See if you can find one of these for sale: (http://www.stereophile.com/tubepoweramps/1200cary/) You won't do much tube tasting as far as the output tube(T-1610) 'cause there's only one company that makes them(KR). Then again there's the price of a pair of those glorious triodes. At least they'll give you 100 watts on peaks. BTW: If you can afford those- Are you interested in adopting a son?
Triode versus Ultralinear/Pentode
Does triode always sound better than ultralinear/pentode in circuits and parts of similar quality? I'm not really interested in SETs, but triode wiring of EL34/6550 etc. I have a CAT JL2 wired which has 6550s connected in triode and is the best amp I have ever heard in my system. I also have a Music Reference RM9 MKII with EL34s connected in ultralinear and am considering having them rewired for triode operation as I assume that is one of the reasons the CAT sound so good (those transformers may also have something to do with it). Thanks.