2. amps-preamps
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Recommendation Tube Integrated

At this juncture (nearly 2024) what are folks' best recommendagtion for a tube integrated amp.  Constraints would be $10K (preferrably $5K or less), at least 35 watts per channel.  New or used.  Goal would be smooth, creamy sound.  My current system, which I would consider very good solid state sound, can still be a little ...hard.... to my sensitive ears at times, and I'm thinking a tube option would be nice.  Thanks.

mathiasmingus
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,911 posts
 

+ for the Aesthetix… but it’s a hybrid

wsrrsw's avatar
wsrrsw
997 posts
 

I had a Prima Luna(s)* and got Rogers High Fidelity KWM-88. And if you don’t want more wattage here’s  another. eBay takes 13% so a call would save you that. Yes I’m a fan. Read the reviews. These are tip-top. The both can be controlled from a phone or pad. 

*the PL Floyd looks interesting but I haven’t heard one. 

wsrrsw's avatar
wsrrsw
997 posts
 

Oh and Macintosh too. 

lafish3's avatar
lafish3
10 posts
 

The Quicksilver Integrated is only rated at 20 watts per channel, but with four EL84s per side, and big bespoke transformers, it’s going to sound like a lot more than that. Plus the EL84 is one great tube and it only costs $2,500, made entirely by hand, entirely in the U.S. 

mlsstl
1,435 posts
 

If you want a good amp at a great price, check out the VT-70 (35 w/ch from EL-34 outputs) for $1,300 and their VT-150 (60 w/ch from KT-88s) for $3,000. I had a VT-70 and it was an excellent amp. They are only available online from Underwood HiFi. Great reviews from several publications, including Twitteringmachines.com.

 

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