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Recommendation Tube Integrated

At this juncture (nearly 2024) what are folks' best recommendagtion for a tube integrated amp.  Constraints would be $10K (preferrably $5K or less), at least 35 watts per channel.  New or used.  Goal would be smooth, creamy sound.  My current system, which I would consider very good solid state sound, can still be a little ...hard.... to my sensitive ears at times, and I'm thinking a tube option would be nice.  Thanks.

mathiasmingus
carlsbad2's avatar
carlsbad2
1,384 posts
 

Amost impossible to beat a Decware ZMA.  Not easy to find.  Multiyear wait but there are a few on the secondary market.  Like me, some people move from ZMA to SET.   The ZMA has a tremendous power supply so it can provide an honest 35 watts with high current.

Jerry

tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,865 posts
 

+ for the Aesthetix… but it’s a hybrid

wsrrsw's avatar
wsrrsw
901 posts
 

I had a Prima Luna(s)* and got Rogers High Fidelity KWM-88. And if you don’t want more wattage here’s  another. eBay takes 13% so a call would save you that. Yes I’m a fan. Read the reviews. These are tip-top. The both can be controlled from a phone or pad. 

*the PL Floyd looks interesting but I haven’t heard one. 

wsrrsw's avatar
wsrrsw
901 posts
 

Oh and Macintosh too. 

lafish3's avatar
lafish3
8 posts
 

The Quicksilver Integrated is only rated at 20 watts per channel, but with four EL84s per side, and big bespoke transformers, it’s going to sound like a lot more than that. Plus the EL84 is one great tube and it only costs $2,500, made entirely by hand, entirely in the U.S. 

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