A Music Reference RM-9 Mk.2 if you are patient enough to wait for one to become available (less than a thousand were made). 125w/ch, EL34 tube life 10,000 hours (four tubes per channel), around $2,000 used. Or the RM-200 MK. 2, about the same power but with a ss input stage and KT-88 or 6550 output tubes (two per channel), around $3,000. The RM-200 is Michael Fremer’s "budget" tube power amp reference, continuously on Stereophile’s Recommended Component List (in Class A) since first reviewed many years ago.
Tube Amplifiers: Carver Crimson 75 wpc or Primaluna Monoblocks
Looking for modestly powered tube amp to power high sensitivity speakers (> 92 db) in a new 12 × 16 foot listening room upstairs. I have Canary 140 wpc monoblocks in my basement reference system and love them. However, as I get older and tire of trying to lug around PassLabs 100 pound amps, I am setting up a low weight system. The amps need to fit the following: 1) less than 50 pounds, 2) economical like under 5K, 3) at least 60 wpc, and 4) a recognized extreme value piece of kit.
I spoke with Don Sachs and he is semi-retiring or something along those lines. He is not regularly building his amps/preamps anymore. I did get on his waiting list with no real guarantees.
I appreciate your thoughts on the two amps I inquired about and any others that I did not.
I spoke with Don Sachs and he is semi-retiring or something along those lines. He is not regularly building his amps/preamps anymore. I did get on his waiting list with no real guarantees.
I appreciate your thoughts on the two amps I inquired about and any others that I did not.