Is all the hype warranted

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.

I have had my 20 W Decware Torii Jr v2 with copper bypass upgrade for 1 year.  It was a 25 month wait but I feel well worth it.  It replaced a 20 W Raven Blackhawk which is now in my second system.  Both amps sound great with the right tube combination and speaker pairing.  My Raven drives Fritz 88db monitors with ease and the Decware Torii Jr. drives 89db Ohm Walsh Tall 2000’s easily as well.  The Torii Jr sounded better in all ways  than the Raven but not significantly.  When I added my tube preamp with gain controls the Torri Jr. came alive. Better dynamics, deep bass and midrange really stood out as better.  For me this is an amp that does everything well.  I will live with the Torii Jr. for a long time with a smile. Enjoy your journey!

Note: Check out the Decware website and read all the descriptions/test results on the Toriii Jr’s build.  I have not owned or heard a true SET amp but Steve Decker states the Torii Jr. has similar qualities in sound quality even though it’s a push/pull.