Well, I did it for years (until I found a monitor that I liked better) with a Rogue Audio Tempest. Remote Volume. Auto-bias. Line Level ins and outs so it is very flexible (maybe add a model 88 amp later, which is identical to the amp stage in the Tempest for some bi-amping fun, or add a better preamp if/when the mood strikes). Switchable UL/Triode. Rare on the used market. My guess is around $1400. The Tempest Magnum is an upgraded Tempest, should be slightly more. The Tempest II is a different animal, with different "preamp" tubes, although I believe the preamp is passive in both the Original Tempest and the Tempest II. The NEW Tempest is NOT AUTO BIASING. So you may want to look for the Old Tempest or Magnum Version.
The Company has really taken care of me. Easy to contact, quick to reply, you typically get the owner on the phone when you call, but they aren't some 1-guy company that has a 7 week backlog of calls, emails, etc to go through.
Best experience (in my limited experience) with an audio manufacturer.
It has stood with me for 5 years, which, for me, is a long time for a piece of audio gear. In my system, it compared favorably to the highly touted Cary SLI-80 Sig. Unison Research Sr-8 Hybrid, Audio Refinement COmplete... There is a LOOONG thread form LOOOng ago here somewhere where I really wanted to love the Cary, but in the end, the Rogue won out.
Anyway, if you listen at reasonable levels, the triode setting (I can't remember if the 4 or 8 ohm taps sounded better, but one did sound MUCH better) using KT-88/KT-90/6550 tubes will have enough juice for the 805s. Otherwise, the UL setting loses a little refinement, but adds power and control, and should certainly be enough to headbang to.
I can't recommend the company or the amp enough. Probably will never sell it.
The Company has really taken care of me. Easy to contact, quick to reply, you typically get the owner on the phone when you call, but they aren't some 1-guy company that has a 7 week backlog of calls, emails, etc to go through.
Best experience (in my limited experience) with an audio manufacturer.
It has stood with me for 5 years, which, for me, is a long time for a piece of audio gear. In my system, it compared favorably to the highly touted Cary SLI-80 Sig. Unison Research Sr-8 Hybrid, Audio Refinement COmplete... There is a LOOONG thread form LOOOng ago here somewhere where I really wanted to love the Cary, but in the end, the Rogue won out.
Anyway, if you listen at reasonable levels, the triode setting (I can't remember if the 4 or 8 ohm taps sounded better, but one did sound MUCH better) using KT-88/KT-90/6550 tubes will have enough juice for the 805s. Otherwise, the UL setting loses a little refinement, but adds power and control, and should certainly be enough to headbang to.
I can't recommend the company or the amp enough. Probably will never sell it.