Looking for 50-100 watts of Tube Power (give or take) for my JBL 4349s

@pdreher, I’m a bit intimidated by the VAC gear for the reasons you mention. The QS KT Monos are very tempting. I actually quite like the aesthetics -- they look all business. And it’s surprising how affordable they are. There’s a pair on US Audio Mart for $2800, which seems like a steal for so much amp.

A friend of mine runs a pair of Altec Lancings with McIntosh MC60 monoblocks. I really enjoy this system. Lots of used MC275s in my price range, too. I will give this some thought.

@pdreher, I've pretty much taken the AR 150SE out of the running. It's way more amp than I need and would be expensive to retube. I am strongly considering the VT80SE, and from what I've read they're designed to be used with any ol' preamp. This makes sense considering it's AR's entry-level amp at $9,500 new, while their entry-level pre is $10,000. 

I will say the transformers on the VT80SE seem small. Compared to the Quicksilver monos especially.

I suggest you review Quicksilver and BAT amplifiers. I found them both to be superb.

Good luck with your selection!

Not on the OP list and worth considering - McIntosh MC275 with C2300. Amazing sound.

@jerryrocks agree that combo is classic.   

A pair of nicely restored pair of Dynaco MkIII's with 6550's! I have the rare Paoli version!

Just my two bits. There's been several really great suggestions already. I would like to pitch Cary products. I used to sell them in the 90's and always wanted an SLI 80 ever since I first set one up and played hundred of hours of musical enjoyment while "working" there. Regardless of what speaker combo i threw at it, Tannoy, Mission, Mordont Short, NHT, it was always engaging and musical. I finally ordered my own from Cary Direct last year and could not be happier. It's a great match with my Volti Razz. I also owned a very early Cary hybrid CAD 2500A, that was a nice and punchy 80WPC amp. I like the factory support, the fact they're still made in the US. 

The thing about tube amps is that there is a VAST difference in sound among different types and brands, so you really need to do some auditioning to determine what best suits your taste.  For my own taste, I would be looking for something on the warmer, fuller sounding side, given the sound of your speakers.  At the same time, you don't want to sacrifice the terrific dynamics you get from those speakers.  I think you should also seriously consider integrated amps and not just power amps.  Most tube integrated amps are pretty much a tube power amp with switching and a volume control added to the amp and the gain stage from a linestage is really not needed.  

Your list includes some pretty divergent sound types like the leaner sounding Audio Research vs. the Conrad Johnson amps.  

Let me add another brand for your consideration:  look at Synthesis Audio amps.  They make amps that are on the warmer side--rich, full sound, but not sluggish or murky sounding.  They deliver a "big" sound and do a good job of flooding the room with sound.  They have a lot of punch too.  I particularly like the models utilizing KT-66 or 6L6 tubes.  This sound is so much more vibrant, energetic and alive than the sound of any Decware amps I've heard.

The unrecognized heavy weight that is made in California is canary audio. They are held in high esteem in many places just not thought of in North America. Cheap on the used market. Now beyond them look for a high end brand not kids stuff lol. Audio reseach, cary,vac,Conrad Johnson, McIntosh, sonic frontier, vtl, or bat or pathos. The last two are hybrids.

Regards

“My musical tastes are all over the place: rock, pop, jazz, world, electronic, classical. I listen to a lot of symphonic/orchestral”

As a JBL owner (4367) I will say don’t starve the speakers for wattage. Yes they don’t need much power to get loud but the bass punch and control seems better with more power. I don’t have much tube experience… just some food for thought. 

I'm late to this thread, but I can throw 2 amps that I've recently purchased that are sounding amazing.....one solid state, and one tube. The solid state is the CODA S5.5, all class A 50WPC 8 ohm, 100WPC 4 ohms, and 200WPC 2 ohms.....100 amps peak power. I've got a review on another thread if you'd care to read it

Second is the Aric Audio Transcend "Push Pull" amp, I've only had it about a week....but it already beats my Tubes4hifi KT120 amp. Here's a review on it

https://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/1223/Aric_Audio_Transcend_Push_Pull_Amplifier_Review.htm

@vthokie83 if you don't mind the question, which do you prefer to sit back and just listen to music with for the longest amount of time - the Coda S5.5 or the Transcend tube push pull amp? And, do you run the same preamp with both amps when swapping amps. ack and forth?

decooney,

I really can't answer your question right now. I've had the CODA for about 6 weeks and the Transcend for about half of that. In addition I've just received an Aric Audio Motherlode XL preamp, so I'm really testing 3 components at about the same time. The CODA is broken in, the Transcend is about broken in as it was the same exact unit that was reviewed by Bob Grossman at "Enjoy The Music" with a few new upgrades, and the Motherlode XL is just recently installed.

The nice part is that the Motherlode XL allows for both amps to be connected at the same time, and I can switch back and forth. Both amps are brilliant and really easy to listen to, the best amps I have ever owned by a good margin. You can read my review of the CODA on the S5.5 thread started by Teejay here on Agon, and Terry London (Teejay) will have a review on it sometime soon at Stereo Times.....and you can go back and read Bob's review at "Enjoy The Music".

I never say never, but at least for the next bunch of years, I am off of the preamp/amp upgrade cycle......both amps and preamp are BRILLIANT. I don't know that I could review the entire combo, as I've run out of superlatives in my previous reviews (Clayton Shaw Caladans on Agon and the CODA S5.5 review). But for the money ($3,000 for Caladans, $6,000 for the CODA, $4,000 for the Transcend, and $6,000 Motherlode XL)....less than $20,000, I'd put this combo up with anything I've heard for less than $50,000. That is an opinion of course, but it's certainly up there

+ 1 with Quicksilver Audio

For under $2000. the Cayin 88t  is a great amp. They manufacture the prima luna amplifiers also. 45 watts ultra linear, 25 watts Triod. Can be used as a power amp also (pre amp input).