Bottlehead Crack (with or without Speedball), Hagerman Audio Labs Tuba, Mapletree Audio Designs has some options, Cayin HA-1A mk ii, Feliks Audio Echo & Expresso are all tube amp options in your stated price range.
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I mean for what headphone are you planning to tube?
Freya+ w/tube rolling might be the best way to integrate without removing your sound chain. The Mono Platinum is also well reviewed for the price point.
You could spend ~$500 on the component and then another ~$250 on tube rolling. There also was that DAC that Zeos review with the many op-amps that can be rolled into it.
You can also insert vinyl into the equation and try varying Carts + phonos to your preference.
I’m staying away from Schiit for their Tubes.
I’ve seen their boards flex far too much for my liking.
Makes me worry about lasting constantly changing tubes
Welcome to a very deep rabbit hole, my friend.
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A tube buffer is something I’m trying to decide about. I like to listen to things that are colored and not (including vinyl), so I might want a solid state record preamp with a tube headphone amp…
Glad to be here.
I know I am entering a deep hole with no bottom
There are a few tube companies that have a lot of experience with which tubes synergizes well with x amp. You may want to reach out.
R2R DAC n one of several tube options…not hybrid, OTL or the like.
Most of the ones I own and plan to buy (to be honest)
I know that isn’t helpful
(I’m getting into tubes to play around)
So since I can’t recall of the top of my head, what are they again lol?
Current
-FAV ZMF Aeolus
-HD 58X
-Elegia
-Modhouse Argon
Future
-Higher end Focal
-More ZMF
-…others
I will mostly be wanting a warm sound for my open backed with wider sound stage
Gotcha, well I’m just going to say off the bat that the argons and focal aren’t going to be ideal off a tube amp, so getting a tube amp with a pre out or pass through might be worthwhile imo so you can add some tube sound to other amps.
I do like the Espressivo Mark II from feliks as that has tubes that are easy to roll, warmer more thick relaxed sound, and a pre out to give some tube sound to other amps. It would pair well with the aeolus and other zmf, and kinda the 58x, but for other headphones not so much
The cayin ha-1a mk2 is also pretty sweet, a tad less colored than the feliks but more versatile due to being transformer coupled with adjustable output impedance, also pre out too. This one would work with mostly all your current headphones (although not ideal on the elegia or argons)
The stuff from mapletree audio is pretty great like their ear + II HD or stuff like the OD300 SET or mellow boy but no pre outs and also pushing your budget here imo
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How do you feel about Tub Preamps for Vinyl, MON?
Would having a tube preamp give me a better experience for records, or can I use a Solid state Preamp and a headphone tube amp if I want tubes?
So regarding phono preamps, I would say you would want to focus on something that has synergy with the cartridge you have on there. Tube preamps for vinyl can be pretty sweet and add a nice sense of organicness to vinyl, and also round out the sound. But in some cases it might make more sense to go with a solid state depending on the cart. I personally can’t help you there too much since my experience with vinyl is limited
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Ughhhh…another rabbit hole (though I secretly am having fun)
I will have to look into that. I have no experience with matching cartridges to preamps.
…
I could have a tube preamp going to a tube headphone amp (getting excited) all the interesting sound combinations
You can, but make sure that preamp is the same quality as the amp, otherwise you might just be degrading the signal. A tube amp will add color, but a good tube amp will almost sound like solid state but different, it shouldn’t be inherently colored or sloppy or noisy or what have you
Would you mind naming a few, veritas?
So whether I go with a tube or solid state preamp…I should go high end on the preamp?
This way any additional changes I make (down the line), the preamp won’t be bottle-necking the system
I mean what I would do to maximize the budget is get a tube amp and also use it as a preamp for your solid state amps, that way it’s multi use. That way it’s solid in both regards
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