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Tube virgin looking for tube amp under $3k

I’ve never owned any tube amps or preamps and since I’ve got 95dB efficient speakers I thought why the heck not? And wow! What a rabbit hole I’ve gone down In the last week or so and my head is really spinning. For just about every amp or amp/preamp combo there’s someone who loves it and someone who says don’t bother. And then the more I dig, the more brands I find.

I’ve read about these products recently:

— Erhard Audio integrated amp 
—The various iterations of the ST-70 (Van Alstein, Bob Latino, Will Vincent, etc.)
—Music Reference RM10
—Cary (out of budget except used)
—Raven (at max budget for integrated)
—Dennis Had (hard to buy/find)
—Quicksilver Mid mono (need preamp)
—Decware (too long a wait for me at the moment but maybe one day)
—Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III (at max budget and do I really need 100WPC with my speakers in a small room?)

And probably a few others I’ve forgotten about already. 

I have to say that the Bob Latino ST-70 speaks to me for the price of entry (about $1400) and the fact that I could get away without a preamp and only use a passive input selector. That said, would an ST-70 be the best choice or only the cheapest? 

Any ideas for a tube newb who doesn’t have a stockpile of tubes to roll in and out of an amp?




larshepping
azazello
63 posts
 
I have 5-6 tube amps my designed by me:
https://post.craigslist.org/manage/7268929130
https://post.craigslist.org/manage/7262214672
Your speakers are suitable for my amps with power from 8-30 W.
Ag insider logo xs@2x
jayh
63 posts
 
Decware- best in terms of sound quality, Bob Latino good choice in terms of sound per dollar .
don’t overlook Transcendent Sound if you’re into kit stuff. 
bthartman
32 posts
 
In my office setup, I have Omega Compact Alnico monitors, which I was driving with a Cary CAD300SEI that I purchased 3 or so years ago, until I decided to move it to my main setup a couple years ago.  This is a SET (Single Ended Triode) integrated amp with 300B output tubes.  This was a wonderful combination, and I recommend you investigate a SET amp for your Omegas.  The 15 Watts is plenty of power for the Omegas, especially since they have a very benign impedance response.  The midrange is wonderful resulting in absolutely mesmerizing vocals, and contrary to popular wisdom I've never felt bass was at all lacking.

Robert Hartley of Stereophile had a very favorable review of the CAD300SEI back in 1995 (https://www.stereophile.com/integratedamps/398/index.html), and Cary made several improvements over the years.  While it might not be in time for your decision, I'll also be listing mine in the next month or so as I've decided to go a different direction for my main speakers (92 dB sensitivity, but a difficult load with dips to 2.53 Ohms).  I had all the upgrades Cary offers as well as having them put in a pre-out RCA connector for each channel in case I wanted to add subs, and also put in NOS tubes for the driver and output tubes though the 300B power tubes are the originals.
davehg
85 posts
 
The best tube amp under $3k I’ve owned is the VAC Avatar SE. Let’s you switch triode and ultra linear. Beautifully made and I think it had a remote. One of a few pieces I regretted selling.

You might try a Leben CS300 series. It’s lower on power though, and the CS600 series would do better but they are in the $4k range.

I use a Woo Audio WA5 which is a 300b amp, and powers efficient speakers and inefficient headphones with ease. You can find them in the mid $3k range on sites like Head-Fi, and it was favorably reviewed in Stereophile, as was the Leben 600.

all prices above reflect used gear, and all above are integrated amps.
passet02's avatar
passet02
264 posts
 
I guess the Rogue or if you can go a few more bucks ? the Audio Hungary I-20 . More dealers are picking up the line I wish I had the $$$ before the price goes . A dealer loaned me the amp very nice unit the sound was top notch .
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