Looking to buy my firstTube Power Amp

[jimbones]

recently a friend let me borrow his VTL 85. I loved the sound of it over my solid state power amp. So I would like to get my first Tube amp. My speakers are about 89db efficient (dynamic speakers) i am using a Rogue RP7 pre and am thinking 100 watts. I am considering preowned at this point. My budget is 5K to 6K. I would like suggestions on brands, models etc to research. Thanks

 

[LL21]

VTL is a great tube brand, and if you love the 85, sounds like that is a great place to start. So too might be Rogue Stereo amps since you have their preamp and presumably like it? The other name which comes to mind are the CJs 120 and 62...which on the 2nd hand/demo market could also fit well within your targets.

 

[Solypsa]

I have not looked for high power tube amps for some time, but a classic 100w contender would be the EAR 509- long production run means you may find used in various conditions.

 

[LL21]

I have not looked for high power tube amps for some time, but a classic 100w contender would be the EAR 509- long production run means you may find used in various conditions.

Wow...good call. I have read very good things about that amp. Been reading about their HP4 headphone amp quite a lot lately, and this particularly amp has come up several times.

 

[Ron Resnick]

VTL is a great tube brand, and if you love the 85, sounds like that is a great place to start.

+1

 

[jimbones]

Wow...good call. I have read very good things about that amp. Been reading about their HP4 headphone amp quite a lot lately, and this particularly amp has come up several times.

I liked the phono pre I think I would like the amp I'll take a look

 

[jimbones]

VTL is a great tube brand, and if you love the 85, sounds like that is a great place to start. So too might be Rogue Stereo amps since you have their preamp and presumably like it? The other name which comes to mind are the CJs 120 and 62...which on the 2nd hand/demo market could also fit well within your targets.

I have not considered Rogue for power amp as some people say their tube amps sound more like SS (if thats possible) I can say that their RP7 is not like a typical tube Pre.

 

[jimbones]

Wow...good call. I have read very good things about that amp. Been reading about their HP4 headphone amp quite a lot lately, and this particularly amp has come up several times.

I am seeing two other brands, Music Reference and Audio Hungary are they decent?

 

[LL21]

I am seeing two other brands, Music Reference and Audio Hungary are they decent?

I have read very good things about Music Reference but have not heard. I do not know about Audio Hungary.

 

[jimbones]

ok so I now have a short list of 5:
Music Reference 200
Audio Hungary Qualiton 200
VTL 85 or 150
Rogue Stereo 100
Carver 275

Reliability is KEY. Any opinions on the above listed amps?

 

[LL21]

Great list. Most curious about MR 200 and VTL 85/150. I think VTL has a very good reputation for reliability...but there are far, far more educated audiophiles here on that.

 

[jimbones]

yea i am researching 2 things reliability and stability. Oh and serviceability, aka who services the stuff that is out of production or from overseas.

 

[Solypsa]

The good news is most tube amps follow similar build topologies and if a tech is fluent in repairing one they usually can do others. The bad news is good 'old skool' techs are not super common anymore.

If you are going down the vintage / used path best to spend some time finding out who the options are in your area.

 

[jimbones]

The good news is most tube amps follow similar build topologies and if a tech is fluent in repairing one they usually can do others. The bad news is good 'old skool' techs are not super common anymore.

If you are going down the vintage / used path best to spend some time finding out who the options are in your area.

Im fortunate I have a super good tech in my area (was able to fix my buddies Antique Sound Labs) I would prefer to not have to hump a 70 lb amp to tyhe tech in the first place lol! Im old and I had back surgery. I was hoping to actually get a GAN amp that would have excellent performance since they are a hell of a lot lighter but I lost hope in any Class D sounding any good. ha ha

 

[Gregadd]

Conrad Johnson premier 11a.

 

[Solypsa]

Message Ralph @Atmasphere he has a new class D amp coming soon...from a guy doing OTL tube gear for the last 40+ years.

 

[jimbones]

Message Ralph @Atmasphere he has a new class D amp coming soon...from a guy doing OTL tube gear for the last 40+ years.

ha ha Ive never heard a class D amp sound awesome, they are ok, just not great.

 

[Lowrider75]

There are now a few dealers representing Carver amps including Music Direct. I'd love to hear the 275, very innovative design.
five-year manufacturer's warranty on operation, parts, and tubes!
Made in USA.

 

[Cellcbern]

recently a friend let me borrow his VTL 85. I loved the sound of it over my solid state power amp. So I would like to get my first Tube amp. My speakers are about 89db efficient (dynamic speakers) i am using a Rogue RP7 pre and am thinking 100 watts. I am considering preowned at this point. My budget is 5K to 6K. I would like suggestions on brands, models etc to research. Thanks

You don't need 100 tube watts for 89 db speakers unless you have a huge room. I run 89 db Bache Metro 001's (and 89 db Merlin VSM's before them) with a 35 watt Pathos TT and can shake the walls of my 16'x10' room if I want to. You have more good choices in your price range at lower power.

 

[Cellcbern]

Since you liked it:

VTL IT-85 | Tube | Houston, Texas 77069

VTL IT-85 for sale. PRICE LOWERED! I bought this in February 2018 from a fellow Agoner. Used it in a bedroom system for a short time. Listed it for sale for a while and then decided to keep it, to pair with the VTL MB...

www.audiogon.com

If you have a good tech upgrade key caps, resistors, connectors, and wiring.

Note that there are pre-owned tube power amps in your price range (and likely with enough power) for sale at Audiogon from Audio Research, Audio Hungary, BAT, EAR, McIntosh, VAC, and Zesto.