If you are looking with a budget of $10k, but preferably $5k or under, I'll chime in. I have a pair of VTL MB 450 Signatures from several years back. I like them very much and they boot excellent tuchus, even when done in triode mode with a measly 225 watts, they do very well (450 watts in tetrode of course). With the bigger models, you just get more fanny-kicking prowess. The older 450s should be available used for <$4k, which is a lot of LPs cheaper than the 750s.
Of course, several of the other choices will be OK depending on your speakers. In fact, what is necessary to kick sufficient tuchus will depend ENTIRELY on your speaker load.
As a case in point, someone mentions the Wavac 805s used. There happen to be a pair for sale. Cool! But note they are for sale because they don't meet the needs of the seller's current-hungry speakers. The Cary 120s may be a great amp - never heard it - but I have had a pair of speakers before where they would have been less preferable than the VTL 450s (OTOH, the Wavacs would probably do more than justice to my current speakers).
IF you have speakers with sensitivity in the 80s, and require current, and they have an input impedance dip down to a low 1-handle (like Martin Logan electrostats), then I have not seen many large tube amps which will meet that need other than big VTLs. If, on the other hand, the speakers are low-mid 90s dB with a more benign impedance curve, you could probably easily do OTLs with an autoformer.
A reasonably interesting thread on the subject came up last year and is here. Furthermore, the atma-sphere website has several white papers which make for interesting reading and may help inform your choice as regards tube amplifier topology.
Of course, several of the other choices will be OK depending on your speakers. In fact, what is necessary to kick sufficient tuchus will depend ENTIRELY on your speaker load.
As a case in point, someone mentions the Wavac 805s used. There happen to be a pair for sale. Cool! But note they are for sale because they don't meet the needs of the seller's current-hungry speakers. The Cary 120s may be a great amp - never heard it - but I have had a pair of speakers before where they would have been less preferable than the VTL 450s (OTOH, the Wavacs would probably do more than justice to my current speakers).
IF you have speakers with sensitivity in the 80s, and require current, and they have an input impedance dip down to a low 1-handle (like Martin Logan electrostats), then I have not seen many large tube amps which will meet that need other than big VTLs. If, on the other hand, the speakers are low-mid 90s dB with a more benign impedance curve, you could probably easily do OTLs with an autoformer.
A reasonably interesting thread on the subject came up last year and is here. Furthermore, the atma-sphere website has several white papers which make for interesting reading and may help inform your choice as regards tube amplifier topology.