2. amps-preamps
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Affordable US Made Tube Pre/Power or Integrated Options

I'm considering switching to tube amplification from solid state. I'm fine with separate pre/power or an integrated. I'll be driving Enzo XL's in a smallish room (17x14) and listening levels are almost always <90db so 30-40 watts should be more than enough. My budget is fairly modest, $2-3k all in. I don't need phono or more than 3 inputs but I would like remote for volume at minimum. Quality build and sound is a priority as is ease of support/repairs if needed. The one unique requirement is that my preference would be for US made if at all possible. Obviously, this limits the options quite a bit but I'd like to see if I can make it work. If not, I'm willing to look at other options.

Here's what I've found so far

Preamps:
Mapletree Line 2CRM, $800 (not US but close)
LTA MZ2- $1595

Power Amps:
Tubes4hifi ST70-35w, $1300
Audio by Van Alstine Ultravalve-35w?, $1599
Quicksilver Mid Mono-40w each, $1995/pair

Integrated:
Rogue Cronus- 100w, $2395
Any others?

I'm open to any other options you may know of. Also, if there's any insight or positive experiences with matching pre/power amp please share. I'm new to tubes so I have a lot to learn.

ruleof72
shkong78's avatar
shkong78
1,463 posts
 
If you are newbie to tube amp.

Rogue Cronus will be good for first try since Rogue customer service is first rate.

After tube rolling of input tubes, it sounds pretty nice.

I have Telefuken 12ax7 and Amperex 12au7 with Cronus Magnum II.
yakbob
449 posts
 
Lots of good options on your list. I own the Tubes4hifi st-70, and its a fantastic amp. Bob Latino is quick to answer any questions you may have, and is a great guy to deal with. I could not be happier with it.

Best of luck with your decision.
tom_hankins
928 posts
 
Used BAT (balanced audio technology)
Built like tanks, sound great, American made.
VK55, 55SE, 60, 75, OR 75SE are all very good to great amps. 
jb505's avatar
jb505
60 posts
 
+1 for Quicksilver integrated. American and hand made point to point. Excellent sound and quality.
ieales's avatar
ieales
1,201 posts
 
I’d avoid the Tubes4HiFi/VTA like CoViD-19.

Tubes4HiFi/VTA products are poorly designed to be as cheap as possible.

I bought a factory built pair of the M-125 monoblocks. Factory built, the absolute worst assembly of any tube amp owned in over 50 years. They come nowhere close meeting the claimed specs. see http://www.ielogical.com/Audio/VTA_M-125.php.

IMO, the designs suffers from fatal flaws [e.g. un-compensated LM334 causes gain to vary slightly between channels over about 10 minutes after an inordinately long warm up] and poor gain structure choices. They are marginally stable. Most will not have issues, but some... see https://i.postimg.cc/gcKSXW7f/Num1-Unstable.png in https://dynacotubeaudio.forumotion.com/t4217p50-m-125-build#42336 for an example.

They can be made to work properly for very little extra work.

Smilin’ Big Bob called me an Audio Zealot, banned my DTAF account and deleted my posts. People from all over the world have contacted me with similar issues with both their amplifiers and lack of support from Messrs. Latino & Mottram.

BTW, ignore all tube rolling advice. Just as amplifiers sound different in different systems, so to with tubes. Tubes vary greatly, not only from brand to brand, but from tube to tube and over time.
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