maseline_98 Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Recently, I brought on to tube amps. I was wondering what a good inexpensive option(new or used) for no more than $300. I know that doesn't seem like a lot of money for an amp, but the RF-7s are extremely efficient and can be powered with just a few (good) watts.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbsl Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 That is going to be tough. You may be able to find a vintage tube amp for $300 but it will probably need more money to get it working up to it's potential. I think $500 is a more realistic amount of money. Someone on the forum might know of a deal, check the Garage sale section on the forum for any deals. What tube amp/s did you hear and did you hear them on RF 7s? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenderbender Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?intatube&1220549239 The fisher x-100c 17.5 watts.......$350 on agon....I don't know what you will be getting yourself into repair-wise....a good set of tubes can cost well over $350 (although)the new JJ tesla's.....New Tung-sols do a very nice job for 1/4 the price of NOS If it were me...I'd get a good SS amp If my budget were only $300......ya got a whole world of choices in that price range.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hifi jim Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 Here's an option if your room is not too large. It's the only new tube amp that I know of in this price range, but it requires some assembly...http://www.bottlehead.com/et/adobespc/S.E.X./SEX.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audio Flynn Posted August 7, 2008 Share Posted August 7, 2008 http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?intatube&1222968680 Here is a Scott 222 for $ 400 Have no idea who the seller is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWL Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 Let us know what you end up with........along with your impressions. Good Luck.[] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seti Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 I picked up an Onix SP3 and have been pleasantly surprised. It is German designed but built in China. They can be had new for $1000 and used on audiogon or ebay for under $700. I paid $550 for mine. There is one on ebay right now item number 280253677085. It comes with 5881 tubes but you can roll any of the 6L6 family of tube including 350Bs which I am running. The 38WPC should be enough for the RFs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blvdre Posted August 9, 2008 Share Posted August 9, 2008 The Sophia babies come up periodically, usually within your budget. Haven't heard one myself, but people seem to like them.Or if you already have a preamp, people praise the Don Allen amps Don Allen Amp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacksonbart Posted August 9, 2008 Share Posted August 9, 2008 Are there any expensive tube options for the RF-7s? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWL Posted August 9, 2008 Share Posted August 9, 2008 JB....You drinking already? It's unlike you to ask that type of question. [] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seti Posted August 9, 2008 Share Posted August 9, 2008 Are there any expensive tube options for the RF-7s? Cost no object? How about Canary Audio Reference One 80WPC 300B PP monster ampifier. Eight matched pairs of 300B tubes per channel. Rated Power Output: 80 Watts RMS Input Sensitivity: 0.53 Volts for full output Input Impedance: 470,000 Ohms Frequency Response: +/- 1 dB from 8 Hz to 80,000 Hz Total Harmonic Distortion: 10W output: <0.07% 50W output: <0.18% 80W output: <1.0% Signal-to-Noise Ratio: -100 dB below 80 Watts Damping Factor: 16 Power Consumption: 380 Watts (true RMS) Output Impedance: 4, 8 Ohm Tube Complement (per channel): 8 x 300B 3 x 6SN7GTB 1 x 6SL7 Dimensions (per channel): 17" W x 30.5" D x 11" H Net Weight (per channel): 140 lbs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hifi jim Posted August 9, 2008 Share Posted August 9, 2008 Those would be beautiful in my garage. It would let me get rid of those pesky kerosene heaters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenderbender Posted August 9, 2008 Share Posted August 9, 2008 Those would be beautiful in my garage. It would let me get rid of those pesky kerosene heaters. LOL....would be great on the 4th to spit roast a pig also...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hifi jim Posted August 9, 2008 Share Posted August 9, 2008 Sophia Baby just popped up on Audiogon for $350. I've never heard one either, but plenty of press about these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtimer Posted August 9, 2008 Share Posted August 9, 2008 Don't the rf-7's have some pretty wicked impedance drops? Make sure you get an amp that can handle those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maseline_98 Posted August 11, 2008 Author Share Posted August 11, 2008 What tube amp/s did you hear and did you hear them on RF 7s? I actuallly have never heard any tube amps(that's why my budget is so low-->Plus I'm not rich and my WAF seems to be low these days as well...lol). The tube amp is just kinda something for me to fool around with. People have spoke of good things about tube and the Klipsch, but no (reasonable) model has ever been presented for me to take a listen myself. I'm going to be getting a SS for myself for xmas(emo mps-2-->doesn't seem like it can be beat for the $$$). I have "approval" for that(mainly because the ol' lady likes the HT experience that I recently got her into...sometimes she's like a child...she doesn't know she likes something until you force feed 'em it....sshhhhh....don't tell her I said that....then there won't be any new amps...lol)....the tube amp is another thing is a whole another thing...it's just something for me to try on a 2-channel scale and see how it sounds...I'd like to hear my RF-7s a little warmer.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deang Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 All tube amps don't sound "warm". In fact, most of the low cost chinese types that are out sound brighter and more irritating than some solid state I've heard. If bent on hearing the warm, darker sound -- go vintage integrated (Scott, Eico). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deang Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Don't the rf-7's have some pretty wicked impedance drops? Make sure you get an amp that can handle those. They drop just below four ohms at around 100Hz and again at around 10kHz. I ran mine with a lot of different tube stuff, and I never had a problem. Well, now that I think about it -- I did toast the bias resistors on both my Canarys and my QUADS -- but I'm sure running them into a dead short had nothing to do with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerwoodKhorns Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 What tube amp/s did you hear and did you hear them on RF 7s? ...I'd like to hear my RF-7s a little warmer.... Dean, Do you still do crossover mods for the RF7? Your mod is probably what he is looking for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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