2. amps-preamps
  3. 163176-12287

Tube Amplifiers: Carver Crimson 75 wpc or Primaluna Monoblocks

Looking for modestly powered tube amp to power high sensitivity speakers (> 92 db) in a new 12 × 16 foot listening room upstairs.  I have Canary 140 wpc monoblocks in my basement reference system and love them.  However, as I get older and tire of trying to lug around PassLabs 100 pound amps, I am setting up a low weight system.  The amps need to fit the following: 1) less than 50 pounds, 2) economical like under 5K, 3) at least 60 wpc, and 4) a recognized  extreme value piece of kit.  

I spoke with Don Sachs and he is semi-retiring or something along those lines.  He is not regularly building his amps/preamps anymore.  I did get on his waiting list with no real guarantees.

I appreciate your thoughts on the two amps I inquired about and any others that I did not. 
128x128Ag insider logo xs@2xjaymark
arch2
308 posts
 
I cant give you much of any recommendation but oh boy can I relate to your comment. I recently moved to a new house and I don’t trust the movers to move my stereo stuff. I should have let the movers move my stereo stuff. I’m way older and way fatter than I used to be.

BTW I have a primaluna dialogue premium hp amp (single amp not monos) with kt150s and love it.
jaymark's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
jaymark OP
514 posts
 
Anybody heard the Audio Classics 9B tube amp that is built by VAC?
dekay's avatar
dekay
5,662 posts
 
Can't locate/Google it now but saw a Don Sachs refurbished Harmon Kardon Citation II for sale recently.

However, from experience, the little thing comes in at way over 50 pounds.

DeKay
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,892 posts
 
A Music Reference RM-9 Mk.2 if you are patient enough to wait for one to become available (less than a thousand were made). 125w/ch, EL34 tube life 10,000 hours (four tubes per channel), around $2,000 used. Or the RM-200 MK. 2, about the same power but with a ss input stage and KT-88 or 6550 output tubes (two per channel), around $3,000. The RM-200 is Michael Fremer’s "budget" tube power amp reference, continuously on Stereophile’s Recommended Component List (in Class A) since first reviewed many years ago.
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