2. amps-preamps
  3. 1142702527

Tube amp $2-3K used

I am in the market for a tube amp for my system. My speakers have separate bass units and sattelites. I have a high current SS amp for the bass units. What I am looking for is an amp that could give me 25-50 watts in Triode (although I am still trying to learn about ultralinear VS triode) mode or 60-100 watts ultralinear. My choices seem to be:
Rogue magnum 120-150
BAT vk60 or vk75
Cary V12 or rocket
Music reference
CJ mv 60
Quicksilver V4
I was also looking at the the AES sixpack but I heard they weren't the easiest amps to adjust bias on.

I listen to classical orchestra mainly, but I like to boogie with 60's to 70's rock as well. Any general suggestions?
drjjpdc

Showing 2 responses by greenman

greenman
53 posts
 
Assuming the impedance doesn't drop appreciably below 8 ohms the Atma-Sphere M-60 II.2 could be an excellent choice and it is in your price range used. Extremely easy to bias, works very well with inexpensive output tubes (doesn't require matched pairs or quads), reliable and has the OTL transparency unmatched by any of the other amps you listed. Does your crossover allow you to run balanced? What preamp are you using?
greenman
53 posts
 
The Atma-Sphere amps, at least those made in the past decade, are extremely stable, you can even remove output tubes while they are playing (not that I recommend this). The two caveats in your situation are that although they can be run single-ended they are really designed to be operated in the context of a fully balanced system and that they don't especially like low impedance loads (the S-30 particularly).
SF amps can be serviced and/or upgraded by the Parts ConneXion which is run by ex-SF staff.
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