Affordable US Made Tube Pre/Power or Integrated Options
I'm considering switching to tube amplification from solid state. I'm fine with separate pre/power or an integrated. I'll be driving Enzo XL's in a smallish room (17x14) and listening levels are almost always <90db so 30-40 watts should be more than enough. My budget is fairly modest, $2-3k all in. I don't need phono or more than 3 inputs but I would like remote for volume at minimum. Quality build and sound is a priority as is ease of support/repairs if needed. The one unique requirement is that my preference would be for US made if at all possible. Obviously, this limits the options quite a bit but I'd like to see if I can make it work. If not, I'm willing to look at other options.
Here's what I've found so far
Preamps:
Mapletree Line 2CRM, $800 (not US but close)
LTA MZ2- $1595
Power Amps:
Tubes4hifi ST70-35w, $1300
Audio by Van Alstine Ultravalve-35w?, $1599
Quicksilver Mid Mono-40w each, $1995/pair
Integrated:
Rogue Cronus- 100w, $2395
Any others?
I'm open to any other options you may know of. Also, if there's any insight or positive experiences with matching pre/power amp please share. I'm new to tubes so I have a lot to learn.
Here's what I've found so far
Preamps:
Mapletree Line 2CRM, $800 (not US but close)
LTA MZ2- $1595
Power Amps:
Tubes4hifi ST70-35w, $1300
Audio by Van Alstine Ultravalve-35w?, $1599
Quicksilver Mid Mono-40w each, $1995/pair
Integrated:
Rogue Cronus- 100w, $2395
Any others?
I'm open to any other options you may know of. Also, if there's any insight or positive experiences with matching pre/power amp please share. I'm new to tubes so I have a lot to learn.
71 responses Add your response
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From your list LTA, Van Alstine, and Quicksilver are highly regarded. Used: Integrated... https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisa3056-conrad-johnson-cav-45-tube Power... https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisa27h1-yamamoto-soundcraft-a-08s-stereo-amplifier-w-nos-used-tun.... Power... https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisa04gj-ear-yoshino-534-power-amp-tube Full disclosure: this is my amp made in UK. Many high-end preamps do not have remote volume control. https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisa305j-aric-audio-transcend-6sn7-linestage-tube https://www.schiit.com/products/freya-1 |
Manley Labs. I have 2 systems. The more expensive one has Cary a SLP-05 preamp and Pass Labs XA 60.5 power amps. At less than 1/4 the price for amplification, the cheaper system with a Manley Stingray II sounds better. Of couse there many other variables, including room effects, but both systems are otherwise comparable. It demonstrates that a low-powered all tube integrated can sound great in the right system and setting. |
I also recommend Raven Audio Nighthawk integrated. And they have a 45-day trial, can return if you don't like it, minus return shipping. I got one after listening to Primaluna and Rogue at dealers. All sounded good, just each have different character and I preferred Raven. Probably also helped that I could listen to Raven in my house with my system. Upscale Audio sells Primaluna and I believe has a 60 day trial period minus shipping and tubes. Not sure about Rogue. |
Quicksilver’s preamp is $1295 and very hard to beat; sounds great, point to point wiring, American made, comments which helped me toward this unit testified to rugged reliability and great customer service. I also bought the 60wpc amps. That’s above your price point but the 40 watts would fit the bill. At list preamp and monoblocks would be $3290. Quicksilver also makes a nice integrated for $1995 that I heard power some 85db Dynaudios. You might consider the Erhard's Basie amp, too -- http://www.erhard-audio.com/Basie.html |
Look at Bob Carver Crimson 275s. 75 wpc stereo tube amp made in USA with point to point wiring and some Carver tweeks that run tubes cool. They are A/B push/pull with feedback. They come with a 10 year tube warranty. A lot of high-enders poo poo Bob Carver, but he's an electrical genius and his current offerings are made here. I have his Raven 350 monoblocks and they sound great. If you want to really get the ultimate tube sound and go the SET route, consider Decware, also made in US and a little higher endish, but affordable, and money back trials available, as with Raven audio: https://www.decware.com/newsite/homepage.html |
Schitt Freya +, $899US https://www.schiit.com/products/freya-1 Designed and made in the USA. Mike Moffat and Jason Stoddard know a thing or three. |
I’d avoid the Tubes4HiFi/VTA like CoViD-19. Tubes4HiFi/VTA products are poorly designed to be as cheap as possible. I bought a factory built pair of the M-125 monoblocks. Factory built, the absolute worst assembly of any tube amp owned in over 50 years. They come nowhere close meeting the claimed specs. see http://www.ielogical.com/Audio/VTA_M-125.php. IMO, the designs suffers from fatal flaws [e.g. un-compensated LM334 causes gain to vary slightly between channels over about 10 minutes after an inordinately long warm up] and poor gain structure choices. They are marginally stable. Most will not have issues, but some... see https://i.postimg.cc/gcKSXW7f/Num1-Unstable.png in https://dynacotubeaudio.forumotion.com/t4217p50-m-125-build#42336 for an example. They can be made to work properly for very little extra work. Smilin’ Big Bob called me an Audio Zealot, banned my DTAF account and deleted my posts. People from all over the world have contacted me with similar issues with both their amplifiers and lack of support from Messrs. Latino & Mottram. BTW, ignore all tube rolling advice. Just as amplifiers sound different in different systems, so to with tubes. Tubes vary greatly, not only from brand to brand, but from tube to tube and over time. |
The tubes4hifi pieces are all available as kits. They really aren't that hard to build. Tubes4hifi also provides excellent support for builders. For about $2200, you could easily afford their best preamp, the SP14 and the ST120 (60 wpc) power amp. $3000 would get you both fully assembled and tested. |
Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I've got some reading to do now. I'm interested in Decware except I'm wondering if the amps in my range (Torii Jr, Zen Triode primarily) would have enough power. That's really the only thing holding me back from these lower powered amps. We sit ~9ft from the XL's and they have ~90db sensitivity. It looks like for typical listening levels, 80dbs or so, I'd be fine as only a couple watts are needed. It's when the level is higher (mostly peak, not continuous) that I'm wondering about how the lower powered amps will do. What kind of practical headroom does a well done tube amp have? I see claims that "tube watts are different than solid state watts" but is it really a matter of the power supply? |
There is a used Cary CADSEI 300 listed on audiogon right now. I'm using one of these 15 watt SET integrated amps to drive Wilson Sasha 2's, and it's wonderful. 3 inputs and a volume only remote. I sold on a more expensive tube preamp and ss amp combo because I loved the SET midrange, particularly on vocals. And personally I don't feel that I sacrificed anything in the bass reproduction. |