Best Tube Amp for High Sensitivity Speakers: 45, PX25, or 300B?

kennyc:

Yes, I was looking for integrated at this stage of the game as it would probably be more within the current budget than separates, cables, etc.  Also, space issues where I have my sound system located.

My goal has been to learn from this system so that a major upgrade in about 2 - 3 years would be sussed out.  We are renovating an old farm in the country. I have a room that I'm renovating to be a dedicated music room, larger than the office where I currently have my system.  In my current room I have limited space with a pair of Daedalus Muse speakers.  They are sweet and demand little and I am not pushing them at all.  I will be upgrading to either a larger set of Daedalus or moving to a pair of Coherent 18's.  Both are reasonably high-sensitivity speakers but might require a different amp system at that time.  I'll have a better budget then as well. 

There is a reason 300 B everything /  anything keeps coming up for sale.

it inherently does not work well in its output application or generally falls way short of the power tube task.

perhaps consider as a driver tube but nothing else 

clhs04:  I believe there's some truth in that. I think most sound systems, environments, and demands do not fit the 300B ability.  Perhaps for the 20k+ 300B amps, there is a window to perform better, but not the low-budget systems.

@clhs04 I do not understand the comment that a 300B falls way short of the Power Tube Task. Likely, if they are not in the right "environment", they will fall short. 

Like the OP I too have the Daedalus Muse Speakers and enjoy them with a pair of Wellborne Labs DRD300 amps with both the silver wire and the Black Gate Cap upgrades. They are about 8 watts. 

Presently using a Modwright LS100 preamp with the MC option in play. My Atmasphere Pre also sounds exceptional in this system with the 300B tubes. 

Either Streaming or Vinyl has plenty of oomph . Jazz, Strings , Classical and limited Classic Rock all sound excellent. No I have not listened to Rap or Heavy Metal so no comment in that regards.

There is plenty of power to listen at all levels of volume in a smaller room. My listening room is 11 x 15. 

Alternately my office, which is 13 x 17  has a 175 watt Class A/B pushing PROAC Response 3.5 and  a 300B tube would certainly not cut the mustard in that system.

Rambling thoughts -

All this talk of "not enough power for your speakers" makes me wonder how loud everybody is listening. I mean really, on a day-in and day-out basis. I seldom get louder than 80dB. Sometimes I go louder, but not as a matter of routine. And I listen to all types of music, including hip-hop, rap, dub, jazz, classical, country, vocals, rock.

I'm seldom using much more than a watt. Ok, perhaps sometimes when I'm listening to the original quads that are in my room, or my 2805s. Or if I feel like cranking up Jimi Hendrix's fist album over the Altec A7s. I might be a little over a watt under those circumstances. But really, how loud do you typically listen? And what kind of speakers are you driving? Something with a power-gobbling complex multi-way crossover? 

8 watts is a lot. 15 watts is a lot. 

My preference is for simple circuits with a parts list employing high quality (read: fit for purpose) parts. Yes you can build high power amps with complex circuits and some of them can sound very very good. But then you're in a different place. Maybe listening for different things. That's ok. Totally ok. There's no one right way to listen or one "right" set of listening preferences. Those who prefer low power SETs are not "better", "smarter" or wiser than those who prefer amps capable of arc-welding. Same with those who prefer Quads, whatever their vintage. Or Altecs or any of all the myriad options available out there, or push-pull or solid state or whatever.

But I do think it is important to experience some of these options first hand, in a well matched system that can show the technology to good advantage.