What are the MOST DYNAMIC Tube Amplifiers and Integrateds out there?

[Jeffy]

I have not found a tube amp yet that can drive my Rockport speakers which is mainly a 2 ohm load. I don't think the CAT would do it, but I'm not opposed to trying. If someone wants to send me a demo pair, I would be happy to test. I've tried VAC and VTL. I had to go with 750 watt Krell amps.

 

[morricab]

Ayon Crossfire with my AG is really dynamic, but it seems that it sports A62B tubes , isnt’it?

The first version had 52B I think. My version III had 62B.

 

[morricab]

Ayon Crossfire with 52b tubes.

Horning 520b.

Wavac 838.

Kindest regards,G.

Agreed but would add Aries Cerat Concero 65s and for smaller amp the new Genus. KR Audio VA350 and Kronzilla, NAT SE2SE and SE3.

Genus is more dynamic than Crossfire III or KR VA350. NAT SE2SE was more dynamic than CAT JL2 Signature on Apogees.

Conceros are the most dynamic amps I have heard.

 

[Legolas]

my speakers are Horns Universum III, 100db. (106 db for the horn section, 100db for the bass)
I do run the VTL S-400 stereo amp (12x KT88, 200w triode mode) on the Horn section,
the CAT JL3 Statement mono amps (2x 16x KT150, 200w triode ) on the Bass section.

No noise, great amps!, great dynamics, a lot of headroom

Nice. Do you get any problems with heat? All those tubes and running class A all the time.

 

[c1ferrari]

Never heard these myself, but OTL's can be quite dynamic:

http://www.atma-sphere.com/Products/MA-3

 

[DaveyF]

Never heard these myself, but OTL's can be quite dynamic:

http://www.atma-sphere.com/Products/MA-3

Sam, love your example.
Only problem with them is that you can throw your sauna out and replace it with these amps. Lol.
Also, g-d forbid you ever have to re-tube with that many tubes, because you are going to take out a second mortgage on your house.

 

[c1ferrari]

Five hundred watts/channel of Class A sound, baby! A/C load calculation for your dedicated listening space...no problem
Shoot, one might assume a second mortgage for most of the amps in the thread.

 

[sarto]

I would absolutely suggest the Doshi Audio amplifiers, the Monoblocks are incredible and I expect the new stereo amplifier to be outstanding too.

 

[ulf]

My LennArt Labs Sarabande integrated SOTA amp has incredible dynamics and fantastic bass
Not so many watts but Big power supply. Lots of Lundahl transformers.
As stated in a separate post it’s better my previous high end amps Momentum monos, pass labs xa 100 monos,
VTL 400W stereo amp etc.
Finally I got the amp that makes my FOCAL Grande utopia EM sings

 

[Thieliste]

I would also vote for the Aries Cerat Concero 65 monoblocks as the most dynamic tube amps in rerent years.

 

[Verastarr]

Anything with 4 to 8 octal pentodes per chassis will slam pretty hard especially the 120/150 variants. Integrateds ? Jeff Rowland Daemon is the only integrated Ive heard that fooled me into thinking I was listening to a full Class A rig.. Instead it was a Class D Integrated.. lol. amazing..

 

[microstrip]

After a few weeks using the VTL Siegfried II I can assure they have real dynamics - particularly after the minimum warm-up of half an hour. No other amplifier I have tried in the SoundLab's or the Magico Mini II's could have simultaneously such excellent micro and macro dynamics.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Yippee, Francisco! I have been hoping you would come out of the amplifier closet on your new purchase!

How about giving us a full report on your impressions of the Siegfried IIs?

 

[christoph]

I would also vote for the Aries Cerat Concero 65 monoblocks as the most dynamic tube amps in rerent years.

Where have you heard the Concero 65?

 

[Tango]

Where have you heard the Concero 65?

What is their TOL amp? I am very confused with their models. Seem like new one comes out every year. Will be interesting to hear feedbacks from real owners who are not their dealers.

Kind regards,
Tang

 

[Thieliste]

Where have you heard the Concero 65?

At the Munich show 2017.

 

[Tbzc]

After a few weeks using the VTL Siegfried II I can assure they have real dynamics - particularly after the minimum warm-up of half an hour. No other amplifier I have tried in the SoundLab's or the Magico Mini II's could have simultaneously such excellent micro and macro dynamics.

I very much agree with you. I have had VTL Siegfried II for a year and half. At the beginning I was a bit frustrated because I have expected more but then I changed the preamp to Ayon Conquistador and am very satisfied now. Very dynamic, low noise and they have good musical flow. You can fine tune the interaction with speakers with negative feedback level switch (I use the lowest possible) and triode/pentode mode. Also try changing 12at7 tube because they can have quite big influence.

 

[Gregadd]

I just wanted to chime in. It is in fact the tube that is dynamic. Thus the term "most dynamic tube amolifiers and integrated" is redundant.

 

[Al M.]

I just wanted to chime in. It is in fact the tube that is dynamic. Thus the term "most dynamic tube amolifiers and integrated" is redundant.

Not quite. The tube needs to be able to work in an optimal operating range, so the quality of the power supply is of utmost importance. Many power supplies are sagging under load; they cannot supply the stable high voltage that tubes need.

The quality of the output transformer will also be decisive when it comes to perceived dynamics.

 

[DaveyF]

Not quite. The tube needs to be able to work in an optimal operating range, so the quality of the power supply is of utmost importance. Many power supplies are sagging under load; they cannot supply the stable high voltage that tubes need.

The quality of the output transformer will also be decisive when it comes to perceived dynamics.

+1

So very true, and so often overlooked in the total picture. Funny how so many manufacturers seem to gloss over this issue with their tube offerings.