Anyone else constantly curious about amps?

I’m also a tube guy at heart and I tend to keep tube gear a lot longer than when I have solid-state electronics.  I get bored with SS amps/integrateds after 6-8 months and look to try something different; whereas, whenever I’ve had a tube setup (tube separates or a tube integrated), I’ve held onto it for as long as 5 years without making any changes.   

In the late 90’s, I attended this Stereophile Single Ended Symposium in Philadelphia and it was the first time I ever heard SET amps and was completely blown away.  It literally was a whose who of industry people and I heard SET amps from Audio Note, Berning, Cary, Fi, Caztech and a few others using 845s, 211s, 300Bs and 2a3s on very efficient horn speakers and concluded while they all sounded incredible and was the b3st thing I’ve ever heard, it was the least expensive and lowest powered 2a3 monos from Fi that sounded best to me.
 

About 7 years later, I attended another stereo show in Central NJ put on by Vacuum Tube Valley magazine. On that day, I heard her many different setups, solid state Class A, AB, SET, PP, Class D, Class D with a tube preamp, and 15 or so different tube amps ranging from 300Bs, 2a3’s, 45s, 10s, 845s, EL84, EL34s, 6L6s, 6B4Gs, 6550s & KT88s.  Prior to that day I never heard a Class D amp or single driver speakers.  At the end of the day, my 2 favorite setups was an Italian SET amp that was demoed using 45s,10s, 2a3s, 300Bs and 52s on single driver Laemhorn speakers and an EL84 Dyna mkII reissue on single driver Omega speakers.  A close 3rd was a custom Dynaco Stereo 70 using 6B4Gs in PP Triode on Rogers LS3/5as. 
 

So, to the original post, maybe just pick up a couple SS amps of excellent performance at a reasonable price with different power ratings that you can swap in and out to keep it fun.  You can run the SS amps in the summer and the tube gear in the winter.

Some reasonable priced Giantkillers are:  

(200 wpc) B&K EX442 or EX442 Sonata, PS Audio 200C or 200CX, Perreaux 2150, Aragon 4004

(150 wpc):  Tandberg 3002, Moscode 300, VSP Labs TransMos 150, Odyssey Stratos, Nakamichi PA5

(100 wpc & below):  Classe Ten, Aragon 2004, Meitner STR50, Robertson 4010, Quad 405-2, PS Audio 100C, Acoustat TNT120.

Have fun and enjoy the journey.

@displayname I was very impressed by the LTA – the cleanness and the wide and articulate soundstage was phenomenal. It is a tube amp but not overly warm. If you are curious, reach out to me because I know a standup guy selling one. (It’s not me.)

I thought this comment on Audiogon was accurate (I also own the Pass XA25 and did this same comparison): 

"The LTA has a big sound with an expansive soundstage that seems to wrap around you whereas the XA25/EAR combo seems smaller but more nimble by comparison. The LTA’s big sound doesn’t come at the expense of detail. In fact, certain “decorative” sounds like bells, triangles and non-drum percussion seem to stand out more with the LTA. Same with vocals, which are quite forward in the mix and, possibly, not to everyone’s liking (personally I prefer it). The XA25 wins on dynamics. In fact, with the Spatials, for me, this is one of the best things about my system. But the LTA is entirely satisfactory in this department as well. Finally, to my surprise, the LTA has amazing, addictive bass that makes the Pass Labs (which until I heard the LTA, I thought produced more than adequate bass) seem anemic in the lower registers. I like the Pass Labs bass enough that I don’t use my subs. With the LTA I would say the bass I get might actually be too much for some ears. Subs are absolutely not needed."

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/lta-ultralinear-plus-integrated-vs-pass-labs-xa25-ear-868pl

One thing about your setup to consider is that you might be missing out on soundstage, bass, or control at higher volumes because the amp likely isn't controlling your speakers as much as others might like. In your shoes I might try for a 40 wpc tube amp or higher. Slipperly slope because the price goes way up and so do the changes, not always for the better. 

If you like the tone and are okay with stage, etc, about adding a subwoofer? It’s similar to adding an amp because you are. Since your speakers are not super efficient this would allow you to keep the tube sound you like and get a good bit more low end energy and performance.

A sub will make your setup a little more relaxed imo without taking anything away for you mains. I don’t know the impedance curve of your speakers but it might improve the 50-100hz region as well based on how you set it up. 

One thing about your setup to consider is that you might be missing out on soundstage, bass, or control at higher volumes because the amp likely isn't controlling your speakers as much as others might like. In your shoes I might try for a 40 wpc tube amp or higher. Slipperly slope because the price goes way up and so do the changes, not always for the better. 

I’ve owned dozens of speakers and for my taste you really have to pay for good bass. Typically upwards of 15k or so. YMMV. Work your speaker positioning and some simple treatments too.

Enjoy!

I've been amp curious for a very long time.

Recently I've been interested in some of the lower power pentodes that are also meant to be easy to drive, like the EL95 and EL84. If amps based on these tubes are designed properly there's not an SET made that can keep up by any metric audiophiles value. They really can work quite well! 

One hero in this department is the Dynaco ST35. Its inexpensive, compact, and if properly refurbished, very musical. I recently rebuilt one with new filter caps, new RCA connectors, and set it up to prevent ground loops with a grounded AC power cord. If you have speakers that don't need a lot of power this amp is surprisingly neutral and musical.

I've also had an interest in some of the Electro Voice amps from the mid and late 1950s. These used a Circlotron output similar to what we've been using in our OTLs for the last 47 years.

@atmasphere I LOVE my ST35. Bought it and refurbished it thanks to your suggestions. What a gem. I was powering 87db bookshelves with it yesterday (Acoustic Energy AE500) and it sounded luscious. Just great.