Is this an excellent value?
http://media.slrclub.com/1809/10/s07CCj42dv666msrqgf.jpgMy speakers are supposed to have efficiency of 99db/W but I believe it to be around 92 still not bad. But my listening space is pretty big so I need at least 40 Watts of Power. Thus I am more inclined to Line Magnetic 508. |
"Get a pair of Heresy's. Efficiency 99db at 1 watt!" They are rated at 96db 1 watt/4 feet, and Klipsch is well known for their rating's being rather uhh, well, optimistic we'll say. But they are very efficient. None the less. I like my Klipsch speakers. I have at least a couple in my pile, but I take their frequency response (at both ends), and sensitivity specs with a grain of salt. |
Yaqin is a fine manufacturer for budget minded enthusiasts. I would not let their poor and very cheap hybrid designs infer anything about their all tube designs, but I'm not sure I would spend that kind of money on a SET design from them. Yaqin is my my only recommendation for budget tube amps because I've heard enough of them now to know they are good values. All of those amps were push pull though, where transformer quality is not as paramount as it is with SET. I would expect these amps to completely fall apart with a 4 ohm load, much like my Shuguang amps do that are listed above. My favorite saying for those is that they never found an 8 ohm speaker that they didn't like, but they also never found a 4 ohm speaker that they did. When i picked up MastersounD I fully realized how this statement was not true for all SET designs. Speakers that made my Shuguang fall apart were handled triumphantly by the Compact 845. With that said, even the Compact 845 can have limitations and not shine in every application. Such is the case with every amp. If you are wanting to experience a high powered single ended amp and keep price reasonable, the MastersounD BoX should be high on your list. It offers more power at 35 watts and higher quality transformers. it has the balls of a good 845 amp and retains the single ended sound in a Pentode configuration. The BoX would run you about $500 more than the Shuguang separates but would offer a lot more in terms of sound quality, speaker options, and a lower noise floor with blacker backgrounds. |
Another high quality manufacturer of tube amps all made in north America is Finale Audio - Triode Labs. i've mentioned them a few times here and there on the forms and after owning one of their integrateds for two years now I can't say enough good things. defiantly not too shiny or bling, all the money goes to the parts and transformers. I believe they have units starting from $1500'ish and up. |
