Sansui77 Posted August 10, 2018 Share Posted August 10, 2018 (edited) Hi All, I've been thinking about a change in direction from SS to tubes. I have some lovely sounding Sansui SS gear but would like to get into Tubes. I have found the love of listening to vintage English speaker, Rogers, Spendor, IMF, Kef etc. What Tube amps would be a good match for my speakers? What brands - models would suit etc? Been looking at Luxman, Sansui, Quad. Any help would be appreciated. Edited August 10, 2018 by Sansui77 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ittaku Posted August 10, 2018 Share Posted August 10, 2018 Hard to know exactly what to recommend without knowing exactly what speakers you'll be using with them. As a generalisation, matching is far more critical when it comes to tubes. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve M Posted August 10, 2018 Share Posted August 10, 2018 (edited) Good move ...I’ve had quite a few of those vintage solid state amps from Sansui, Lux, Marantz, Accuphase and others and while quite nice if you need the high power output, almost all of them do not keep up with a ‘good’ valve amp for sweetness and musicality. Especially on the type of loudspeakers you mention which are good at giving an emotional response. If you want to dip your toes in the valve amp world, try any of the good s/h $500-$1500 Chinese amps out there ...good ones like Mingda, Cayin, Audiospace, Consonance, Line Magnetic and the like. I would look out for push-pull designs that are rated 30-50w/ch and above, they will drive the speakers you mention. Steve. Edited August 10, 2018 by Steve M 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren69 Posted August 10, 2018 Share Posted August 10, 2018 Definitely talk to Earl at Weston Acoustics, he is very busy and I have found it best to contact him via phone or Facebook. http://www.westonacoustics.com/ 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sansui77 Posted August 10, 2018 Author Share Posted August 10, 2018 34 minutes ago, Darren69 said: Definitely talk to Earl at Weston Acoustics, he is very busy and I have found it best to contact him via phone or Facebook. http://www.westonacoustics.com/ Will do. Cheers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest deanB Posted August 13, 2018 Share Posted August 13, 2018 How about a visit to Greg Osborn to check out the Consonance Cyber 800 MkII monoblocks? These come with about $1k worth of KT150's and are quite responsive to the input valves being rolled with the good stuff. https://www.osbornloudspeakers.com.au/cyber-800-ii Zero affiliation with Greg, but have owned and loved the Cyber 800 MK I. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwhouston Posted August 13, 2018 Share Posted August 13, 2018 On 10 August 2018 at 10:47 AM, Steve M said: Good move ...I’ve had quite a few of those vintage solid state amps from Sansui, Lux, Marantz, Accuphase and others and while quite nice if you need the high power output, almost all of them do not keep up with a ‘good’ valve amp for sweetness and musicality. Especially on the type of loudspeakers you mention which are good at giving an emotional response. If you want to dip your toes in the valve amp world, try any of the good s/h $500-$1500 Chinese amps out there ...good ones like Mingda, Cayin, Audiospace, Consonance, Line Magnetic and the like. I would look out for push-pull designs that are rated 30-50w/ch and above, they will drive the speakers you mention. Steve. Have to agree here. Go for a bigger push-pull to get that 40W plus to drive some of those less eficient speakers. Your problem will be (if you listen to rock/pop up loud ) you won't get the volume and grunt you have been use to. My speakers are 100db and 92db efficient and only require a few watts. I like SE UL tube amps but not good for low effcient current hungry speakers. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ittaku Posted August 14, 2018 Share Posted August 14, 2018 (edited) I think this kit, assembled or otherwise, is fantastic value. With a full set of KT150s it is a serious rival for amps costing many times the price of this one. Though alas not monoblocks, just dual mono. http://shop.grantfidelity.com/japanese-elekit-tu-8340vk-integrated-tube-amplifier-kit-or-assembled.html Edited August 14, 2018 by Ittaku 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwhouston Posted August 14, 2018 Share Posted August 14, 2018 1 hour ago, Ittaku said: I think this kit, assembled or otherwise, is fantastic value. With a full set of KT150s it is a serious rival for amps costing many times the price of this one. Though alas not monoblocks, just dual mono. http://shop.grantfidelity.com/japanese-elekit-tu-8340vk-integrated-tube-amplifier-kit-or-assembled.html If shipping is not crazy expensive as it can be this would be a great way to go. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sansui77 Posted August 15, 2018 Author Share Posted August 15, 2018 (edited) Thanks for all your recommendations. I must of been a bit more clearer in what i'm after. I'm wanting something that's secondhand, from the used market. What brands - models around the 2 - 3K mark would get me something nice sounding and around the 40+(W) a side to drive my speakers? I'm still thinking of importing a Sansui AU-111 which i still might go this avenue. Edited August 15, 2018 by Sansui77 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ittaku Posted August 15, 2018 Share Posted August 15, 2018 1 minute ago, Sansui77 said: Thanks for all your recommendations. I must of been a bit more clearer, what i'm wanting is something that's secondhand, from the used market. What brands - models around the 2 - 3K mark would get me something nice sounding and around the 40+(W) a side to drive my speakers? Well it's not second hand, but the Elekit I showed still fits right into that price category and power. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stump Posted August 15, 2018 Share Posted August 15, 2018 1 minute ago, Sansui77 said: Thanks for all your recommendations. I must of been a bit more clearer, what i'm wanting is something that's secondhand, from the used market. What brands - models around the 2 - 3K mark would get me something nice sounding and around the 40+(W) a side to drive my speakers? I really want is a Sansui AU-111 which i still might go this avenue. Going down the retro path you will pay a premium for a working Sansui AU-111.If thats what you want start searching .Stump 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sansui77 Posted August 16, 2018 Author Share Posted August 16, 2018 On 15/08/2018 at 12:35 PM, Stump said: Going down the retro path you will pay a premium for a working Sansui AU-111.If thats what you want start searching .Stump You never know. Well maybe it has just happened 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cafad Posted August 17, 2018 Share Posted August 17, 2018 On 10/08/2018 at 10:10 AM, Sansui77 said: I've been thinking about a change in direction from SS to tubes. I have some lovely sounding Sansui SS gear but would like to get into Tubes. I have found the love of listening to vintage English speaker, Rogers, Spendor, IMF, Kef etc. What? No, say it ain't so! On 15/08/2018 at 12:28 PM, Sansui77 said: I'm still thinking of importing a Sansui AU-111 which i still might go this avenue. Thank Hendrix for that, you had us worried there for a second. 6 hours ago, Sansui77 said: You never know. Well maybe it has just happened And all is right with the world once more. Crisis averted. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sansui77 Posted August 28, 2018 Author Share Posted August 28, 2018 (edited) Ref to vintage hifi Edited August 29, 2018 by Sansui77 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts