Who, do you think, designs the best looking tube-based devices?
The reason I chose specifically devices with tubes is because, in my opinion, it's much harder to design something good -not to mention gorgeous- looking with tubes and transformers sticking out.
From the ones that I know, which is not a lot, Airtight and Allnic designs stand out in my eyes. Shindo and Atma Sphere, on the other hand, do not look appealing at all. KT-Audio looks beautiful internally, whereas externally it's nothing special...yet?
I'm only asking about design, I don't care about sound :-)
From the ones that I know, which is not a lot, Airtight and Allnic designs stand out in my eyes. Shindo and Atma Sphere, on the other hand, do not look appealing at all. KT-Audio looks beautiful internally, whereas externally it's nothing special...yet?
I'm only asking about design, I don't care about sound :-)
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I would go with Air Tight and Shindo for my tastes. I like to see the tubes glow. Don't know why you would want to have a tube amp stuck in a box. It is also funny how brands go through phases of popularity. I still love the classic look of the older Jolida amps that were once the rage (and great sounding). They don't make them like that any more and we have gone through a few rounds of other brands becoming popular and then falling off, even though they continue to make great gear. |
When I was looking, Pathos (Italia!) and Vincent (demure, but with a peek inside the boudoir) were both alluring, but in the end I went with Quicksilver, but not for looks. As I look over the variations, there are lots of nice boxes (some with tubes jutting out, others with fancy metal coffins), but they all reduce of a pedestrian, utilitarian look, at least to me. Yes, a nice wood box doesn't hurt, but from a design standpoint, it's not much of an aesthetic accomplishment. Electronluv is amazing -- almost dangerously good looking. |
My 2 favorite tube amps are simply big badass beasts: for sheer “ King of the hill awesome” nothing beats the mammoth presence and sheer audacity of the [quad chassis] Tube Research Labs GT800’s.... and for wicked absolute ‘coolness‘ the Wavestream Kinetics V8 Monoblocs have no peers either. Tubes rule... and with big enough transformers / caps / and enough output tubes, SS has nothin’ on them ( including bass )...just my 2 cents... |
Just discovered another one, which looks plainly, but still very pretty somehow: Triode Lab (and its sister company Finale) Some Line Magnetic units also look decent @davespencer, although L-7000 does look very pretty, I prefer L-9000's design. However, the difference is minute. I'd say if L-9000 is a 100, L-7000 would be 97/100 :-) |
I disagree, one of the enticing things about tube gear, besides it sounding better, IMHO, is the nice glow of tubes, and the cool retro way it looks. Why would I want to hide the most appealing qualities of a tube amp? We are all entitled to our opinions and the OP doesn’t like the looks of tubes sticking out, that’s fine, just not my cup of tea. I also dislike interconnects or speaker wire in the front of the amp too, even if it’s adventacious because it’s a shorter signal path. Keep them on the back out of the way. As the late Roger Modjeski (RIP) of Music Reference once wrote on designing tube amps was to leave the transformers in the back and the tubes up front for aesthetics and better air flow. All of his tube amp designs have been known for very long tube life as well. I think his RM9 and RM10 are both extremely attractive looking. I much prefer that look to the ARC, cj and other tube amps where the tubes are completely hidden. |
@lou_setriodes, do you even read what people write? The ones I like - do they have their tubes hidden?!? Everyone else, who posted a reply, seems to have understood me correctly. I was only wondering, which ones look pretty in people’s eyes. There’s nothing wrong with tubes sticking out. However, for some "unknown reason", some look nice and some...not so much |
audioinfidel - what’s your friggen problem? I mentioned my preferences just like everyone else here did. So why do you have an issue with my comment and no one else’s? You wrote, “The reason I chose specifically devices with tubes is because, in my opinion, it’s much harder to design something good -not to mention gorgeous- looking with tubes and transformers sticking out.” From that, I gather you prefer tube amps with the tubes hidden. That’s perfectly fine, that’s what you like. Everyone else stated what they like and think is appealing to them, but when I do, you have an issue with it. Sorry, not very familiar with Air Tight, Allnic, Shindo, or Atmasphere as those products are generally above my affordability level and not what I’m wllling to spend on a tube amp. |
Stuck on this--not often on used market --few months ago there was one in Canada--was still 4k plus which I could do but tight with my scrilla these days. All the wood nice and what he does with the internals is quite interesting. Check it out. https://userweb.117.ne.jp/y-s/A-03S-E.html |
I dig the look of the Cary SLI80 HS with the wood side panels https://images.app.goo.gl/e6LFhV2p6qLJDiHcA |
what do you think of this SET MONOhttp://www.wyetechlabs.com/amps/ruby/index.html |
