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Best Tube Amp under 10K?

Having every audio dealer in town recommend their line as "the best unless you want to spend $25K" and buy a ..." is frustrating. Well, like most of us, I can't spend $25K on amps ... but I am curious to know what others consider their "final" amp upgrade under $10K. My listening tastes are wide ranging but will mostly include SACD jazz and classical. I do not have a turntable ... yet. And I ususally play at low to moderate volumes only (the wife factor)-- speakers are reasonably efficient 91DB KEF Ref 4's that I hope to upgrade.
lornecherry
gerrym5's avatar
gerrym5
286 posts
 
Well I'm suggesting taking some time and going slightly over budget in order to buy a used pair of Lamm 2.1's - $12K- $13.5K. You may never need another pair of amps. The Lamm 2.1's are that good. Of course, if your crazy like the rest of us you buy something under $10K for now and then buy several other amps after that, and after that...
robertwolfee
28 posts
 
Does anyone try a old beat up Apt-Holman?
rleff
1,065 posts
 
I don't know what the impedance curve of your KEF's looks like but if they are not to tough of a load I would look at Atmasphere's OTL lineup of amps; if you have never heard OTL amps you owe it to yourself to at least hear them.
avguygeorge
2,300 posts
 
10 months latter I have to admit my Sophia 2's weren't broken in. After I paid 640 ($500+ship/both ways) I put the rebuilt Belles back in the system. I kept it there for 4 months---Then I put the CJ350 back in----huge dif.Bass and bass detail way beyond the Belles; which wan't there when I first inserted the CJ350.---(See my post from 3/15/07;above)
tots
26 posts
 
Apt Holman tends to refer to the pre-amp. Apt refers to the amp. At least that's what the manual covers indicate. I have the pre-amp driving the amps set to mono-block.
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