2. amps-preamps
  3. 1360263273

Who makes the highest quality tube amps?

One scale of 1-10, 10 being best designed and constructed technically, personal sound preferences aside, who are the 8s, 9s, and 10s?

VAC, ARC, Atmasphere would seem like likely candidates I can think of. Are they ?

Where does Decware rank? Rogue? How about others?

SOme technical facts to help support any claims is appreciated please.

Durability and reliability matters to me here as much as anything. I would want my tube gear to continue to work as reliably as designed years down the road as well as up front.

THanks.

Thanks.
128x128mapman
robsker
132 posts
 
I have a 31 year old mcIntosh amp and it has been serviced but once. That is reliability.

Also have some Ayon tube gear... sounds great, reliable (so far)... only 2 years old... so in 29 years I'll let you know if it hangs with the McIntosh
somec59
245 posts
 
Tube supply is a real issue
zd542
5,339 posts
 
"Sidssp
@Zd542, Tube amp from Krell?"

Sorry, just kidding. It was just a little humour. For some reason, I couldn't help myself.
ybukhan
11 posts
 
Von Gaylord Audio designs some awesome tube gear. I have the entire line and I am smitten.
tubegroover
2,320 posts
 
In addition to some of the above mentioned, David Berning's designs since 1974, have a legendary status for both reliability and technical design and would have to be in the discussion. Example, I have owned the zh270 for 11 years and the outputs test at or very close to their rated transconductance value STILL and all the various input/driver tubes still test strong. Not even a hiccup from this amp, totally reliable and a strong case for those concerned with the reliability of tube amplifiers. McIntosh would also be a very strong candidate.
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