2. amps-preamps
  3. 1284811163

Best ARC tube amps for classical music?

I have thought of using an old ARC tube amp together with my Sonab OA 116 loudspeakers, and I am listening to classical music via a Thorens 126 gramophone.

I see there are many models of the old ones, and I wonder which of them be best suited for my loudspeakers and choice of music genre.

I am particularly occupied with the timbral sound of the musical instruments.

I have already been recommended a D-79, but this one is probably not so easy to get? Hopefully, there would also be some other models that woud do?

Best regards,
Axtl
axtl
rrog
1,958 posts
 
What preamp do you plan to use?
axtl OP
7 posts
 
Quad 44,
ARC SP 8/10/11, depending on which models I might get.
don_c55
1,025 posts
 
You also may like Quicksiver amps. They have individually biased output tubes instead of "Exact" matched sets like most ARC amps. Matched output tube are a pain IMO. The D79 has individual bias but is old and rare.

Quicksilver has just as good a reputation as ARC.
rrog
1,958 posts
 
All good preamp choices. I have owned an SP-8, SP-8 MKII and SP-11 MKII. I have intentionally stayed away from the SP-10 because of the high tube count.

The D-79B is an excellent amplifier. The only other choice may be Classic 120 monos. They are in the $3,000 price range like the D-79B.

ARC SP-8 MKII price range is $1,000 - $1,200. When properly tubed and in perfect working order the SP-8 MKII sounds like a one box version of an SP-10. It is ultra neutral and it has a terrific phono stage.

ARC SP-11 MKII price range is $2,000 - $2,500 depending on condition.
More to discover