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
Most SETs employ DHT (Directly Heated Triodes) like the 300b, 845 and 2A3.

DHTs can be used in push-pull as well.

If you want more than about 10 watts, IMO/IME you are far better off with a push-pull amplifier, and in your case with your speakers you will be needing more than that unless you are listening from only a few feet in a small room. If in an average room 60 watts will be a good power rating if your speakers are 94db.

The impedance of the speaker makes a difference too; generally speaking you will get better performance out of any tube amp if the impedance of the speaker is 8 ohms or higher as opposed to 4 ohms.

Balanced operation can be very helpful! If you have monoblocks this will allow you to run shorter speaker cables which will win you greater impact and definition. You can run longer lengths of interconnect cables if they are balanced, and if the preamp supports the balanced line standard (be forewarned- most high end audio preamps do not) the length of the cable and how expensive it is will have little impact on how it sounds. BTW there are balanced line tube preamps that support the balanced standard- we make one example (which also happens to be the descendant of the first balanced line preamp made).

Good Luck with the Quest.
I failed to mention that output transformerless amps should also be under consideration,  Atmasphere did not mention this type of amp because he makes them and is careful not to plug his own products.   
OTLs are very dynamic and lively sounding.  The Atmasphere amps also fit the OP's "not looking for overly warm, romantic or lush" criteria.  His 30 watt and 60 watt amps seem like a good candidates.
In you price range check out the 10 and 40 watt Linear Tube Audio amps (both David Berning designs?).

DeKay