I'm thinking about a low watt tube amplifier?


I was looking at a small Class A Tube Amp, Finale Audio's F6 Hommage tube amplifier. It runs at 4 watts per channel, which dosn't seem like much but was curious after talking with a friend how amazingly happy he was with the sound of small, low wattage tube amps. My only concern are my Wilson Benesch speakers, which are only 97 db sensitive. I do have a pair or REL's to handle the low end.  I am currently trying out a 20 watt triode Cayin Amp. (CS-55) which has proven to be more than capable of driving my speakers at low to medium volume with alot of room left. I also have a Luxman Mq-3600 triode tube amp which runs at 30 watts, no problem driving the speakers to extreme volume levels. I was thinking of talking with the stereo shop and seeing what his thoughts were, and if he is open to letting me try it out at home? My listening is low-medium volume, condo-living so big volume is restricted to headphones only, classic rock, folk, jazz-but these days the volume is low, even with the headphones, to keep my hearing in tact. I am sensitive to sharp highs and avoid these at all costs.

Anyone have any experience with these tube amps and what are your thoughts, generally, would it be worth the bother.

I don't have any plans on new speakers, but you never know! I have owned horn speakers, and I am not a fan, hearing sensitivity. I am also limited for space so small floor standing speakers or bookshelf considered (down the road).

What small watt tube amp would you recommend? The Pass Labs small amp sounds very good but out of my budget. Budget is $3,000.00 Max. What speakers are you using with your low watt tube amp.?, and what speaker sensitivity are they?

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Showing 3 responses by larryi

97 db per watt at what nominal impedance?  If it is 4 ohms, that would be closer to 94 db per watt equivalent at 8 ohms.  A single efficiency number does not tell the whole story about how easy a speaker is to drive.  Even if 94 db per watt is the more realistic rating, it is possible to be happy with a 4 watt amp.  True, the amp may be pushed beyond its comfort zone at higher volume levels, but, that may be an acceptable compromise if the VAST majority of time the amp performs well.  It is hard to say what any other person would favor when it comes to tradeoffs.  

So my answer is that such an amp might be fine, depending on taste, priorities, specific listening conditions (e.g., room size, distance of listener to speaker, preferred volume level, type of music, etc.).  

My speakers have a nominal rating of 99 db/w at 8 ohms.  I have always run low wattage amps, both single-ended triode (Audio Note Kageki) and custom-built pushpull amps.  My current amplifier is a pushpull 5.5 watt per channel amp that has more power than I come close to using, but then again, I don't play my system at very high volume levels.  The better my system has become over the years, the LOWER the volume I tend to play the system at--the sound is rich, exciting, full and engaging at lower volume levels.

Flea power is not going to work, but something in the 40 watt range would probably work if you don't insist on head banging levels.