Tube integrated amp recommendations

@bluorion 

Hi, you may want to read my comparison of integrated tube amps, including Raven, here:

Thanks @soix ​​​​@gareents -- My musical tastes are all over the board--from classic alternative, synth, classic rock, country, house, classical. The sound characteristics I prefer are on the warmer side of neutral. Several others have also mentioned being headphone capable and I actually like that. I have a nice pair of Sennheisers that I really enjoy. Thanks everyone for the great suggestions---still doing my research. 

Given your tastes I think the Audio Hungary should be near the top of your list, and if you’re serious at all about headphones you should spring for a separate headphone amp as those in most integrateds are an afterthought at best. 

@tomic601 

btw, EL-34 is a fantastic imaging tube.

+1 on EL-34. I'm currently using a VTL I-85 in my second system. There is definitely something about this type of tube that makes it easier to connect with my music. It is giving me all the details I want but without ever sounding harsh or fatiguing. 

By the way, I owned Raven Audio Blackhawk MK3 for a few months. Nice amp, but nothing to write home about. I'm sure it must have been above par a few years ago, but other manufacturers have caught up and offer better value in my experience. I really hope Dave and team go back to the whiteboard and inject something 'more' than just the usual. You can only ride the 'not made in China' wave for so long. 

If you want something different, Audio Hungary is definitely a contender.  As @soix said, it is just a little warm of neutral. For my taste, this is exactly what I love about AH Qualiton amps. You get the pure class A magic, holographic imaging, the wide soundstage with ton of depth and palpability ... but, it never crosses over into the overly lush,warm, or romantic territory. As far as tube amps go, it has a darker background than most, certainly darker than the Blackhawk or ARC GSi75 which I also owned. The way the music emerges out of sheer darkness, and the prolonged decay of instruments until they gradually fade away is something to behold. Of course, most good tube amps do it, but the AH does it better than the ones I have owned or auditioned. This doesn't mean it's the best, I think Octave is just as good in this regard, but a little more on the neutral side. The Blackhawk is nice too, but nothing unique about it. The only amp that had this kind of sound (again, purely based on my personal experience only) was Jadis -- sorry I can't remember the model name but it was north of $12K if my memory serves me right.

A little over your budget. Does not have a remote control if that’s important...but it shouldn’t be because the amplifier sounds wonderful.

I find peoples desire for a remote curious. I rarely if ever use a remote. I set my volume level and sit back and listen..

Grant - I brought the 6L6 MC240 down w me this trip, will be great to have you hear it ;-)

Jim

I' owned the CS600 and can say it's a great amp but be careful with your speaker pairing as it is a bit accentuated (IMO) in the midrange. I spent a fair bit of time and money on tubes trying to calm it down and ultimately sold it.