Tube integrated amp recommendations

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.

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

Jim

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..

@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.

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. 

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. 

@bluorion 

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

Well, to this point nowhere have you disclosed what sound characteristics you’re looking for, and as a result you’re getting recommendations that span a wide swath of sound from warm to cooler.  That said, if you want just warm of neutral I’d look at Audio Hungary and more neutral the Octave V40SE, both of which have been preferred over Raven by some, but I’d still have Raven HIGH on the radar.  Anyway, what sound characteristics are you looking for???  That’d be most helpful for everyone here, especially YOU. 

Definitely add Line Magnetic to your list.  

If you do any serious headphone listening, you should have a dedicated headphone amp.  Most headphone amps are afterthoughts, similar to most phono stages.  My Modwright LS 100 had a pretty decent headphone amp, but it's not an integrated and is an exception to the rule.

Dare to be different with a unit from Icon Audio.

https://iconaudio.com/integrated-amplifiers

Personally I will not buy an integrated amp without  a headphone capability.  I have a Bel Canto c5i and a $100 pair of Grado s80e phones with that are hard to beat. 

i like the EL-34 so much, i got 8 of them..... Music Reference RM-9

Glad to see the OP has an open mind...and ears....

Another vote for Line Magnetic and Leben, glorious tone color if not the last word in neutrality. Leben in particular w excellent build quality.

For first time tube equipment, it’s tought to beat Primaluna.

Just try to break a Primaluna. No way. It has a protective response for every idiot move.

Also EL34 are very holographic to me. I’m currently using 7581A tubes.

Evo 400 is a level step up from the Dialogue Premium line.

Primaluna has very ballsy bass...no joke. If you like tube rolling, you will have fun with a Primaluna. In fact, if you want to understand what different tubes sound like, Primaluna is a great first component...you can roll and learn to your heart's delight.

When I got my Evo, I didn’t want my end game amp. I wanted to play around and learn first. But once you get some efficient speakers, it’s tough to move on. Plenty of timbre, detail and holography to enjoy.

If others say the RAVEN’s sound good, and you consider their built-in high pass filter to off-load the need to amplify low bass, you could be extremely happy, and if you ever want to try less efficient speakers, that out to self-powered sub will make a huge difference.

missing headphone feature.

In any case, you need to do some reading, asking questions, and specifically ask Raven for their advice as to which tubes to try.

Also, I highly recommend anyone with tube equipment to get their own tube tester, a simple inexpensive portable one, will give you confidence in what you buy, help diagnose any suspected problems, for the rest of your life! Just add it to your budget. You need it’s manual to know the settings for testing.

this ACCURATE 257 is untested, I have it, and it’s little brother 157, there’s not much to go wrong or to fix if needed, and I have the manuals for both if you find a nice one without a manual.

30 day free returns: no risk

these and many other brands had cheap hinges, don't let rusty hinges scare you.

I’m an Audio Research fan and that new I/50 integrated has caught my eye. Hard to go wrong with ARC unless just not tubey sounding enough for some.

Conrad Johnson has been around a long time also always impresses when I hear.

i have not heard the others but they all of course have their fans. I heard some Raven amp once at a show and it was perfectly fine but did not strike me in particular either way. Not as much of a fan from what I read though as some. Not as extensive a track record as ARC CJ or even Luxman but the owners seem to love Raven.  Each have their own aesthetic that should also be a factor in deciding. 

With those speakers try a nice low watt amp from Decware. I run a 4 watt Decware mini torii with 92db Ref 3A de Capos loud enough for me lol

sweet sound can run a variety of tubes 6v6 el37, 6l6 etc

There are some very nice looking tube amps on Amazon for just over a grand that many people there rave about. Looks nice, good price many happy music loving customers , not just a few audiophiles who alone seldom agree on what sounds best or even good anyhow. I think I’ve read good things about them here as well. Tempting.

Had a raven blackhawk, loved the sound, ultimately lacked the power i needed in my room, also came with NOS svet winged Cs and amperex / mullard small signal tubes which helped tremendously. 

went with a Rogue Cronus Magnum II and loved it.  more power from the KT 120s, did some inexpensive NOS small signal tubes and the sound came close to the Raven but with much more power.  

Fast forward and i have gone through multiple pre amps and power amp currently running $12K worth of tube preamp ss power amp and could / should have stopped at the Rogue CM II.  The new CM III is even better.  One of the best sounding amps in home audio.  

Here ya go!

This Cary SLI-80HS has all the features that you are looking for in an integrated tube amp. BTW, I own Quicksilver separates but the integrated is pure bare bones. No sub or headphone options! Another plus for the Cary is that you can use many different tube types!

If you have some time on your hands build a Tubelab SSE.

Try to find Leben. The cs600(X) has different choises for tubes el34-6l6, and 28-32w/ch -the sound is something else. May be the cs300 (with el84) is better for your 96db speakers (I have 94db with cs600). I had Audio Hungary (200-204 2×100w) but the sound was a little hard (not with today's speakers), and the Ayon Scorpio (kt88) the same. But Leben...

Is China somewhere you want to avoid?

If not Line Magnetic or Wilsenton or Doge should be investigated

Depending upon your budget and musical preferences, and of course your listening environment, My two top preferences are; - - - - - - - -

PRIMA LUNA EVO 400 - either integrated or monoblocks (coupled to their fabulous top rated preamp) - EXPENSIVE but worth every penny

Second choice - AYON TITAN MONOBLOCKS

In this case if you can afford it, I would unquestionably go with a complete system of AYON components. Virtually world class in every respect - VERY EXPENSIVE but set up with the right speakers; - -  the best the world of audio reproduction currently has to offer !     

These are both offerings that you will be able to live with for a long time of musical reproduction satisfaction and unrivaled reliability.

Naturally, everyone has their opinion, but this is mine !!

Another vote for Rogue.  My Cronus Magnum II is one bad mofo!

@millercarbon did not know this was your private thread? 

Are you new here?

I can stay 1 K under your budget with the Doge 10 and be happy.... and have the rest of your budget to buy a dedicated HP amp that you can place somewhere convenient..

Take a look at the Mastersound compact  845.  I have one you might be able to talk me out of.😁

@bluorion enjoy the journey.....

I purchased an Octave V80SE, which runs KT150s, along with their super black box both used from a single owner. It is a phenomenal integrated, one of the best I've ever heard. However its cost is a bit over what you're looking to spend, but I bet one of their other integrated amps would be great. Octave tube integrated amps are not single-ended (all except one model), but if you're looking for clarity, honesty to the recording, dynamics, fabulous midrange that isn't too warm (just on the warm side of absolute neutrality) Octave is great. I have low sensitivity Dynaudio 2-ways and this amp gives them all the current they need and then some. I'm currently using their built-in phonostage, which is actually quite good, with the hopes of upgrading the phonostage down the road. 

Thanks everyone---I've got my homework cut out for me. I was hoping to get more brand recommendations. Customer service is important to me and Raven definitely has that going for them. 

Good to see a wider list of options now.

At your budget (new and used), you have dozens of brands to choose from and hundreds of models, if you take the time to research via the multiple threads within Agon on the same question you posted AND if you search wisely across the internet.

Agon posters tend to cluster around certain brands and components and on those more widely available here in the US.

I encourage you to also consider the lesser known European and Japanese options.

@bluorion Nice review on the AH Qualitron X200 for your consideration.

@charles7 Quicksilver sure gets overlooked a lot.

@chipcalzone Love my x200 also. Such a versatile piece of tube amplification. 

The Quicksilver Integrated tube amplifier keeps me happy. Its rated 20 watts are plenty for Focal Aria 906s which are rated at 89.5 dB. Currently $2500. Designer-builder Mike Sanders chose eight 6BQ5 and two 12DW7. I think one reason for so many tubes is that each tube does not bear much stress.

http://quicksilveraudio.com/products/integrated-amplifier/

Agree with tomic601 about doing your research 

I own an Octave and it is stellar 

Wholeheartedly recommend the Hungarian Qualiton. I have the X200, and it's really good.

to the OP cast a wide net, including your initial list. Some of us have a lot of experience with a variety of amplifiers, vs hyperbole...

I would add ( as others have done ) Rogue and VTL enjoy !

btw, EL-34 is a fantastic imaging tube.

Jim

@millercarbon did not know this was your private thread?

Now sad to say we have someone had to butt in try and create a false impression and I don’t really care for that

I've had my Raven Nighthawk for about 6 weeks.  Definitely onboard with Raven.  Dave has been very patient in advising this 70 year old newbie as to Tube rolling.

Very pleased with the tubes recommended  as well as the knowledge provided.  I mean, who else does this?  I'll upgrade to the Blackhawk or Osprey around February.  In all honesty the Nighthawk actually gives me all I need.  But, we know how that goes.

@bluorion here is a nice review on Raven products.

@bluorion I had an MA252 for about a month and sold it. It is okay but that is it. If I were to go Hybrid I would look at Pathos or Vincent or Canotr ($$) .

The Raven Blackhawk will be a good jumping off point for getting into tubes. It will drive your Tektons fine and if you decide to go another direction (upgrade) you have a product that will sell well in the Gently Loved market. Also I think Raven has a trade up program if you want to stay in the Raven Family...

@millercarbon is right the Blackhawk is a good mid to entry level integrated that you could live with for a while. Beats SS unless it is AVA M225's.

Thanks MC---I may just have to give Dave a call. A friend of mine mentioned tonight about looking at the McIntosh MA252 but that's a hybrid amp. Not sure I want to go that route. 

FWIW there is a new in box NOS CJ Cav 45 for sale onone of the sites for $2199. I was tempted even though I don't need it. Not affiliated. otherwise I'd go with the Blackhawk.

+1 for MC....I owned the Reflection.  What an amp in every way.  It has the power and sound and aesthetics.   Tube rolling is a treat thanks to Dave's knowledge.  Raven has placed the majority of its efforts in the Speaker and the Avian MK3 line-up.  I would like to see the same effort on the Reflection.

@millercarbon again a few of us have expierienced it but we get it you are a Raven guy.

The Blackhawk’s 20W is plenty for any Tekton. My Moab will take more, and easily, but the Reflection wasn’t about power so much as quality and aesthetics. The Reflection is just about the sexiest thing in all of audio. Just to be able to look at it sitting there in the middle of the room! But they pretty much talked me out of it, and I am fine with that. The only real downside being how good the Blackhawk sounds after about an hour and a half to two hours. I mean it sounds great every time it is turned on. But then after about 2 hours listening to music you realize it is in this crazy magic zone and I really don’t know any word other than magic that works. If you want watts or volume or anything other than magic there are lots of choices.

Mine came with all their best tube choices. Some like the power tubes are not even listed on the site. You have to call and talk to Dave or James. Dave in particular is the tube man. Kind of like the sommelier in the Wick movies only charming. How he is connected with all these sources across the globe and knows so well what tube does what is beyond me. Mine only came with the one set of NOS power tubes, so no idea how much different it would be without them. Preamp tubes though he did send two extra sets and sure enough the ones he prefers are a lot better. So I would talk with Dave and go with whatever he says.

Now sad to say we have someone had to butt in try and create a false impression and I don’t really care for that. The high end audio business is hard enough without audiophiles making it harder. The truly great builders like Raven are rare enough the last thing we ought to be doing is blathering unfounded innuendo. So please either disregard the blatherer, or at least DYODD enough to understand just how full of it he is. More work now, but saves time later as you learn who is and who is not worth reading.

@bluorion Do a search here on Raven CS it is not as great as some think.

James is a little bipolar.

Thanks MC---I've seen the 'rave' reviews about the Blackhawk and their customer service. I'm a novice when it comes to tubes---would you recommend their NOS tubes as starters or upgrade the tubes?