Best Integrated Tube Amp for 2.5K or Less

We often slam - deservedly, in my opinion - dealers who are annoyingly self-serving, scream like a 'lil babies when someone doesn't agree with their opinion on their equipment, or even lie about being a dealer through ommission on posts, so I just wanted to say that audiokinesis has contributed to this post with integrity. For other dealers out there trying to nab newbies with hype and histrionics, please take note on how its done. I don't know audiokinesis and have never met him/her, so can't say longterm what might be your milage, but I was impressed here. More of that and we wouldn't see quite as many threads asking if the hi-end is dying.

You'll enjoy the VTL, but comments on 6550 vs. EL34 are quite valid. Get a good power cord (can't remember if 80 uses a captured cord or not) and stand, or make one yourself - just get it off the ground. Let us know what happens because its a big price point with a lot of relevance to people out there.

I agree, Asa; I wish all salesman could be as respectful.

THE SOUND of my VTL IT 85 compared to my old NAD340:

(the amp has been on playing music for about 27 hours now...), and here are my first impressions:

1. WOWWWW!!!!!!!

2. Stevie Wonder is groovin me OUT! several times, my VTL remote has turned into a "microphone", INVOLUNTARILY!

3. I never knew how VEILED my speakers sounded until I switched the amps and heard how they sang when those sheaths and sheaths of crud were removed.

4. SOOO FULLL, SOO BIG

5. this song never had this kind of "pick up"!

6. wow, i'm playing it loud, but my neighbor doesn't care... what gives? (in reality, i don't think i'm playing it any louder, it just sounds louder!)

7. bass is so much tighter, not all over the place

8. and finally, DAMN my speakers sound GOOD!!! these are f-in AWESOME speakers! (Aerius i)

... btw, I also got my speakers up on spikes, and found some little disks with divets in them at the audio store to set the spikes into... no more holes in my wood floor.

Can it really get better with more burnin?? o my god, why did i wait this long to get TUBES??? my friends aren't going to be seeing much of me for the next week, taht's for sure!

Ahhhh, another convert.....

Something about tubes with Martin Logans. Just works! I haven't heard the VTL combo with them but I have heard them with lot's of different ARC, Cary, Jadis etc. They always sounded their best with with the valves over any of the high end solid state amps I used except for the Goldmund. Bet the VTL's would be great. Might also look for a used Goldmund integrated. They really are good.

Asa, from nothing to tubes?

IMO there shoudn't be any comparison between $350 NAD and $2K VTL.

I would call convert that would go from EMC3 to VTL IT85 for example.