubes for buzzing (narrowed it down to current WEs). I have to turn it on about 15 minutes before I want to listen. I have to worry about leaving it on all the time (runs really hot -- I have 2-year-old and cats). The tube rolling (while interesting, I'm not really into -- I just want to find the "best" combo and stick with it). Finding the "best" tubes via Ebay has proven a hassle, too. And now there is a thread about tube dampeners. Sheesh!

That said, I think I enjoy the DV sound more than GLite. When the DV is on, I just sit and enjoy (when I'm not listening for buzzing

). Maybe it's my music choices and my sensitivity to high treble. Once I get non-humming tubes here and running, I may just use the DV most of the time unless I want that extra detail and brightness.

I'm not sure if there is a single amp that can deliver everything I want: warm sound but not too dark, cool to touch, plug and play, detailed, medium brightness, under $1K in price, good with HD-650. So I think I'm keeping both.

 

[Godkin]

Darkvoice 332 or 337.

 

[tjumper78]

i like the looks of little-dots better than darkvoices. also, little-dots seem to be smaller than the darkvoices. and there is a huge difference between the shipping costs.

also, is it worth to shell out extra $100 for MKIV SE over MKIV?

 

[tfarney]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjumper78 /img/forum/go_quote.gif yea i am worried about the sound becoming too smooth and too warm. however, a lot of people have claimed that tube amps + senn phones giving such sound was false. so i am trying to find out more about that stuff here. btw, yes i have the amp + dps combo.

You know what I'd do? And this is based on no first-hand experience with the amps in question, mind you -- I'd find a used Little Dot or Darkvoice, hopefully at a pretty good price. I'd be prepared, financially, to be able to keep them both and go back and forth between them for a month or so, then keep the keeper and sell the other. If you buy used and you buy right, it shouldn't cost you much.

Tim

 

[ethebull]

One of the great things about tube amps is the ability to tailor the sound signature through tube rolling. The stock tubes in the LD MkIII are not at all overly warm, in fact, they are the brightest and least tubey of all that I’ve tried. (12 different drivers to date). The bass wasn’t muddy, but it wasn’t particularly strong either. Bass weight and impact is the one area of my LD/K701 rig that I feel could use a boost, but that’s likely more a function of what the 701’s bring to the equation.

 

[tjumper78]

i couldnt defeat the temptations. glite on sale now.
ordering littledot mkiv se soon.
arghh i hope i am making the right choice.

 

[Rocky]

I'm in a similar situation. I currently own a Heed CanAmp and HD650, and I am very satisfied with the combo. That said, the canamp is the only non-portable amp I have tried, and I would really like to try The Little Dot MKIII. So I guess I'll be saving up some $$ and get myself the MKIII in a little while.