Tube Amp Suggestions

While the Canary CA-300 is an 8 wpc SET, their CA-301SE is a 22 wpc push-pull amp that has very attractive specs and build quality. It may be available used within the original poster's budget, but Canary 300B p-p amps seem to be rare on the used market. I can understand why - after my experience with them I'm very enthusiastic about the company and their products.

Didactically, you've really gotta lessen your reliance on specs and do a bit more listening. Like you I was a SS addict for years. Then I heard my first really good tube amp - a SET design with all that distortion and the damping factor of a damp feather - and I was undone. I'll never go back to sand amps, because tubes just sound so much better - no matter what their shortcomings look like on paper.

The Canary push-pull amps in particular are simply exquisite.

I suspect Didactically is just having a bit of fun with us here. I wouldn't get too worked up over his obviously overstated absolutist position. We all know that what counts is enjoying the music. Time to go fire up those distortion-filled amps (and speakers!) and do some of that.