Are Quicksilver power tube amps in the same league as VAC, VTL, BAT, ARC, ...?


I see that VAC, VTL, BAT, ACR power tube amps are almost twice or more expensive than Quicksilver power tube amps at the same power ratings.
Are Quicksilver power amps as good as twice or more expensive brands?
I am considering power tube amps with 80, 100, or 120Watts power ratings and I just wonder.
I don't have much budget (under 5K) and my choice is either new QS or those other brands used.
If not QS, which brands are best bang for the buck for power tube amps?
I need to drive 87dB speaker, so the power has to be at least 80Watts.
Thanks for your input.
128x128ihcho

Showing 3 responses by atmasphere

With more than 25 years, you can use it in good condition.  What else tube amplifier could be that way? I do not know.

Most competent amplifiers will go 25 years with ease. The ones that can't make 25 years are likely to put the producer of such amps out of business long before 25 years has gone by!

@ihcho If you want to get the best out of a tube amplifier its really in your best interest to use a speaker that is 8 Ohms or more. Speakers that are hard to drive really don't show off any amplifier (tube or solid state) all that well.

This is simply because the harder the amp has to work, the more distortion its going to make. On top of that, with most tube amps you can lose up to an octave of bandwidth off of the bottom end by using the 4 Ohm tap as opposed to the 8 Ohm tap; and you need that 4 Ohm tap to work with 4 Ohm speakers!

You may recall that I advised you earlier about running a speaker of lower sensitivity; I said that 100 Watts would likely not be enough. What I didn't say is that you really want any amplifier to be loafing while doing its job.

Speakers don't have to be inefficient to have excellent definition! My speakers are 98dB and are some of the more revealing speakers I've heard. You also get greater dynamic contrast as the more efficient the speaker is, the less thermal compression it tends to have.

It appears that I can't be wrong with QS monoblocks and I need to get at least 100 WPC amps.
@i

Yes you can go wrong but not due to the quality. Again, unless you are nearfield or in a smaller room, 100 watts on a speaker that's only 87dB in an average room won't be enough power. I would seriously consider replacing the speakers with something more efficient if you plan to work with an amp of only 100 watts. Otherwise if you try to push things a bit, if you want to rock out, you'll run the amps out of gas.
I need to drive 87dB speaker, so the power has to be at least 80Watts.
Unless you are nearfield or have a smaller room, you'll need more power than that! But to your OP question: 'Yes'.