2. amps-preamps
  3. 962911446

I need tube sound without the tubes

I've been running tubes for awhile and am just about fed up with all the problems that tubes entail. I've spent the past five years putting out fires...sometimes literally. Problem is I love the tube sound. Now, I'm a poor social worker with a taste for caviar and a pocket for tunafish...anyone out there have any recommendations for a great cheap amplifier that sounds sorta tubey. I need at least 75W per channel to run my speakers effectively. Cheap, my doctor and lawyer friends, means around $400. Maybe I'll be able to afford more in my next lifetime. Anybody want to make a donation to charity?
todd_crosby59c4
sdcampbell
2,136 posts
 
There are a number of good suggestions above. Let me add one additional possibility: the Musical Fidelity amp. It is British-made, sounds very "tubey", and is available in your price range. New units are sold by Audio Advisors.
iceravendbd3
43 posts
 
It doesn't matter what brandname. Take pains to check it out that you consider to audition those that have pure class A type circuitry. Pure class A designs are typically low in watts (50w) or less because of the way they are biased. For that design the TH distortions are kept to the even harmonics very similar to that of tube's. Check earlier thread on "..how you...class A.." in this same forum. Hope this helps.
mitch
27 posts
 
Id listen to the lamm m2.1 It will be the last amp you will buy SOUnds like tubes but has clarity, stability and slam of the BEST solid state with thr use of only one 6922 tube! I had cj 200 WATT monoblocks and DONT miss them
todd_crosby59c4 OP
3 posts
 
Thank you gentlemen for all the recommendations. Sounds like there are more options than I thought.
sej2112
8 posts
 
Try an old C.J. MF-80 (not the newer 2100,2300)its solid and relatively warm for a mosfet amp.
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