Tube amplifier upgrade suggestions welcome.

I just purchased the RM-10. Hopefully it’s 35 watts of pure bliss. Thank you to everyone here for your feedback and help.

It will be interesting trying out a tube amp. Many years ago I had a VK-5i preamp but I never thought it had any sort of a "tube" sound. However I did agree with one reviewer I read who said it was a bit "dark".

If asked today I could never explain to anyone what "dark" meant but it is the word I’d use looking back on the sound -- not in a bad way, just the particular coloration it gave to the music. It was clear as a bell though. I bought it via Audiogon about 25 years ago, back when Audiogon was young like me. ha!

Thanks again and I’ll post my impressions when I get the new toy. :D  Special thanks to @lowrider57 for your expertise.

Shawn

Well done. Best of luck.

2K gets you into amazing used Manley Mahi Mahi mono blocks.  EL 84 based, these rock out with 40wpc and changeable modes for triode.  You can vary the timbre of the amp with small switches.

They tube roll well and mine were very reliable and stable.  They are quick and delivered solid bass.  Lots of fun for 5 years.

I'm getting a sporadic scratchiness from the left channel of the RM-10.  I'm guessing I need to try replacing some of the tubes to see which one is the problem?  Anyone want to give some tube replacement advice for this amp? 

The amp itself sounds wonderful but I'm breaking in some new cables now and still trying to re-EQ my room, so I won't comment totally until everything gets in place and worn in.  So far it's clear is can be and with better cables I'm getting some decent bass now.  You never know how good your speakers are until you give them a good signal though.

Thank you to everyone who commented and offered advice -- I read it all but I could only afford one amp so I went with this one.  I did get exactly what I wanted though in 30 great watts instead of 200 so-so amps.   Thanks again to everyone for your help.  I feel like I have achieved entry-level audiophile status now.  :D

Listening to Steve Gadd Band right now -- linked to this from Michael Landau's Liquid Quartet Live on Roon radio.  Both really good.

Damn, there's that scratch again!

could be a number of things but first thing i would do is swap the small signal tubes side to side to try to isolate the offending one...