Is all the hype warranted

I probably should not say this being you are thinking about tube amps, it didn’t work out good for me a costly mistake…the right solid state is a much better way to go..but if you have the solid state you love and want to try a tube amp for fun that’s another thing..just don't go down that expensive tube rabbit hole..

+1 to what @larryi wrote, quote:

"@larryi ...They had the kind of sound I associate with inadequate output transformers.

 

I am not saying that they are horrible amps; they are decent for the money, but, for my taste, they are not the "giant killers" that many claim them to be. Good tube amps are not cheap because the good parts, particularly transformers, are not cheap".

Worth noting while ensuring the speakers are a good match. For years it took me a while to realize and understand again why my 50-year local retired radio-audio tech kept telling me over and over - to ensure there are "very high quality and rightsized transformers in your next amps".

Read the Decware forums.  These amps have a cult following for a reason.  I've owned a SE84UFO for years it is a very special piece of equipment.  I've learned so much from this amp for minimal amounts of money.  Tube rolling of NOS tubes for several dollars a tube.  The amp provides switches to change the presentation and has been rock solid with a LIFETIME warranty.  It is the best 2 watts out there for the money.  I finally just purchased a new amp but paid 7 times what I paid for the Decware new, to improve on the sound the Decware provided.  The wait for a new one is insane which is the only reason I went for different brand.

What amp did you get?   

I have an older Taboo which I love.  It's rated at 6wpc and I use it in my home office system paired with my Vienna Acoustics speakers, (90db).  I really love it, especially with the Lucid mode engaged.  That's how I always run it.  The stock tubes that it comes with are good, but I have a number of vintage Telefunken, Valvo, Siemens etc. tubes I have run in it which really brought it to life.  My current combo is a vintage Telefunken ECC83 and a set of vintage Valvo EL84's.  It sounds fantastic even though it can't get very loud due to only 6wpc, but that's OK with me.