300 Watt Tube Monoblocks

I now have both, Krell mono blocs 350Mcx

Rogue Apollo monos

I hve owned Hurricanes, Big 450 watt Vtl's Other rogue mono blocks.

I hear a difference between the two worth dealing with the problems

I know how to solder when local; tech wouldn't work on the units Ive replace resistors and caps on Several units

Just looking for ideas. Have several amps in the 500-600 range on radar..

I remember a telephone conversation I once had a long time ago with Andy from Michigan (Vintage Tubes); he spoke in an almost orgasmic tone of voice about the sound of 200 watts of class A power . . . he was telling me about an amp he had just rebuilt,; I think it was a Jadis.  

@yoyoyaya +1 

I would avoid this path for the reasons mentioned.  After owning some high-powered tube monoblocks and dealing with tubes melting down, the cost of tube replacement, repairs, etc. I would go solid state for amps and have the tubes in your preamp and phono stage.

One conversation that sticks in my mind is one I had with a builder of some really great tube phono stages and preamps.  I asked him why he didn't also build tube amps and his reply was "I don't want to be in the repair business".

Agree with others that the cost of maintaining this many power tubes would be nuts, especially if you listen a lot or have them biased hot. You're talking some real $. Plus the insane weight and possible repairs and shipping...just a bad idea.

Why?

How about the Audio Research Reference 330M or maybe the 750SEL if you're into overkill?

I am a fan of tube electronics, but, I don't like most high powered tube amps.  Most sound brittle and unpleasant as compared to lower powered tube amps AND as compared to good solid state amps.  If you must have that much power (I don't know of any speakers that truly need that kind of amps), look to solid state.  it will sound better at a MUCH lower price.  As yoyoyaya mentioned above, keeping a  whole lot of power tubes  running properly is an expensive proposition with a lot that can go wrong.  

Get a pair of Class A transistor amps. With the poor quality of modern power tubes, chasing failures in 16 or so tubes is a sure recipe for misery.

Recommendation: don't.  (room heater, expensive to maintain)

@hiend2 

The ARC Ref 330m x2 is a great suggestion.  What speakers are you running?  Do you happen to have at least two, dedicated twenty amp services in your listening room?

Please, unless you've just received an absolutely large inheritance that you feel obligated to spend, you don't need 300 watts of power. Now, of course, if you're trying to drive super inefficient speakers or load an extremely large listening area with sound it may be prudent.

If not, find a McIntosh MC-275 of a more recent vintage and thank your lucky stars for not only how great it will sound, but for the bread you will save. Figure between 4,000-7,000  grand between used or new for HI-FI nirvana!

McIntosh MC3500 Mk2

Convergent JL7HPA:

• Power: 300 Watts, 1%THD
  (400 Watts into 2.5 ohms)
• THD @ 1 Watt: 0.005%
• Energy Storage: 3600 joules per pair
• Bandwidth: 20 Hz to 20 kHz (+/- 0.1dB)
• Damping Factor: 14, across entire audio band
• Gain: 25dB
• Input Impedance: 100K ohms single ended
  200K ohms balanced
• Sensitivity: 1.5 VAC for full power
• Noise: 120 dB below full power
• Power Bandwidth: 20 Hz to 30 kHz
• Tube Compliment: 2 x 6922 driver and power supply
  8 x KT120, triode mode

Just to mention, much is conservatively rated, i.e. my SS MC2250 was rated at 250 wpc, but tested within spec at 305 wpc by McIntosh at a white coat lab day at Harveys back in the day

so, maybe check out 250 wpc tube stuff as well,

what impedance are your speakers?

IF you consider bridging amps to make a pair, often the impedance choices get limited.

Audio Research Reference 330M.

Depending on what you want to spend, the Conrad Johnson ART300 monoblocks are quite good. I have their predecessor, the LP275M's which were upgraded at CJ with ST120 power tubes (8 per amp).

I had VTL 300 monos with KT-90 outputs for some years driving Duntech Princess speakers.  A very enjoyable system.

No information on recent offerings.

Mac MC2301