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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
 
@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.
rspyder
98 posts
 
If you are willing to consider an integrated at the high end of your budget you defintiely should consider an Octave.  A few are finally showing up on this and other audio reseller sites.  You can always add the Black Box or Super Black Box later.

Ray
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