Don't use the phono input. Use a tuner (line) input.
Do use shielded cable.
I'm a people and I don't say tube amps sound better - mostly guitar people would say that
and what do THEY know.
Ok, maybe I've generalized a bit
I'm unable to get the tuner. Maybe it can be done, but that radio doesn't have PCB, instead point to point connections and wiring. I'll attach a picture, very hard to troubleshoot!
No, most people say that valve amps are much poorer, high distortion, high noise, and poor frequency response.
Many of us here come from the valve amp days, and wouldn't consider going back to the bad old days.
I don't wanna contradict your experience guys. I just remember some serious people (at least they call themselves "serious"
) saying that tube sound is warmer. Warmer? I don't know what warmer is, strange audiophile vocabulary*
The only thing I'm sure, is that the high frecuency sound is more accurate, with the LG it seemed muffled, like puting a dirty sock on the tweeter. Now I feel like having the drummer's cymbals next to me. Maybe the tube amp compensated the LG bad high frecuency response.
The bass response is very crappy, as you said, totally right
* About "warm" things and vocabulary, I have a question:
When using a bad quality sub-woofer to hear someone playing a bass guitar, you don't hear notes, instead you feel it like hitting your stomach. BUM! BUM! BUM!
But using good quality woofers, I mean, mid range speakers, the bass sounds more accurate. I'm not saying the mid range is the same as a sub-woofer, but somehow the midrange can go lower and reproduce the low frecuencies, in a very pleasant way.
I think that's related with the crossover point and another things, but that's offtopic. Question: Is that the "warm" sound everyone talks about?