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Amplifier recommendation

We who love this hobby/obsession are an interesting lot. We love to converse with, encourage, challenge, insult, and offend one another, then turn to one another for advice and recommendations. Because we are haunted by the possibility that while we think we have Golden Ears, we might just merely have Silver Ears, so we seek reassurance from one another that we really are hearing what we think we’re hearing. “Did you find that to be a little too rolled off on the top end?” “I agree that it’s right tonally, but lacks the imaging of comparable models. Or is that just my room?” 

With that brief preamble, I am going to, you guessed it, ask for a recommendation. And I’m going to ask a question hoping some will have a very specific answer to, knowing full well that most will say,”Well, that depends”. Can you name a specific stereo tube amp that is reasonably affordable, (no &100k or even $10 k, please) “vintage” or current, that you think produces 70, 80, 90% of the sound characteristics that tube lovers love? Can you say THAT amp is what a typical high end tube amp “sounds like”? An amp about which you would say, “Wanna know the difference between a good tube amp and a good solid state amp? Listen to THAT tube amp! Thanks!

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holmz's avatar
holmz
2,328 posts
 

@holmz 

Alan March is presenting at a meeting of the Sydney Audio Club on Sunday which will give me a chance to evaluate his Purifi amps first hand. Not as good as trying out with your own system but better than nothing.

@mazian 
Maybe you could bring your amp, or your speakers there.

I would think that it would probably be easier for Alan to leave the amp than to pack it up and fly it back to WA…, and maybe the same with the speakers.

I would be interested to know what you think of it.

I’ve only heard the combo in his house, but the reviews are good… and specs are great. So I doubt it is a bad option for Class-D in Au, NZ, or Asia in general.
And I also doubt that the Atmasphere would be anything other than good too.
Or even the Suprateck.

They all have stunningly good specs… so it’s kinda a bit of a 1st world problem.

rbertalotto
138 posts
 

Classic with a bit more power and a few nods to modern technology....Tubes4HiFi VTA ST120......Simply can not be beat for anywhere near the price....Buy it as a kit or completely assembled. Love mine!

http://rvbprecision.com/stereo/vta-st120-dynaco-clone-tube-amplifier-build-in-pictures.html

twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 

March is one of the companies that has started building amps with the latest Purifi module.

vthokie83
854 posts
 

Rbertalotto,

+1 on the Tubes4HiFi VTA ST-120. I built mine from kit. My second tube am, and I adore it. Tubes I run currently: Philips NOS 5R4GY rectifier, 1960s NOS RCA “clear top” 12AU7 driver tubes, and Tung Sol KT-120 output tubes. With this configuration probably north of 70 WPC….is an amazing amp to tube roll

$1,600 assembled, plus shipping…..You can also purchase tubes from them, believe it adds another $400

passet02's avatar
passet02
267 posts
 

GREAT AMPS ,  Audio Hungary 20-i amd the Canor 211

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