Best Vintage tube amp / preamp manufacturer

From the 60’s and 70’s. Macintosh obviously comes to mind. And which models of the brands. There aren’t that many but I am interested to know your thoughts.
I have a bit of a Mac and Fisher collection going on.

pkvintage11-03-2023 7:36pm

Showing 4 responses by viridian

viridian Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 5,256 posts 05-22-2025 at 08:06pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Brook, but those amps are a tad older. Acrosound Stereo 20/20 is a nice amp with a little work as well. Both a bit less pedestrian, IMHO.
viridian Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 5,256 posts 05-22-2025 at 11:35pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete More troubling is that the driver/phase inverters are direct coupled to the outputs, in a strange push/pull adaptation of the Loftin White circuit. There is a reason one doesn’t see direct coupling like this in other amps, it can lead to catastrophic failure. The heat is just the cherry on the sundae. But that’s vintage for you.
viridian Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 5,256 posts 05-23-2025 at 03:03pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete +2
viridian Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 5,256 posts 05-23-2025 at 03:46pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete The Heathkit W3M used the Acrosound TO300 output trannie and I prefer this, within it’s power envelope, to any of the Mac or Marantz tube gear that I have owned. Simply matters of taste, YMMV, and I think that they pre date 1960.

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