Looking for high power warming sounding tube amps

@charles1dad So again, what is the individual listener trying to obtain/achieve?

Exactly. Your post about the "snap" got me thinking about this more. I guess some like that unnatural ultra-fast snap of snare or kick drums or fast ping of a piano key. Not for me. While I’m not into sluggish playback either, finding that sweet spot matching the amp with the speakers in the right way, sure can make it enjoyable.

Individual-who, likes what:

• Listeners: I tend to look for posts and feedback on these audio forums by those who’ve played instruments and/or grew up listening in/around live music. Their brain has been shaped, knows what good sound is and can recognize it without even having to think about it :)
• Engineers: some focus primarily on signal-to-noise and flat lines on graphs, I digress - they usually don’t get it, and think they do.
• Hyrbrids: Individuals with a background in music who can also design and engineer amplifiers and speakers is a rare breed to look for.

Truly appreciate those who understand this balance and can design it and produce it for normal consumers to purchase. This community can help save/protect them by paying a little more for their products and services to keep them in business. 

Are the quick silver amps more fast and neutral and linear? Or more romantic, bloomy and warm ?

@smodtactical Are the quick silver amps more fast and neutral and linear? Or more romantic, bloomy and warm ?

It depends on which output tubes you want to run and size of amps/transformers. The older version amps have changed some if you are looking at 20 year old amps.  

Changes with EL34/KT88 tubes with smaller amps and smaller opt transformers (Mid Monos) having more of that Classic sound like you get with CJ "Classic" amps.  The older (vintage type) collectible (MX-190s) run multiple EL34s, larger amps.  

As you move towards the newer generation amps (Mono 60s, KT88s) or running more KT88s (like V4s), adding more power, similar sound.  Split the difference some with KT120s in the Mono 120s if you can find a pair.  Kinda has the EL34 sound with more power with KT120s, sort of. Not exactly, each opt is different.  

Now similar to CJ new "Art Series" The transition to more linear/neutral sound you ask about comes in when running tubes like newer KT150s. More power, neutral, more bass. Less of the classic sound. If you truly need 100w, the larger amps with the bigger transformers can get you there if you are willing to go with more output tubes (V4s) or the larger KT120s, KT150s.

In 2022/2023 The new "KT Mono" amps from QS allows you to run a wider range of the opt tubes now.  The older gen amps tend to only run 1 or 2 opt tubes types, specifically. i.e. I can only run KT150s/KT120s (higher plate voltage) in Mono 120s, cannot run KT88s.  However, the new gen "KT Mono" amps quote ("accepts KT66, KT77, KT88, KT90, KT99, KT120, KT150, and KT170 power tubes and when ordered  with KT150s will produce 100 watts".) Gives a bit more variation for the type of sound you might want.  At QS, lots of other amps existed between over the years, with different sounds (8417 / 6C33C triodes).,  Seems the closing chapter is winding down to the "Mid Mono" or  the all new "KT Mono". Many others shows "DISCONTINUED" if you click on each on the site, as TBD coming out of th pandemic.  Hopefully some of those come back, we'll see.  Some nice used stuff out there too. 

I can't say enough about my 300b's and 6c Triodes

It pains me to think where they might end up!

Had his products since 1980 with no issues.

@smodtactical 

Does the amp have to be tubes if it has the same good character as a good tube amplifier?