Small Bedroom Tube Amp

eziggy OP
  Small Bedroom Tube Amp

This Japanese guys amps sound great not much to look at, but they have the goods, he can make or you can make, he's been going for at least 15 years and has a big following, very cost effective also
http://softone.a.la9.jp/english/

Cheers George

@vinylvalet "I really like this one which includes a very good sounding headphone output...http://kingkoaudio.com/en/pages/KINGKO-AUDIO.html"

Really interesting, I like the fact that this and mp-301 have a headphone amp as well.  Would be nice to have both functionality. 

I really like this one which includes a very good sounding headphone output...http://kingkoaudio.com/en/pages/KINGKO-AUDIO.html
There's a review on dagogo.com.

@freediver "eziggy Iook at the Q Acoustics speakers..Fairly easy to drive,inexpensive & KILLER reviews!"

Wow, they do have some amazing reviews.  Any first hand experience?  They look pretty small as well.

@seanheis1 "musical paradise mp-301 amp
MP-S1 MK2 Bookshelf speakers
Both punch far above their price....but do you really want hot tubes around a child 👶🏻?"

Hmm interesting hadn't heard of of either, will dig deeper.  Amp definitely looks interesting, speakers may be a tad bigger than I was looking for.

@seanheis1 and @joejoe

For sure about not being in reach of the little one, he's only 5 months and still in our room.  The setup will likely stay in our room once we move him to him own (or we put it somewhere baby proofed).  

eziggy Iook at the Q Acoustics speakers..Fairly easy to drive,inexpensive & KILLER reviews!

It was mentioned in the post right before yours...lol.
But it is a valid point.
I do,know the Peachtree hides its solitary tube behind a glass panel in the amp so you cannot actually touch it.

Let me play devil's advocate here. Haven't seen this mentioned. Don't know how little your little ones are, but glowing tubes, its like a moth to light. They could seriously burn. Something to think about.

musical paradise mp-301 amp
MP-S1 MK2 Bookshelf speakers 
Both punch far above their price....but do you really want hot tubes around a child 👶🏻?

To the OP. I would select the speakers first. To br3098, the Peachtree Nova is a hybrid, as it uses a tube at the input ( as stated by uberwaltz ). Enjoy ! MrD.

Correct not a tube amp as such but I guess the right term is they use a tube "buffer" in the preamp section.
Gives some of the sound of tubes without the cost and complication of a full tube array.
I found the sq on my Nova to be a lot richer and fuller with more bass than the previous admitedly older class d integrated 

The Peachtree amps, as mentioned by uberwaltz, are a good option but they are not tube amps.

There are many good, inexpensive tube amps available that are certainly more than good enough for bedroom use.  I would suggest that you take a look at the *original* Sophia Electric Baby Amplifier.  It was a killer product that was designed by a U.S.-based audio firm (although the amp was made in Hong Kong).  These are available used for around $350 and I doubt that there there is a better performing tube amp at that price.  Replacement tube sets are very inexpensive, these units are built like a tank and they are easily modified/upgraded if you are so inclined.  I used one in my office for years.

Thanks everyone for the great options!  I will dig a bit deeper into the recommendations.

Any thoughts on small bookshelf sensitive speakers that would pair low powered amps? 

@freediver "Jolida,something like the Glass FX Tube Integrated or the small Hybrid,forget the model..."

Excellent advice. I’d recommend the baby 102 EL84 integrated, or taking up step up their product line, the 202 EL34 integrated. Both operate reliably, look and sound terrific, will serve you well, and if the day comes when you want to move in a different direction, will sell promptly and provide high resale value

"  It depends on how you're planning to use it"

the OP said :

"   I want to mellow out music when putting the little one to sleep."  

It depends on how you're planning to use it and what sources you'll be using. This may sound like a completely different option but in my opinion, the simplest approach for a bedroom system is a Bluesound Sound Bar. It sounds great, and its an all-in-one system allowing wireless streaming of high quality content from many popular cloud music content services, e.g., Tidal, Spotify, etc. And the best part is you can control it while lying down on your bed. Look it up.

Dayens Ampino. It will give you anything an inexpensive tube amp will without the hassle of tubes. It's also tiny in size and fits your application perfectly. It's the closest to tube sound I've found yet in inexpensive solid state. 

https://www.audiothesis.com/product-page/dayens-ampino-integrated-amplifier

I have an APPJ in black with low hours and original shipping box that I’m not using. Let me know if you are interested. 

Glow
MiniWatt
TecOn

All in the $250 range used.  I own all 3.

I just bought something very similar to what you maybe looking for.


A Peachtree Nova with built in DAC.
Uses a 6922 tube in the preamp section.

Nothing too fancy but boy does it have some solid bass and very well defined mid and higher registers.

Bought used off eBay for $450 and I am very happy with it.


USB SPDIF, Toslink and analog inputs plus great headphone amp.
I paired it with small Tannoy speakers and it is more than enough!

In looking at your application, you hardly need anything "high end."  My suggestion is an inexpensive monoprice 25watt or 50watt hybrid tube integrated.  Plenty there from either to drive a pair of bookshelf speakers and provide music to a help relax a young child.  And they both sound surprisingly good.  

And if they don't work out, you haven't invested much to find out.

Jolida,something like the Glass FX Tube Integrated or the small Hybrid,forget the model...
 If you want a real investment piece that will last a lifetime & can scale up to a $10,000.00 speaker look at the Quad VA-One...