Who makes the highest quality tube amps?

Butler Audio Monad

Add in TRON, Border Patrol, LAMM and Kondo to that list. My money went on a TRON Voyager 6W OTA using an EML20B tube. Fabulous sound and unbelievable build quality. My preamp is a TRON Meteor (predecessor of the top end Syren preamp). If you want to see the build and component quality, here’s a topless pic of my TRON Meteor preamp.

http://topoxforddoc.zenfolio.com/p25034437/h32a36fef#h32a36fef

Jeff at Highwater Sound, NYC, is the US distributor for TRON and also holds Border Patrol.

Charlie

Mapman, You didn’t state the reason behind your post so I don’t know if your question is simply academic or you’re actually shopping for a low maintenance amp. If you’re shopping, another relevant question relating to durability is - how hard is the amp on tubes? Some amps, that are themselves very durable, burn through tubes more quickly than others.

Mapman, just curious here, are you planing to replace your class D amps with tube amp(s)?

I have a Jolida that sounds great and has worked perfectly for over a year.

I give the highest recommendation to Atma-Sphere.

Put Octave on your list if it is in your budget. They have a protection circuit that even if if a tube decides to show you a lightning show no other parts will be damaged. I'm speaking from experience. I've had 2 tubes that thought it was the forth of July. No problems as a result.

I agree with you tubegroover. A friend of mine still has an Audionics BA-150 designed by David Berning. It works and sounds great.

Shoutout for BWS Consulting high power tube amps, alas, no longer available. 600 lb delivered. Bruce was David Berning's neighbor back in the 70s.

In addition to some of the above mentioned, David Berning's designs since 1974, have a legendary status for both reliability and technical design and would have to be in the discussion. Example, I have owned the zh270 for 11 years and the outputs test at or very close to their rated transconductance value STILL and all the various input/driver tubes still test strong. Not even a hiccup from this amp, totally reliable and a strong case for those concerned with the reliability of tube amplifiers. McIntosh would also be a very strong candidate.

"Sidssp
@Zd542, Tube amp from Krell?"

Sorry, just kidding. It was just a little humour. For some reason, I couldn't help myself.

Tube supply is a real issue

Von Gaylord Audio designs some awesome tube gear. I have the entire line and I am smitten.

At least that I can afford, Quicksilver.

I have a 31 year old mcIntosh amp and it has been serviced but once. That is reliability.

Also have some Ayon tube gear... sounds great, reliable (so far)... only 2 years old... so in 29 years I'll let you know if it hangs with the McIntosh

cj in my opinion as I have only owned cj and Cary ........

I think Butler needs to be on the list. 25 year tube life, inexepensive tubes, very well-built chassis and excellent input and output connectors. Oh yeah, you also never need to fiddle around with bias - truly setup and forget...

-RW0

Thanks for the supporting argument Syntax.

TP, I don't doubt your the best, but where's the beef? :-)

A lot of tube Designs are pretty simple, it is nearly impossible to build a bad sounding 300B amp for example...

OTL is really difficult to make it reliable. Or being gentle on tubes, or using cheap tubes, no matching necessary ...
When paired with the right speaker, hard to beat.

My vote here is for R. Karsten , Atmasphere

02-08-13: Tpreaves

Who makes the highest quality tube gear?

I do, of course. It is the best in the universe.

Ayon Audio, beauty aesthetically and sonically.

Airtight, Jadis, Tube Research Labs, Nestorovic come to mind. I'd love to have a Jadis personally.

54,

Answer the question young man.

@Zd542, Tube amp from Krell?

Why don't you post the question a fourth time. You might get some better answers. Sheeesh...

BAT, CJ, Cary, EAR, VAC, Quicksilver, Sonic Frontiers, VTL, Krell

having already owned ARC, Cary & Rogue tube amps my pick is Music Reference - period both for bulletproof reliability, tube longevity, low power consumption, ie heat generated & most importantly sound.

McIntosh has a great reputation for reliability.

"Durability and reliability matters to me here as much as anything. I would want my tube gear to continue to work as reliably as designed years down the road as well as up front."

I recommend Quicksilver Audio based on your comment above. Classic in appearance, rock solid build, easy on tubes, and very reliable.

Sure, I'll take whatever info people want to provide, current or past. As long as its something that might still be acquired, either new or used.

In current production? Would you like to also include brands of the past?
I would like to hear opinions on this as well.