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Member's recommendations for tube amplification

Your thoughts on options to consider:

- I'd prefer SET (open to DHT but not a requirement).

- I'm not looking for overtly warm, romantic or lush options.

- Minimum power in the teens to twenties, 10W being the floor.

- Open to higher power push-pull amps, but let's limit ceiling to around 60W.

- Single ended is fine though having XLR inputs would be nice (doesn't have to be true balanced)

- I'm cool with single chassis or monos.

- I have preferences for tube types, but leaving it open ended to get broad recommendations.

- I'm currently running an all solid state system, though have had tube based systems built around ARC, BAT, Ayon, Melody, Pathos, etc.

- Preamp will be a Pass XP-20 or the Metrum Adagio DAC direct to the amp.

- I'd like to stay around 3K used but can push the budget to 6K new/used.

- Speaker sensitivity is 94dB and higher.

THANKS!
david_ten
david_ten OP
5,480 posts
 
@jond   thanks for bringing Deja Vu Audio to my attention. 

@djfst  @willgolf and @cougarbradley Thanks for your tips on Viva, Raven and K&K.

@jb505  Another vote for Quicksilver! Thanks.

Appreciate the recommendations. The list is getting quite robust. I'll add these to the Sheet matrix. 
david_ten OP
5,480 posts
 
@coppy777 Thanks for the CJ recommendation. 
david_ten OP
5,480 posts
 
@sbayne @seikosha @mac48025 and @kdude66  Thanks for your recommendations from another thread. 
rmasoni
15 posts
 
Call David Berning directly and ask him to tell you about his 300B or 6B4G push-pull amp that he builds on request.  It is spectacular. His ZOTL circuitry, fully balanced, Class A.  He included 47 step Goldpoint attenuator when he built mine - so it can be used as an "integrated", albeit with a single input (either RCA or XLR). Will cost you around $7K, but there is nothing like it - check out Harley's double down on the Flagship 211/845. You get the same sound in a smaller package.
david_ten OP
5,480 posts
 
@rmasoni   Thanks for the heads-up on the 300B or 6B4G specific David Berning amps.

His products are way beyond my reach, but the amp you are using and it's cost are in the doable realm. I wouldn't have considered Berning's amps due to the cost, so your pointing this one out is super helpful.
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