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Tube Power Amp Suggestions

I have been looking for a tube power amp. Ideally I want to have about 40 to 70 watts output power, with sound qualities as close to a delicate SET amp as possible, with lots of details, fast, good tone (a tiny bit on the warm side) and imaging, yet with good bass and dynamic. Budget is about 10,000. Second-hand is fine. I know I am asking really too much and will probably get negative response because of this. I just want to get the best within my budget.    
      
My initial considerations are EAR 890 or EAR 861. What do you think?      
    
I heard people saying that push-pull amp can be better than SET if it is implemented well, but push-pull is more difficult to make than a SET amp.    
      
My speakers are measured 91db sensitivity, but it needs power to perform well. I have tried both a SET 300B XLS output at 13W and a push-pull EL34 at about 35W. My impression is as follow:            
      
- SET 300B XLS output at 13W: more delicate and smooth, better resolution and density, lack bass and dynamic       
- Push-pull EL34 at 35W: much more bass and dynamic, sounds a bit coarse, less 3-dimensional and delicate     
    
Thank you in advance for your input. 
   

bigdish
soundsrealaudio's avatar
soundsrealaudio
756 posts
 
knghifi

The reason I usually prefer smaller names is simple. Many sound much better. Plus you are purchasing from a smaller company that is in many cases owned and run by an individual who is passionate about what they do, about the music about the products they produce. Larger companies are driven more by the profit motive. Not necessarily a bad thing but know that there are more hands dipping into the pie. They spend money on advertising, marketing

Secondly my experience has been the smaller companies are more committed to servicing their customers. Better service. They have fewer customers and each one is more important to them and is usually the best form of advertising. Word of mouth. 


grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,504 posts
 
Soundrealaudio I could not agree more. My exact experience over the past 35 years. 
soundsrealaudio's avatar
soundsrealaudio
756 posts
 
wolf

If the  ARC Ref 75 was called the ARC 75, omitting the " ref " would it sound anywhere as good? 



whitestix
716 posts
 
I would highly recommend you have a look at Don Sachs' custom KT88 amplifier, which at ~$2500 is SOTA and might only better bettered by spending 4X as much.  It is a brilliant design, based on the many years that Don has spent upgrading HK Citation gear.  I suggest you Google him at "Don Sachs Consulting" and inform yourself of his 70 wpc tube amp that will go to head to head with the best tube amps available.  I have his third generation 6SN7-powered preamp and it is by far the best that I have ever heard in my system, no question about it.   
rothwea
45 posts
 
I am interested to see that the Linear Tube Audio ZOTL 40 got the same glowing recommendation in this thread that I've read in other Audiogon discussions. Because of forum comments and a recent review, I took an opportunity to try out this amp at home. Mid range clarity was impressive, but with my 91dB, 8 ohm Devore floorstanders, the soundstage was smaller and it sounded less dynamic & engaging than other conventional P-P tube amps such as the Leben CS1000P. I have read some of the other suggestions here with interest. Have you made s decision?
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