Tube amps under $7500


Ready to experiment with combinations never before (or not recently) tried. Step one requires a tube amp. Now looking at Prima Luna EVO 400 which sells for 5K. Any other tube amps I should consider in this price/feature range? Must come in silver with balanced input. For pairing experimentally with various tube and SS preamps. Efficient 4 ohm Legacy speakers (and the room/setup) are the constants.

 

hickamore

Showing 3 responses by paulcreed

I have a room with separate and a simple room that I have tried some integrated amps. Right now I prefer the simple room.
 

I stumbled on the Audio Hungary a50i and really love this amp and see no need to move on. It plays any type of music I throw at it. Can’t say that for the Conrad Johnson cav 45s2 even though that is a wonderful amp for certain types of music. I tried the ARC and BAT and others but just wasn’t for me.
 

There is a 75 watt Audio Hungary balanced a75i on US Audiomart for $3800 retail $9000. There is something very special about class A with tubes. 

I would stay away from 75 watt tube amp then. I’m using a Reference 3a reflector and Joseph Audio Pulsar. The 3a’s play just fine, sometimes I would like a little more power with the JA. Both are very enjoyable with 50 watts. If you need power and current and want tubes may want a preamp and mono blocks. Tubes can get expensive and heat in summer months can be an issue. Needing big tube power makes it tricky.

Maybe consider a 6sn7 preamp and 250 watt amp that doubles in power. With $7500 you could find a Don Sachs, Supratec type preamp and an older Pass Labs, CJ or others. I tried BAT, ARC, Rogue they were nice but felt they were more in solid state territory, in case that’s what you are trying to avoid. Just make sure impedance matches.

 

i had a Don Sachs pre and amp very natural with a great layered sound stage, the preamp matched with solid state very well.