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Member's recommendations for tube amplification

Your thoughts on options to consider:

- I'd prefer SET (open to DHT but not a requirement).

- I'm not looking for overtly warm, romantic or lush options.

- Minimum power in the teens to twenties, 10W being the floor.

- Open to higher power push-pull amps, but let's limit ceiling to around 60W.

- Single ended is fine though having XLR inputs would be nice (doesn't have to be true balanced)

- I'm cool with single chassis or monos.

- I have preferences for tube types, but leaving it open ended to get broad recommendations.

- I'm currently running an all solid state system, though have had tube based systems built around ARC, BAT, Ayon, Melody, Pathos, etc.

- Preamp will be a Pass XP-20 or the Metrum Adagio DAC direct to the amp.

- I'd like to stay around 3K used but can push the budget to 6K new/used.

- Speaker sensitivity is 94dB and higher.

THANKS!
david_ten

Showing 3 responses by mountainsong

mountainsong's avatar
mountainsong
418 posts
 
Try to audition Mastersound from Italy. 
I recently followed an advice and I bought the compact 845. Then the Monos PF100.
I had owned many desirable pieces under 50k. Nothing can't be compare with mastersound.  
Regards 
mountainsong's avatar
mountainsong
418 posts
 
I recently purchased my first SET. Mastersound compact 845. I had owned many desirable pieces in the past 10 years. But guys nothing at this level.
I wish I had discovered them a while back.
I ordered the Pf100 probably one of the best regardless price.
Best of luck.
mountainsong's avatar
mountainsong
418 posts
 
I Bought a compact 845 demo. The sound was so huge, natural and free of color that I went all the way up and I purchased the Monos with the Spettro pre-amp.
After all this years in this hobby I am wondering how matersound is not better known in the audio communities?
I found owners overseas in Madrid and Turkey. They consider the PF100 one of the pinnacle in tube amp design with power to drive anything. The had owned really ultra hi end gear and preferred MS over everything at the end. 
First amps that made my KEF Ref 3 sound musical.
Honestly this gear is at a complete different level.
I am using tonight the compact 845 with Diapason adamantes 25th. Very little to be desire. Music fill my room with natural vocals like a live performance. First time i got the piano right in my space.
Just go and listen to a demo if you can before purchasing anything.
Kind regards and best of luck.

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