Need a great tube amp for less than $400

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blackthorne77

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Hello,

Anybody know of any great tube power amps, for less than $400. I dont need much power (5 watts is plenty). I listen to metal and rock so i like a good, tight dynamic bass. I am using Klipsch RF-62's that have a sensitivity of 97dB/watt so even 1 watt is probably enough. These speakers are very clear and revealing so i figure a nice warm tube power amp would be great. I mainly listen to cd's with an occasional record.
 
blackthorne77 said:
Hello,

Anybody know of any great tube power amps, for less than $400. I dont need much power (5 watts is plenty). I listen to metal and rock so i like a good, tight dynamic bass. I am using Klipsch RF-62's that have a sensitivity of 97dB/watt so even 1 watt is probably enough. These speakers are very clear and revealing so i figure a nice warm tube power amp would be great. I mainly listen to cd's with an occasional record.
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you can end in a serius mess with a compromised valve amp as it's most likely what you gonna get for this money. cheap valve amps mean too many compromises involved, you really can't make it even with your own hands for this money.

buy trends TA-10.1. if you wouldn't know it's a digital amp, you would almost never tell it apart from a humble valve amp with speakers like yours.
 
Blackthorne buy a TA10.1 . Forget the idea of a valve amp for $400 Esp as you have klipsches - read reviews on 6 moons

If you need source switching use the tape out of your current amp to feed the TA10

just do it
Andy
 
There are a couple of vintage valve amps for less money on Audiogon. Its worth a try. I you have a look at an old valve amp. Look to see if there are any repairs or bodges or so called "upgrades" because you don't know who did them and they will detract from any re-sell value. You may even make a profit on vintage gear.
 
Round about the right money for a Leak Stereo 20 if you can get one. A passive pre will be needed too.

That's a mighty good amp.
 
I agree I think the leak would be the best choice but $400 US. i would doubt if you would find one at that price in the states. It would be nice though.
 
yes, quite right. more like 600$, and hard to find too.

a great investment, and worth the extra! :)
 
If you can pick up a dynavox vr70e these can be good with a few simple changes ie ditch the cheap and nasty chinese valves [mine blew in less than 3 months from new]. bypass or swap the volume pot, and fit good rca sockets. The amp will give you a very good sound for the price .....magpie tim and davidf are currently running these so it may be worth a pm ...
 
Mods, in French:

Je possède un Dynavox VR70E-2 depuis décembre 2006 (acheté chez Conrad), et depuis, pour le plaisir et parce que je pense que ce petit intégré à tubes est une très bonne base, j'ai effectué pas mal de modification :

- implantation d'un commutateur pour faire fonctionner les EL34 en mode pseudo-triode (moins d'harmoniques 3, son plus musical, plus doux ...), avec le changement de la résistance d'écran R27 (passage de 200 Ohms à 1 kOhms 3 Watts),

- implantation d'un commutateur pour supprimer la contre-réaction (grosse amélioration de la sonorité générale, plus de détails, plus d'air ...),

- suppression du condensateur d'entrée C18 et remplacement de celui-ci par un transformateur désymétriseur ligne de console de mixage de rapport 1/1 (plus doux, meilleure image stéréo ...),

- implantation d'une temporisation sur la HT (en amont du pont redresseur) sous la forme d'un module avec relai I-136 de chez CEBEK (allongement de la durée de vie des tubes d'au moins 50% !!!),

- changement du potentiomètre bas de gamme par un potentiomètre ALPS 2 x 20k B (meilleure linéarité à bas niveau, meilleur feeling à la manipulation) et changement du bouton par un bouton en alu massif anodisé noir (le feeling ...),

- changement de la diode LED verte par une bleue (juste pour l'esthétique ...) et ajout de deux flancs en teck massif collés au double-face sur les cotés (toujours l'esthétique), par contre je laisse en place la grille protège-tubes (je me suis déjà brulé sur les EL34 et puis, j'ai un chat turbulent, une femme maladroite et des petits enfants curieux avec des petits doigts fragiles qui viennent parfois à la maison ...),

- remplacement des EL34 chinoises par des E34L JJ marquage rouge avec réglage soigneux de la polarisation de ces tubes à 360 mVolts mesurés sur les points tests au bout d'une 1/2 heure et vérifiés quelques jours plus tard (meilleures basses, plus fermes ...),

- remplacement des tubes d'entrée 6F2 par des ECF 82 de marque EI (tubes neufs), (moins de distortion, voir suppression de la contre-réaction, et basses plus profondes),
Click to expand...
 
Ta 10.1

anubisgrau and ADpulley,

wow, good call on this integrated amp, im amazed. The difference in clarity is huge. It is about the same as me switching from some sony towers to these klipsch speakers i use. That TA is amazing!

Do either of you use a dac (digital to analog coverter) at all? Any suggestions?
 
cheap dac beresford or behringer src 2496 both with a couple of mods will perform very well ...better than a bechmark dac1!
 
blackthorne77 said:
anubisgrau and ADpulley,


Do either of you use a dac (digital to analog coverter) at all? Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

Glad you are pleased with the TA10.1- Cant help with a DAC recommendation - its oustide my zone of expertese - I can verify that Zanash isnt a muppet and has lots experience with CD stuff so his advice is likely to be sound.

Andy
 

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