Noob - where to start?

[sugarman]

Hello all,

I have been reading with excitement the posts here. I'd like some advice on the way forwards please. Please bear with me whilst I attempt not to ramble but to share some background....

Six months ago I bought a pair of B&W DM110 speakers on eBay. I have found them to be simply stunning. Even my wife comments on how good they sound.

However, a slight complication: In two months time I am emmigrating to the Chapel Hill, North Carolina. So the speakers will go up on eBay.

I am looking now to get a replacement set on eBay delivered to a friends place in NC so they'll be waiting for me. I found the DM220 - and whilst looking for a review of them - found a piece about push/pull valve amps.

Although not a hardcore techie, I know a little about wiring as I build and fly RC helicopters. So now I am thinking - I want a valve amp!

Could somebody recommend a good cheap starter amp [perhaps upgradable] which would compliment the type of speakers above.

( also if you are reading this in shock and disbelief that I was thinking of going for another set of B&W speakers - please educate me, I am keen to learn )

Many many thanks in advance for the responses to these questions.

I really hope to become an active member of this community in the months and years to come.

Regards
John

[Richard Ellis]

First off you are in a very good position as you need to replace speakers and are now able to choose a "tube friendly" pair. Look for sensitivity levels of 95+ Db rating....with a set in this catagory you are now free to choose a tube amp to make it go.
As to your skill level a 'simple' Single ended will give you least , per part quantity, but expect low power to limit your variety of music....Won't get to 115 Db rock concert levels.
A push pull will get you these levels with more a complex build.
Costs can get extreme for the SE when considering output transformers.......the prices can get quite esoteric in price.
____________________________________________Rick.. .......

[sugarman]

Thank you Rick....... I'll note that and consider it when shopping

[sugarman]

Whilst googling for for a sensitivity rating for the DM220s I found a speaker forum where they got panned! So, I'll pass on them I think.

I am still determined to go with a tube setup

[Merlinb]

Originally posted by sugarman
Whilst googling for for a sensitivity rating for the DM220s I found a speaker forum where they got panned! So, I'll pass on them I think.

I think you'll find that forums are places where EVERYTHING gets panned. No matter how good a product is, you'll find a thread about it somewhere, full of brutal (usually uninformed) criticism.

And don't worry too much about sensitivity, unless you're looking at less than 10W of valvage.

[Richard Ellis]

2A3s' rule.................................Gimme a KR and Plitron OPT.!
____________________________________Eick..........