Tell me about valve equipment

[symon]

As I delve deeper into the world of hi-fi, and the world of hi-fi as found here on this forum, my interest in valve amps is growing. But, I have a small problem. I have never seen a real live valve amp of any description, let alone heard one. So, I have absolutely no knowledge of these beasties. And these particular type of beasties are not particularly cheap. So, should I ever be lucky enough to dip my toes in the water and get a valve amp thingy, it would be useful to know what to look for and what I'm letting myself in for. It's also worth saying here that I'm not very good at DIY with little or no experience (put it this way, soldering is an unknown art to me!)

So, what do I need to know about valve technology? What should I look for when maybe thinking about buying something? What do all the technical terms mean? Are these beasties special things that need lots of special attention? I have no knowledge and would really like to know more.

I have seen two valve amps for sale here - perhaps they could be used as examples to explain and discuss this stuff.

And, maybe this could become part of Beechy's library.

So, good folk of AOS, please enlighten me.

Ta

[DSJR]

They GLOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Valve amps are a bit like steam driven engines. They're totally outdated in so many ways, yet fill their owner's hearts with so much joy (if they're properly designed).

There's also something about the ways they have with a musical signal too, whether digitally or analogue sourced. Of course an amp shouldn't distort the signal it processes, but all do to a greater or lesser extent and the trick is to make any distortion as benegn as possible. Well designed valve gear does this beautifully, adding if at all, a touch of "charm" to the music rather than an "edge," so beloved of Naim owners, for example.

Try to get a listen to a Croft and/or Puresound amp system for a start and if finances are very tight, look out for a sweet toned Rogers Cadet III. I bought mine for £15 and sold it on for £25 back in 1976. They currently fetch up to £200, but I'd rather have one of these and have it serviced properly than a Nait 2 I think..... Great fun and a good introduction if you get a good one.

[alb]

The best way by far to discover tube amps, is to find somebody local who has one, and is prepared to let you listen to it,
I imagine there are a few on this forum within reach of Bristol.
Maybe they will volunteer their services.

[The Grand Wazoo]

A good and still reasonably cheap way of doing this is to track down a Leak Stereo 20. This has been the way into valves for countless people.

They'll give you most of what even the very best valve amps can provide.

They're plentiful.

The valves are cheap.

The spares are cheap.

There's plenty of info & knowledge about them out there.

Many have been restored to a good standard.

They'll stand enormous upgrades elsewhere in your system.

They're more 'modern sounding' than you'd think - I'd take one over a set of Quads on sound quality.

There's a piece about them here...........http://www.hi-fiworld.co.uk/hfw/olde...kstereo20.html


Another cheaper way of getting in is with a Rogers integrated.
http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?im...a%3DN%26um%3D1

Don't be put off by the price of this one!

You'll always get pretty much what you paid for these if you resell them should you decide valves are not the way to go. And don't forget, Ebay's not the only game in town!

[Haselsh1]

I could only ever recommend on previous experience and that experience would say never buy cheap Chinese rubbish. It is exactly what it says, cheap, Chinese and very rubbish.

[The Grand Wazoo]

Sorry, I didn't spot the previous mention of the Rogers Cadet. Other options for a cheap taste of valves might be an old valve receiver - Dave at Green Home Electronics has just sold two Sansui models (one of those was £125).

You could try http://www.hifiworks.co.uk/index.htm. He's in Cornwall, not too far from Bristol. I don't know anything about him, I've only ever looked at his website, but at the moment it's showing some good cheap stuff like a Scott Stereomaster, A Chapman pre/power and a restored pair of Heathkit MA12 monoblocks, none of which, I'd turn my nose up at.

[hifi_dave]

As with solid state amps, there are good and bad valve (tube) amps and you must listen in your system before purchase, as it might not suit you or your system.

Some vintage tube amps are great but the prices are going through the roof as more and more people cotton on to how good they can be. Bear in mind that an old tube amp might need some re-furb to make it work or even make it safe.

As to safe - certain 'cheap' amps you see on E-Bay may be dangerous, so buy from a trusted source if this is your choice.

David

[Darrenw]

stereo 20 from leak is a no brainer - its the valve equivalent of daddy paying for a good hooker to lose yer cherry to

gonna get myself another one at some point - just need to watch that yer speakers are sensitive enough for valves - powerful valve amps that sound good are hard to find

rgdsd
Darren

[symon]

stereo 20 from leak is a no brainer - its the valve equivalent of daddy paying for a good hooker to lose yer cherry to

gonna get myself another one at some point - just need to watch that yer speakers are sensitive enough for valves - powerful valve amps that sound good are hard to find

rgdsd
Darren

Lots of good stuff here, which I will come back to.

How do I know if my speakers are sensitive enough? What information do I need to know?

[Mike Reed]

- powerful valve amps that sound good are hard to find

rgdsd
Darren

You wouldn't care to elaborate on that, would you? I've not heard that the sonic virtues of valves are largely dependant on low output.

I do realise that most (all?) powerful valve amps. are push-pull, and maybe you don't consider these to to have the same musical prowess as SETs, etc.

Could you name some good, powerful amps, and why you think they are?

I for one would like to know the ratio of speaker efficiency to amp. output (disregarding room size and personal volume preferences). I've never seen such a chart, so maybe there are just too many variables.