As good an answer as any?
Amplifier recommendation
We who love this hobby/obsession are an interesting lot. We love to converse with, encourage, challenge, insult, and offend one another, then turn to one another for advice and recommendations. Because we are haunted by the possibility that while we think we have Golden Ears, we might just merely have Silver Ears, so we seek reassurance from one another that we really are hearing what we think we’re hearing. “Did you find that to be a little too rolled off on the top end?” “I agree that it’s right tonally, but lacks the imaging of comparable models. Or is that just my room?”
With that brief preamble, I am going to, you guessed it, ask for a recommendation. And I’m going to ask a question hoping some will have a very specific answer to, knowing full well that most will say,”Well, that depends”. Can you name a specific stereo tube amp that is reasonably affordable, (no &100k or even $10 k, please) “vintage” or current, that you think produces 70, 80, 90% of the sound characteristics that tube lovers love? Can you say THAT amp is what a typical high end tube amp “sounds like”? An amp about which you would say, “Wanna know the difference between a good tube amp and a good solid state amp? Listen to THAT tube amp! Thanks!
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Don Sachs KT88 amp would be up there for me and only $3850… Line Magnetic would be another high-value tube amp I’d look into. Higher up the price scale I think VAC, Zesto, Atmasphere, ARC among others — although all present differently — represent among the best of what tube amps offer. |
op 1) best you skip the preamble, it’s nonsense, and just ask your question, we are here to help those who want it, based on our experience 2) audio research, and second best imo, linear tube audio’s zotl40 reference - full does of tube magic without the penalties of lack of clarity, drive, extension |
older audio research tube amps can be very good, but prior to the vt and v series of the early to mid 90’s the sound could be rather inconsistent, as the company was still finding its way into its characteristic sonic fingerprint that has stayed quite consistent since that time - in general stick with vt series or newer, and ref series in particular (if one runs a balanced system) of course, with older amps arc or otherwise, one needs to make sure the condition of the components (and tubes of course) are up to snuff |
@tweak1 - I appears that most of the people using his amps do not seem to upgrade as often as others do. |
I have a mid 70s vintage ARC SP-3a-1 Van Alstinr preamp retuned that I am using in a 2 channel music system with Goldenear Technology BRX monotors, MacBook Pro, Pro Ject carbon fiber, Yamaha B-2. Goldenear Super Sat X. This system sounds great mixing technology from different eras. The key is the ARC preamp. Replacing the Yamaha B-2 with a ARC classic 30 or 60 woukd tske it to the next level IMHO. Food for thought for those wishing to engage. |
JasonBourne52 I like your thinking the older AR amps are really nice especially when you upgrade them - which I happen to do LOL Other than that the older Counterpoint power amps are hybrid so you get a little of both worlds SS/tubes and again once upgraded - which I do they become reference level amplifiers After that the ones my company manufacturers tube mono blocks Class A hardly anything out there competes. Happy Listening
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+1 For Aric Audio. His Components are top notch. As a person he is one hell of a great guy. Just an absolute positive experience from the beginning with him, and the music. It just comes from nowhere with a very neutral (in my opinion) presentation. I am running a upgraded version of his Transcend pre amp he labeled "special 6sn7 pre". As well as his current version of the "Super 88/120 SE". Mine is the one that is pictured on his website.
J.F. |
good point being raised in the last few posts op would benefit from posting what speakers (and size of room) he plans to use... there are lower powered tube amps basically dedicated towards high efficiency speaker designs, this is a rather special sub-segment -- versus those which are made to drive speakers of more average/’normal’ sensitivity levels |
@mazian If you are in the Sydney area, then Alan is going to be the blue mountains area in under a week. His website has the info.
Supateck in Margaret River was closed to visits a few weeks ago (Covid concerns), but Mick is also well regarded (in the valve gear).
I’ll probably just sit tight, or sell the exiting amps and get on the Atmasphere wait list. |
@mazian I would think that it would probably be easier for Alan to leave the amp than to pack it up and fly it back to WA…, and maybe the same with the speakers. I would be interested to know what you think of it. I’ve only heard the combo in his house, but the reviews are good… and specs are great. So I doubt it is a bad option for Class-D in Au, NZ, or Asia in general. They all have stunningly good specs… so it’s kinda a bit of a 1st world problem. |
Classic with a bit more power and a few nods to modern technology....Tubes4HiFi VTA ST120......Simply can not be beat for anywhere near the price....Buy it as a kit or completely assembled. Love mine! http://rvbprecision.com/stereo/vta-st120-dynaco-clone-tube-amplifier-build-in-pictures.html
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Rbertalotto, +1 on the Tubes4HiFi VTA ST-120. I built mine from kit. My second tube am, and I adore it. Tubes I run currently: Philips NOS 5R4GY rectifier, 1960s NOS RCA “clear top” 12AU7 driver tubes, and Tung Sol KT-120 output tubes. With this configuration probably north of 70 WPC….is an amazing amp to tube roll $1,600 assembled, plus shipping…..You can also purchase tubes from them, believe it adds another $400 |
