EL 34 Amp Recommendations

+1 on Music Reference. Since I bought my RM9, I got off the 'latest & greatest' merry-go-round! Bought it used, it's roughly 20+ yrs old, built like a tank, gorgeous sound, I've NEVER seen a negative word written about it. There's obvious reasons for this. If you can find one, I'd scoop it up!

Can't use an integrated amp. The Vandersteen 2WQ require separate pre-amp and amp. Don't know why, but they do.

Radford STA15 - one of the absolutely truly classic amps.

Well, I hate to add my 2 cents worth because I am a big fan of Quicksilver since the 8417 days...and I own mid monos to listen to different tubes. Recently, I have been listening to the mid monos with many tubes types, US Tungsol-black-grey and three hole plate. Gold Lion Kt66 and KT77, GE6550, Sylvania 6550, Svetlana, JJ, TAD, Mesa Boogie, etc etc etc. The best tube I have found for the mid monos is the old clear top GE 6l6s...best transparency, depth, imaging etc. Yes, other tubes have a more pronounced mid bass but the sound is dark in the upper midrange.

Well anyway just when I thought I had found the "magic" zone of the mid monos.....I decided to pull out the old 8417 monos. They had been sitting over a year so I plugged them in for about an hour and then hooked them up. Bad decision...the old 8417 absolutely blew away the mid monos...I don't really want to talk about it. not even close. FYI guys.. Larry

Run, don't walk or stall - there's a primaluna prolog seven amp set right now on agon for $2200!!!! What an amp - el34s, 70 wpc. Maybe if its still there tomorrow I'll buy it - but I don't need an amp. But still...........