What is the best integrated tube amp under $3k ?


I have recently been bitten by the tube bug. For the most part, I really love it. My short experience with tubes is turning out to be filled with much analyzing and upgrading of tubes, cables and different dacs. I am also discovering the strengths and weaknesses of some of the components that I am using.
I am starting to look at replacing my Jadis Orchestra Reference and would like to hear from what other folks are using as their integrated tube amps. My plan would be to try to spend about $3000 for a good preowned amp.
I'd especially like to hear from anyone that has owned a JOR and has found something that they are satisfied with.
I'd like find something that will be able to drive Dali Helicon 800 which are about 90.5 db sensitive.
I have heard of SET tube amps that people seem very excited about. I would like to hear some objective observations about these systems as well.
Thanks in advance.
mattzack2

Showing 3 responses by sbank

Guys, the Air Tight being discussed is the ATM1. It is sold as a power amp, but does have passive volume pots and two inputs. I'm no transformer expert, but the Tamuras(sp?) that it includes are supposedly super high quality. Great for a simple rig, but limited for folks w/many sources. It has been around many years, so some with same model number could be 0-10+ years old. They've gone used here for ~$1800-1900 or so.

I used to own one, and liked its sonics, but at the time had trouble finding a larger pair of speakers that would mate nicely for a larger room. (In a small room it was heavenly paired with monitors by Chario.)I carried it to five dealers and dared them to match it with a pair of speakers in my budget that would fill a large room. Eventually I gave up and went another direction. Cheers,
Spencer
Saki,

The Axiss website is the only one I know of.

From memory, ATM1 output tubes are 4 EL34s, a pair of input tubes, which I don't recall, and a 5AR4 rectifier, which isn't worth rolling. Power is around 35w/ch. Biasing is standard old school, drop a wire into a hole to read your meter, and adjust a small screw for each output tube. It wasn't tough, as I recall. No familiarity which the S model. Cheers,

Spencer
Stevehifi, shame on you! You haven't posted anything on any thread other than about an amp that rep? You will quickly have zero credibility if you don't disclose.

Where's Audiofeil when we need him? Cheers,
Spencer