Sweet sounding SE tube amps under $3K USED

Blindjim,

Since "attack", "exceptionally dynamic presentations", "great accuracy of scale" along with "harmonic richness and texture, and still have enough jump in it to bestow an involving re-creation" are you primary goals - POWER is what you are looking for. Lots of it with reserves for more even with fairly efficient speakers.

As I mentioned in an earlier post/thread, your speakers are 92dB, so listening at 89dB requires 0.5wpc. Well recorded classical or jazz (not most pop/rock music) can have 14-20dB transient peaks above average listening levels.

That means in order to accurately recreate large dynamic swings in complex musical passages without clipping or compression/distortion and keep the amp in it's most linear range of function, you'll need at least 100wpc - 150 to 200 is more like it.

Now, that estimate is obviously an ultimate goal and you can get by with less than that, but I would seriously stay above 100wpc and look for an amp known to have a serious power supply.

Take a good look at some Manley Labs Snappers monoblocks. They are 100wpc and more importantly, they use the same EL34 in ultralinear PP just like the Thor TPA-30(or 60) amps that you loved. On top of which, they allow both RCA and true balanced(XLR) inputs. The amps truly differential instead of simply using an input transformer to convert balanced/XLR inputs to single ended.

Manley Labs are known for making amps that kick a** dynamically. A huge part of their business is to the pro audio/recording industry. Also, they are made in the USA and have a great reputation for support.

There's a pair for sale here on Audiogon for $3,200. Go to Manley's website and read the reviews, especially the Inner Ear Report, Positive Feedback, Stereo Times, and Soundstage.

If not the Snappers, then consider an older set of VAC PA series amps. There's a set of VAC PA-100/100 monoblocks for sale here at $1,600 which use Kt-88/90 output tubes. Both tubes excel at bass and dynamics.

Darkmoebius
I think you're onto something there. Thanks much.

two issues are at hand for me. One, not being able to travel and hear them. Two, I think I am trying to get in one amp waht it likely takes two to do properly. One lush amp, and one for most all else.

Power reserves are sure important. I do know that much.

Imho, EL34 based amps are a great place to spend some time. The AE Sixpac are very reasonably priced (under $2k used) and highly reviewed. Also, look at the Cayin 860 monoblocs. I bought a new pair for under $3k and they are a fantastic value and sound great. I think they are the Cadilac version of the Prima Luna(Chevy) as I suspect they are made by the same people.

I run them with Merlin VSM MM's, Modwright 36.5 Preamp, Modwright AT Denon 3910 and they work together very well.

I'm just starting to go through the Cayins and swap out and upgrade some caps and tubes and I plan to be content for a long time. Highly recommended.

Blindjim, FWIW, I recently bought a Cayin A100T out of curiosity. I've only had it for a month or so but so far I'm not only pleased but surprised. While this is an integrated amp it has in input for a preamp which bypasses the 'front-end' of the Cayin so if you want to use your pre amp its easy to do. It also has the ability to switch from triode (laid back, less focused) to ultralinear (which is a very focused sound)on the fly with the remote. I prefer high resolution w/out brightness and a very focused image. My speakers and ears prefer the ultralinear but I'm sure many would like the triode or both. The best part is the sound! The unit (after fiddling with the tubes a bit) has real balls (heft!) but is not boomy at all, the mid range is very liquid and the highs are fine as well (again with a few tube changes). It is very linear, if a tad warm with my stuff and the tube changes. In my set up I'm getting my typical wide and high imaging, and focus depth (which has been more prominent in the center) some pretty good depth on the soundstage rear sides as well. If you develope any interest in this unit, send me an e-mail and I'll answer any questions (that I can).

Darkmoebius
thanks. I recall now the thing that set me off. thanks for the links to these as well... the ST review won't open for me though. Re-reading through the rest of them reproved the notion I had about them... on paper. My take, is that they have greater emphasis on leading edge and slam, than the euphonic side of timberal glow. But perhaps that can be accomplished with a bit of tube rolling... there or elsewhere in say, the preamp.

I suppose that is the stumbling block for me and compromise seems aptly, the answer. I need either compromise the financial future, or compromise the sonic pallet by way of euphony, or the dynamic. spectrum.

That, in a nutshell is what I felt the Thor amps captured so well in their presentation. Almost equal parts of the color of rich timberal luster, and very good leading edge definition, lending the blend to a natural recreation of tones and fine image outlines possesive of such sufficient body that was 'ear-catching' to say the least.

Just one of those "Ooooooohhh" sounds, quite impressive.

Given, I'm no longer afraid of the dreaded neutral monster that had so long haunted me i would now be incled to compromise some of the euphonic side of the coin to gain greater flexibility in vaster musical genre enjoyment... but not entirely, just some.

which makes me feel I should get the Thor 30's, and a decent SS for sequential use with the monos, to better cover the whole of things, perhaps. Like a small Bells, Mac, or even a couple digi's.

Kenreau
thanks... I'm drawing a blank on "AE"? Who's that?

Newbee
Thank you much. I'm getting such an influx of int info I'm wondering now if I've not made some mistake by not paying as much attention to them earlier on. It probably had something to do with my predisposition to the "lots-o-watts" camp I was so squarely set into.

I think, 'think' mind you, I should go ahead and pursue the addition of the tube amp (s) first as I am fairly set to that task and would hate to abandon it without ever knowing something of it firste.

I don't doubt for a minute that there are some really fine ints available out there. One is likely in my future, just not at the moment. Unless the financial bottom of the life boat I'm paddling runs onto a reef.

The aspect of the pre in's is a real good thing too for me.

The addition of the Silverlines will allow a far wider path for audio investigation now, regardless the tube amp, as they simply continue to impress whilst they run in.