Is all the hype warranted

I used the lower powered amps from them and thought they were average at best, not a lot of $$$ so don’t expect world class sound.  I much prefer the traditional SET tubes like 2a3,45 or 300b to theirs.

Depending on room size, preferred listening levels, and how easy it is to drive you 92 db/w speaker, a very low-powered amp may or may not be suitable.  To be on the safe side, you might want to look at something on the 20 watts or more range of power.  That means a pushpull amps, not a single-ended triode amp.  I would look for something running EL84 tubes.  There are many fine sounding EL84 amps that are not that expensive.  I also like lower powered amps running 6L6 and KT66 tubes.  

I was out walking a couple months ago, came across a garage sale and found a Decware SE84UFO and paid $200. I have Klipsch Forte IVs and Volti Audio Razz speakers. The amp worked perfectly doing A/B listening with my First Watt Sit-4, 10 watts of class A…there was no comparison…the Decware sounded ok but I definitely loved the Sit-4 more…made a huge profit on the Decware…try to find a used one try it and they are easy to resell….

Thanks all. Great advise.  Im trying to stay away from chi fi so got excited when I saw something  made in my home state.  I may go down and listen with the wife but problem with that is that it's not my gear, not my room that it'll be paired with.  

I’m the proud owner of their Taboo headphone amp with all the upgrades.  It’s so totally boring, though because all you hear is exactly what’s on the recording and nothing else.  Meh.  Boring, just pure, clean music.  I don’t need lively.