Tube Amplifiers?

Rogue is the best of this list to me. I am not that big a fan of VTL. Especially their amps with LOTS of tubes. Too difficult to coordinate all those tubes into a coherent piece, in my opinion. My recommendation would be to get another of the Quicksilver products. Try the KT88s or the Silver Sixty. Should fit easily into your budget. A bit more tubey than the Rogues, if you like that sort of sound.

Tubes are not the whole story. I am as guilty of this generalization as anyone here. But, look at Air Tight as an example. They can use KT88 or EL34, depending on which model. Why is it that Jolida, Rogue, CJ, etc. cannot do the things that an Air Tight can? Transformers, circuits, parts(and quality thereof), wiring, etc(all of the stuff we usually talk about with ss products). We tend to focus on tubes because that is the one area of a tube amp we can easily alter. I compare it to gas in a car. We can't switch out the engine, but we can change the fuel.

JAB, while I agree with your feelings on the KT88, I do prefer the 2A3 over the 300B. I used to think the 300B was as good as it got. 2A3? 3 watts, 5 watts? Well, I took the time to really get into it, and have to say it is better than the 300B to me. Also, surprising bass for as little power as it supposedly puts out. And transformers, NOT tubes are the most important(and expensive) part of a tube amp. Not sure about what an Air Tight goes for used(maybe $2500 - $6000), but they are several levels better than Jolida, Rogue, Golden Tube, Quicksilver, and VTL. And there is no bigger fan of the cheaper brands than I. Just have to give the Devil his due...