Solid state amp that tube fan can be happy with?


For a few reasons I'd like to replace my EL34 mono blocks with a stereo SS amp producing 100-250 watts at 8 ohms.  Also with at least 40K input impedance since I'll keep my tube line stage.

No local dealers to audition candidates.

Thanks

pryso

The only solid-state amp I have owned that has come the closest to my tube amps is my MC2105.  It's pretty dang good.

I would suggest the Moonriver 404R or the Atma-Sphere Ganfet monoblocs.  I would be hard pressed to say which is tubier, and they are both excellent.

How about small monoblocks weighing only 35 lbs, 100 watts 8 ohms, doubling, quadrupling in 4 and 2 ohms, only warm temp Class A. Westminster Labs REI solid state-on all the time and always ready.

I used 35 to 120 watt, stereo and monoblock Class A/B tube amps for 50+ years.  No need to run hotter, tube dependent amps any longer.  Game changer!

If you are willing to TRY a class D amplifer, VTV makes a few different models class D amps, some with tube input buffers, others with different Op-amp choices to flavor the sound in the direction you want to go. These all have a 45 day trial period available which should be enough time to do a fair evaluation of the sound quality. Modules used include Hypex, Purifi, to name a couple and are available at different power levels, there are enough choices in power level you should be able to find something that works for you. I just recently got a 500 wpc Hypex based amp from them for roughly 760 bucks and I love it. Cool running, very clean sound quality, hard not to like efficient, good build quality and affordable with good sound. Class D is the future of amplification and it has arrived...its way better than anything I have heard regardless of price.

https://vtvamplifier.com/

35.2 lb Westminster Labs REI

These class A amps do look great and from Robert Harley’s review in June their sound signature seems like something many would like. But for $33,900 per pair, they better be game changers!

If you don’t need more than 50 watts Class A, the $6400 45lb Coda S5.5 is a killer amp in my opinion as I personally find it matches the following from the said review’s conclusion (at least with my ears compared to my Pass X250.8 & XA30.8).

"If you’re looking for the classic “Class A sound” of softish bass and warm midrange textures at the expense of transparency and resolution, the WestminsterLab Rei monoblocks probably aren’t for you. But if it’s neutrality, high resolution, see-through transparency, dynamic liveliness, and outstanding bass you’re after..."