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99 10W Tube Mono Blocks?

Just read a CES article in Stereophile (April issue) that very briefly touched on some $99 tube mono blocks made by Antique Sound Labs, the Wave AV-8. Can anyone tell me anything about these things?

To own tubed mono blocks for $99 each... I just can't believe they could be any good. But at the same time, for $200, how could I not find out for myself?

What kind of speakers, of course in the same price range, say $200 max for the pair would produce reasonable sound and be happy wih a 10W tube amp?

Oh, and of course we also need a, say, under $200 CD player with built-in volume control that would make this system really sing. Any suggestions here? :)

But seriously, I am just itching to order these things... Anyone that has any info, good or bad, please let me know.
njonker
trelja
3,223 posts
 
Anyone have any idea of the type of tubes these amps use and/or will accept. I would be very interested in these for budget minded friends.
jacks0395
70 posts
 
How do they do it for so little?
tommy
32 posts
 
I listened to these amps at CES and if you send me a self addressed envelope I will send you a picture I took of them. They sounded great for the money but the speakers were about 10 times their price. If I remember correctly the source was some CD unit with a volume control on it that I hadn't seen before. Hope this helps.
trelja
3,223 posts
 
Tommy, do you know what type of output tubes are used in these amps? EL84, EL34, 6550, KT88? I am thinking that these monoblocks, along with the type of CD player you described, coupled with a nice pair, of inexpensive, efficient speakers would make a wonderful little system. For speakers, I am thinking monitors from either Coincident, Soliloquy, or Triangle. Especially, Triangle. The more I think about it, the more I think I might just jump on the bandwagon...
njonker OP
107 posts
 
Trelja, that is precisely what I am thinking. Do you have any suggestions on the inexpensive CD player, which should probably have volume control built in?
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