looking for my first tube..

[jfish]

hi, looking for my first tube amp to use with proac tablettes. would perfer mono block becuse i have a pre-amp now. looking for something in the <$1000 range new or used. any recommendations?

speaker info.

Nominal Impedance
8 ohms
Recommended Amplifiers
10 to 100 watts
Frequency Response
40hz to 30Khz
Sensitivity
86db linear for 1 watt at 1 metre
Bass/Midrange
4 1/2" long throw cone design with linear low distortion motor system and raised suspension in
die cast chassis.
Tweeter
1" soft silk dome exclusive to ProAc with special surround and inner chamber

[topspeed]

Can you sell the pre-amp?

The only reason I'm asking is because I can only think of integrated tube amps under $1k. Antique Sound Labs (http://audioadvisor.com/store/mfglisting.asp?hdnMfg=Antique+Sound+Lab&MFGID=270), Jolida (http://jolida.com/catalogue/tubeamp.shtml), and Tube Audio Design (http://www.angelfire.com/biz/bizzyb/cayinusa.html) (TAD) all make well regarded integrateds within you price point. Check audiogon and maybe you can find something used.

Good luck

[dean_martin]

Antique Sound Lab has a new tube monoblock for an amazing price. Check it out:

http://www.divertech.com/aslwaveav20dt.htm

Also for just under a grand is this offering from Quicksilver:

http://www.quicksilveraudio.com/products/mini_old.html

[dean_martin]

Can you sell the pre-amp?

The only reason I'm asking is because I can only think of integrated tube amps under $1k. Antique Sound Labs (http://audioadvisor.com/store/mfglisting.asp?hdnMfg=Antique+Sound+Lab&MFGID=270), Jolida (http://jolida.com/catalogue/tubeamp.shtml), and Tube Audio Design (http://www.angelfire.com/biz/bizzyb/cayinusa.html) (TAD) all make well regarded integrateds within you price point. Check audiogon and maybe you can find something used.

Good luck

jfish,

I may have been a little too hasty in posting those links to the ASL and Quicksilver monoblock tube amps. Those amps are only 20-25wpc. Your Proacs may need a little more power than that. The integrateds recommended by topspeed may provide enough power for your speakers, but as noted you won't need the preamp with an integrated amp.

[texlle]

Go Jolida, you won't regret it. Just look around their site and see what seems most appealing to you ;).

[john_jcb]

If I were looking for a tube amp right now I would check out the used market. You can find great deals on amps that have a few hours on them. You can get far more for your money used than new.

System synergy is also important. Some equipment is complimentary in a system while some is not.

I would also be wary when buying any of the Chinese tube amps and make sure you can return it if you do not like it. I have auditioned several of the ASL amps and found a significant variation in build quality and sound from amp to amp.