2. amps-preamps
  3. 1072757496

Which Tube Amp?

Ok all you tube-O-philes, I have a question!

I am thinking of getting back to a tube amp(s), maybe.
(I used to have a C.J. MV50 many years ago.)

What is the best tube amp, or monoblock tube amps, for me?
Please note that I know that I am NOT a tweaker, so the qualifications for the tube amp I want are:

Easy to no tube biasing. (Either so easy a monkey can do it, without special tools or meters, or automatic biasing.)

At least 100W/ch, and preferrably up to 200W/ch. (I need the power to drive my Revel Studio Speakers.)

While I want that nice tube sound, I don't want too much.
(I.e I don't really want that classic C.J. "tubey" sound.)

Price: Well, give me a ballpark figure for what you suggest (Used Price). I figure I can go up to $4-5,000.

Reliability: I like my ARC LS-2 preamp as it is rock solid, as is my current SS amp, a Mark Levinson No. 23.
Therefore, I want something with good build quality.

Tube Availability: I want a tube amp that can go with cheaper tubes and still sound good. (I don't want something that I have to spend thousands of dollars on everytime I retube it.)

Preferably with cages, as I have a 3 year old daughter, who while being very good about not touching my system (so far at least), she does have friends over, who would probably love to touch the "pretty glowing lights", (and whose father would then sue me (and thus take my amps!) for allowing his daughter to get third degree burns on my equipment!)

Please list all that you are familiar with, and would recommend. If you disagree with someone else's recommendation, please state that as well, (especially if you have personel experience with the offending amp!)

Some that I have considered, but tossed out include:

Any ARC tube amp, as they are all bloody espensive to retube!

The Kora Cosmos. Nice sounding, but way to much trouble to bias.

Any older C.J. amps, as they sound too tubey. (I will admit that I have not heard the latest C.J. amps, so maybe they sound different.)

Antique Sound labs "Hurricanes": (This is a maybe, because of the reliablity issues I have heard about.)

Thanks in advance for your input!
kurt_tank
bigpowerballs
34 posts
 
The new Conrad Johnson Premier 140 would be a great choice.
It has 140 watts per channel, but sounds much more powerful than that. It does not have the "old" CJ classic "tubey" sound, (which disappointed me at first!). Instead, it is just very transparent and open. It comes with a cage that you can put on whenever young children and/or pets might be around, and then take off when those conditions are not present and you want to enjoy the warm glowing sight of tubes! Biasing is very simple. You might be able to find a used one near $5k. but there aren't many who want to part with them.
Good luck.
Steve
meadowman's avatar
meadowman
143 posts
 
Try Something from VTL. The ST-150 will wipe the floor with any series Audio Research VT 100 amp for about 40% less money. Luke and the gang at VTL do not build the "tubey" CJ sound. I had a Premier 4 by CJ for over 2 years and then graduated to a pair of VTL's 125 Monos. I now own a pair of fully updated MB 300s and a pair of the fab Tiny Triodes. The VTL line is (at least now) bullet proof and easy to use. Bias is done once every 6 months to a year and just requires a Vu meter and a screw driver. For your 4-5K, you should be able to get a pair of 300+watt monos fairly easily from the older run or even consider a new St-150 or MB 125s.
loontoon
301 posts
 
Have you heard the new Levinson equipment. I would go there first. Then find one used on Agon.

Or--
The Music Reference RM200, the RM-9 mkII, BAT maybe a little too dark, your ears hear what your ears hear.

Maybe the OTL's have a listen with your speakers is possible, despite the new buzz about impedance proof, I would still have a listen.

cheers,

loontoon
brooksl
129 posts
 
I have VTL MB-450s. They have all of the power you will need. They are a bit liquid but in no way syrupy. The have excellent bass, a wide/deep sound stage and very palpable images. I have little, curious ones, too. They have cages over the tubes. So, they are safe. They use eight 6550s per side. Svetlanas or JJs are about $30 each. The 12AT7s (1 per side) can be improved for as little as $80 total. I have had them for 6 months and I have not needed to rebias. A meter and a screwdriver is necc..
mknowles16
101 posts
 
I had similiar requirements and am awaiting the return of my Counterpoint SA20 which is undergoing an upgrade. This hybrid amp has 220 WPC. The upgraded version has one rectifier tube and two SA-9 tubes-no biasing necessary.

Tube rolling is not cost prohibitive. You can read all about it at altavistaaudio.com. This site is maintained by the designer of the original amplifier. It it also a recommended component at http://www.high-endaudio.com/ where a number of amplifiers are reviewed.

You can buy a used one and have it upgraded for far less than you are budgeting and have lots left over for premium tubes and music.

Just my $.02- good luck to you.

Michael
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