Raven Blackhawk is a great starting point. Built in the US and serviceable.
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@yaluaka, I'm with you. I love a big sugary sweet tube sound. My problem is I also like lots of power. I have an AUDIOPHONICS LPA-S500NC class d amp and a Conrad Johnson PV10 preamp with early 60's Mullard 12AU7 Blackburn NOS. Those are powering Kef LS50 speakers. I get all that tubey goodness but can also push quite a bit of sound. Not sure why more people don't go solid state or class D power with a tube pre. |
If anyone decides with Raven Audio I would highly recommend you spend the extra money and go with their Osprey for that will supply you with a few extra years of quality sound and with upgrading tubes along the way and speaker and subwoofer added give a very nice musical sound for most starters into tube amps.. With these amps the best tubes are the ones Dave Thomson will suggest for your listening pleasures....He sure supplied me with tubes over years to keep me wanting to hear more coming out of the Osprey amp...But all Amps have a limit to how much you can get from them before you are looking for another to hear more detail and headroom ... |
I live in Denver. Fortunately The Music Room is about a 45-minute drive from where I live. They are a GREAT used gear resource (one of the biggest in the world). Here is the link to their current integrated used tube gear. Interestingly, many of the gear suggestions in this thread are available used at The Music Room (PrimaLuna Evo 400, Rogers High Fidelity EHF-200 MKII, Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III, Quicksilver Audio, Cary Audio SLI-80HS, and Coincident 34SE MKIII). |
Did anyone read the question? The OP asked if anyone had experience with 2 specific amps and then everyone gives their favorites. Both the amps the OP mentions have very good recommendations. Sooner or later you have to take the plunge. I’d be inclined to go with the Willsenton but make certain that you have efficient speakers. |
- 47 posts total