Tube Amp Suggestions

Though the CA-301SE is getting there, and better than most (the 10 Damping Factor is a good sign) still at THD <0.5% (over a very decent frequency range), it still is noticabley over a cutoff of <0.1% THD.

An excellent ss amp for instance is typically more like <0.005% THD, and IMD. And at 22w... what can it drive?

I mean, you do not HAVE to go tubes, and in my opinion, it cannot be worth to add distortion.

Agree with the comments on AtmaSphere, great amps, just not with these speakers. And, my experience with mine has shown me the Zero Autoformers that a lot of people will point low impedance speaker owners towards really bleaches out the sound and takes the magic of the Atmas away.

My other pair of tube monos, the Granite 861s would be flat out fantastic. I listen to a lot of gear, and this little company makes about as good a pair of tube monos that you will come across. I felt strong enough that I bought a pair.

Also like the Cary V12, which I have personally heard make nice music with Audio Physics. And the BAT VK60 must always be kept in mind whenever someone is looking for a nice tube amp.

Not that I am not a fan of Rogue 120 amps, but their level of refinement is a definite step or three down from the amps listed above.

Didactically, you've really gotta lessen your reliance on specs and do a bit more listening. Like you I was a SS addict for years. Then I heard my first really good tube amp - a SET design with all that distortion and the damping factor of a damp feather - and I was undone. I'll never go back to sand amps, because tubes just sound so much better - no matter what their shortcomings look like on paper.

The Canary push-pull amps in particular are simply exquisite.

Didactically
My first high-end power amp was the ML 27.5 bought new 9 years ago and is still resting on it's spot on the floor.
Great sound .Then in Feb 2000 I bought my first tubed power amp the CJ MV55 .I swear the minute I turned it on I noticed beautiful sound coming out of it.Better than the ML in many areas.Not as powerfull but way more enjoyable sound.
This is my observation based on this experience.Now your screen name drives from greek "didaktikos" meaning "educational"but I kindly suggest to you to change it to "doctordistortion".I read many of your answers and noticed that you are obsessed with the specs and particularly the "distortion".
Happy listening

I am glad you are happy. I saw a guy once picking his nose and eating the booger. He was very content. I did not care to watch it, but I had no anamosity or resentment for the fellow, you know what I mean.

You listen to your tubes, I will listen to the music.

BTW, it is by listening that I discerned the more live like sonics of the amps with no distortion. Especially with transparent speakers laborously set up to get the most out them.

That is how I knew. At first I took a chance on the logic, and reasonableness of the science, i.e., the specs. That distoriton can be measured. That to the degree it is present in the system, it will interfer with what the music is that artists made in real life. At least as well as it got produced and engineered onto the recording.

Not much we can do about their end, except become intelligently discerning about the choices we make on what to support with our purchases.

But then again, if you have sufficient distortion in your system, however much you may be enjoying it, you will not hear how poor the recording is, so it will make no difference to you. That is the unacknowledged point, is it not.