Good Suggestions for Tube Amps under 6k

@iopscrl 

Nice post!

You mentioned the Triode Labs (Japan) 845 SET. That’s a wonderful recommendation. I’ve heard their 845 PSET mono blocks several times. I was duly impressed with its excellent sound quality and built. Very high quality unit.

Charles

@auroravengeance It’s amazing we got 2 pages of replies without someone recommending either a Lab12, Line Magnetic, or Leben.

Take a closer read. I and another poster suggested Line Magnetic amplifiers. Truth is that their are numerous excellent choices in the OP’s given budget range. Folks have posted many fine amplifier options. I don’t know how one could declare any specific one of them unequivocally as the “best” amplifier.

Charles

@carlsbad2 

Nice!!!

BTW EML are excellent quality tubes. I got over 11 years of superb sound and reliability from the EML XLS 300b with heavy/frequent usage. I expect the same from my recently acquired 2nd pair.

Charles

@carlsbad2 

I may have missed it, but what output and driver tubes will your custom amplifier be based upon? Tube or solid state rectified? This amplifier sounds like an all out effort.

Charles

@carlsbad2 

To be clear it was not my intention to argue semantics. I was just pointing out that tube amplifiers can be either single ended (SET and SEP) or push pull (PP). Furthermore PP can be class A or class A/B. Perhaps I interpreted your post incorrectly. But it seemed to suggest only class A/B amongst non SET amplifiers. I was attempting to supply clarification.

For the record, I am also an advocate of SET amplifiers and an extremely happy long term owner of 300b mono blocks. I concur with your sonic assessment of SET with appropriate speaker pairing.

Charles

@carlsbad2 

Tube amps are divided into 2 classes, SET and class A/B

The fundamental distinction is SET/SEP and push-pull tube amplifiers. Push-pull can be class AB but also pure class A as well.  SET (DHT) SEP (Pentode) are class A by default. For example, the tube push pull amplifiers I had suggested earlier are class A circuits. Granted that class AB is the more common circuit approach.

Charles

@gregjacob 

Another potentially very good match for your Daedalus is the Line Magnetic 805ia. Uses the 805 DHT tube. Pure class A SET 48 watts per Channel. Uses the 300b as a driver tube.

Charles

@gregjacob

I am familiar with the Daedalus speakers, very good quality. You have a highly regarded DAC as well. Your speakers are pretty high sensitivity and easy to drive. Thus, you don’t need a ton of power to drive them properly. You can focus on the quality of the amplifier.

Given the caliber of your audio system, I’d recommend a high quality pure class A tube circuit. For example,

Audio Hungary Qualiton integrated amplifiers.

Audio Note OTO,or SOROS these are available as push-pull and single ended.

Rogers High Fidelity 65v2, they have other models as well.

these fit within your stated budget and are all high-quality/well engineered tube class A “integrated “ amplifiers. I believe they would sound splendid with your current system.

Charles

@gregjacob 

I could possibly contribute some meaningful amplifier suggestions. As has been asked, what speakers, listening room size and sonic/ musical characteristics do you seek and prioritize? More information can yield better responses.

Charles