Good Suggestions for Tube Amps under 6k

I have an LTA Ultralinear+ that I am parting with. It's not a great fit with the rest of my system, or the direction I am going, but it would have a lot of synergy with yours. PM me and I will give you a deal on it. With the Daedalus speakers you know you have at least one component you are never going to want to upgrade. Some of the best speakers I have ever heard.

-Steve

Again, to everyone, thanks so much for the feedback.  I want to try to wrap up this thread by saying:

1. I've been super pleased with the PrimaLuna EVO 400.  It has wowed everyone who has come by to listen.  Those PrimaLuna contributors who have written in can vouch for the fan base and build quality.

2. When you have reached a certain level in this deep-hole hobby, you can't help but wonder what other marvels and fine-tune magic you might be able to squeeze out of your system.  I opened this up not to belittle a really fine, highly respected, and awarded amp but rather to see what veteran advice might surface.  My first choice when setting up the system was the LTA Ultralinear+ but I was buying all of the components at once and just couldn't afford the extra $$ to reach it.  (I failed to mention I use an Innuos Zenith MK3 for streaming). PrimaLuna seemed like a great alternative for a few thousand less and still is.  Of course, something inside wants to pop a higher-priced, well-regarded tube amp into my current system and environment for the A/B comparison... If for no other reason than to conclude that more money did not provide any significant gain.

Finally, again, thank you for great suggestions.  I'm sure all these amps would please many listeners.  For those who lean more toward the tube (particularly ultralinear) sound, it's just a fun comparative conversation.  I will close my participation in this thread.  It was not to "beat a dead horse", just an enjoyable exploration.  All the best!

@gregjacob "...Although I could live with the Primaluna (about 5k), I am exploring other alternatives.  That's the gist of it."

It would be helpful, as others have brought it up, what part of the sound are you trying to change.  What makes you think the amp change will help get you there? In other words, what are you looking for more/less of in any way?  

A few more answers might help the crew here to help guide in a direction or two. 

Daedalus has been pairing with LTA at audio shows for several years now so it 's a natural match. I quite liked their Z10 integrated last time I heard it at CAF. As usual @charles1dad has some excellent suggestions the AN Oto in particular is a sweet little integrated.

It's going to depend a lot on the kind of sound you prefer. I have owned several of the amps suggested here by others and liked things about each one, but they are also all different.

My favorite by far in the upper end of your range (and well beyond) is the Synthesis A100 or its little brother, the A40. Both of these units also have an excellent onboard DAC, although you could try it compared to your Lampizator to determine your preference.

While the Synthesis amps do not seem to get as much attention in the forum as others, those who do have them seem to love them as much as I love mine. I highly recommend adding it to the list of amps you are considering.

Luxman mq88 is built like a work of art reliable as a stone and sonically wonderful.

You need to up the price if you want to best the PrimaLuna. I own that amp. I’m super surprised when someone wants to sell. It’s the only thing I never think of changing out.

From PL website:

PrimaLuna uses ceramic tube sockets secured to ventilated steel plates that are bolted to the chassis. The entire signal path, including resistors and capacitors, is painstakingly hand-wired with heavy gauge cable by craftspeople. In our EVO 300 and 400 models, we even use Swiss-made silver-plated oxygen-free copper cable with a Teflon dielectric in the entire signal path. The result is a product that sounds amazing and lasts for decades.

J.Chip

Are you speakers sensitive enough for an SET?  that is a key question.  Tube amps are divided into 2 classes, SET and class A/B.  SETs are the main venue of "tube amp magic".  

Stay away from primaluna and other amps built on circuit boards.  Go with simple point to point circuits.  Get Manual bias control.  Look for the simplest circuit with the fewest components in the signal path as possible. 

Jerry

Lampizator 211 Balanced Monoblocks.  Tube amps are excellent and the synergy with the Lamp DAC will be fantastic.  I listen to them on Daedalus Apollos.  I'd part with for $6K, they are $18K new and can't order them this year from Lamp. Interested let me know.

@gregjacob   The LTA Ultralinear + is on sale for 10% off until April 30. I noticed that when i researched it FWIW. You save $765

Primaluna

I would go for Atma Sphere MP-3 preamplifier + Atma Sphere M-60 tube amps. MP-3 is also the best preamplifier you can have for your money and probably the best value for $$$ in audiophile world. If you need more power or you want to save some USD, you can replace M-60 with Atma Sphere Class D. Deadalus speakers usualy have 8 or 6 ohms and, more importantly, a flat impendence curb. In this situation OTL amplifier such Atma Sphere M-60 shall work just fine, and will provide you all benefits of the tube technology without any disadvantage. Speaking in general, tube amps are happy with high efficiency / high impendance speakers. A good tube preamp such MP-3 will sound (much) better than almost any solid state preamp. Keep in mind that preamp is the "conductor" of the system.

+1 Charles Dad line magnetic 805

or 845. 

I ask again, what improvements/sound characteristics are you looking for over and above what the PrimaLuna is giving you?

I bought an Aric Audio Transcend Push Pull a few months ago and I’ve been delighted with it. Pure class A, triode or UL, variable gain and feedback using quality pots. You can run KT150, KT120, KT88, or El34 interchangeably, with varying power output, of course. I prefer KT150. Auto bias. Dead quiet. Sounds rich, dynamic, detailed, linear. For reference, I run several systems, two of which are SET-based (high quality 2a3 and 300b amps). This is probably the best sounding push pull amp I’ve used, and I owned a VAC 300.1a for six years, and also have a Manley Stingray II, which is El84 PP. With the upgraded Jupiter caps and a few other extras, it came in at $5k flat. A serious bargain. Aric is a genuine pleasure to work with and he really cares.

Thanks, everyone, for very good suggestions.  I'll be looking at each of those.  Yes, the LTA Ultralinear + gets a lot of support.  It was also suggested by Lou of Daedalus and others.  Before finalizing anything up ahead, I just wanted to see what others might weigh in on it.  I do want to say that the Primaluna is a very fine unit. It's given me some wonderful evenings over about a year.  I cant' help but think that there's just a bit more of it that I could gain in an upgrade. 

Again, thank you to all for your thoughtful suggestions!   All the best.

@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

Daedalus owner here…some easy recommendations. LTA UL + integrated amp or Modwright KWA 100 + LS 100 which I just saw come up for sale here. I like the LTA better but both can be had at your price point and both are favored by Lou and other Daedalus fans. Also, call Lou and ask him what else he might suggest.

A Linear Tube Audio ZOTL40 would pair nicely with those speakers but you might have go to the used market.

@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

I currently have:  

Primaluna EVO 400 integrated

Lampizator Atlantic 3 DAC

Daedalus custom-made speakers

For those unfamiliar, Daedalus would be in the sonic personality range of Harbeth, et al.  Fabulous for vocal, wonderful wood tones, transparency, and clarity.

Although I could live with the Primaluna (about 5k), I am exploring other alternatives.  That's the gist of it.

@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

What speakers will the amp be paired with?

My first recommendation would be the Audio Research I-50. Extremely musical and detailed. Gets everything right. Especially engaging. It is right on your budget. The really good thing about this is that it is competitive in the $10K integrated market.

If you can get into the $10K market via buying used, I highly recommend it. The $10K market offers strikingly better performance than the $5K market. I highly recommend listening to Pass. They have the fast response of solid state, with great rhythm and pace (although definitely not at the level of the Audio Research) making them really impressive.

There is also Luxman… I will admit to having high hopes for them and have been very disappointed at the trebly detail and poor midrange… the sound has not moved me at all. I have listened to their top level amp and a couple of integrated including the $10K integrated… to me, very disappointing. But that is me. I have been at this for fifty years and superficial flash will not get me.

What do you have now, and what improvements/sound characteristics are you looking for?