Looking for high power warming sounding tube amps

@ghdprentice ya I am already convinced by tube amps thats why I am pursuing this. I am skeptical about ARC as i had a ref 5se (as you might remember from my other thread) that got beaten in many respects by my bottlehead moreplay pre. The ref5se had a ss sorta sound where the moreplay brought the warmth, colour and fullness and holographic depth the ARC just did not have.

CJ monoblocks also did the same thing. So I am trying to move in that direction.

re: X350

@charles1dad I do believe that the higher damping factor (DF) is appealing and its effect on bass is desirable for many. In my experience it adds a “tightness “ to bass frequencies that I just do not hear when listening to actual live acoustic lower range instruments.

Speaking of damping factor and comparing - quite a wide range with familiar amps many here listen to. Its kind of interesting studying damping factor in different type amp designs.

With Pass’ different designs and comparing, the older X350 and newer X30.8, both have a damping factor of 150.

The lower power Firstwatt SIT3 is a lower damping factor of 30, and Firstwatt F8 is 40. Then we compare to the venerable class A Pass XA-25 bounces up to damping factor of 500.

While I look for some of that lower midrange bloom and upper mid-bass bloom myself hoping for a more realistic sound,

Noting my own QS Mono 120s, have a damping factor of 15.

The latest Quicksilver KT Mono amps have a damping factor of 20.

The ARC 160S Reference Stereo amp has a damping factor of 14.

The Deware SE34I.5 into 8 ohms has a reported damping factor of about 5.7

Decware ZMA is probably about the best you'll find in "high power".

Jerry

+1ghdprentice

I'm using Bob Carver Raven 350 mono blocks. 350 WPC for a little under $10K. These replaced Pass Labs X350.5. X350.8 and Atmasphere M60 3.3, Krell.

You might be able to find used in your price range,

ozzy