My first Tube Amplifier

Magnavox???  GE?? Big W?Smelly old units with paper, cloth, & wax parts!

My first tube amp was a Conrad Johnson MV55. It was a really nice sounding amp. Sold it and moved on to try a lot of different tube and Solid State +50-75 amps in the following 25yrs. My first SS amp was just before the MV55, it was a Forte Model 4a. Another nice sounding amp. Since, I’ve owed some really good amp throughout the years and my favorite tube has been the 300b. I still own 4 amps that use 300b power tubes. I’m presently using 3 amps now in my system that I am very happy with and will probably never remove them because they just sound so awesome and perfect. The Conrad Johnson Premier Four, MV55 and Forte Model 4a modified, upgraded by Jon Soderberg of vintage amps repair. Yes that’s right, I discovered that I should have kept the MV55 and Forte so after 25yrs I bought them again and they are fabulous. 

Just to mention, I own the Threshold SA/3, very nice amp, very pure and musical. Never had a Marantz tube amp but I own an original Marantz 7 and the phonostage is awesome. Use it in one of my setups and I have a K&K phonostage in my other system. I agree with someone’s post here about the 6550/KT88 tube, once your ears get accustom to EL34’s, 300b’s, and other great power tubes, can’t listen to 6550’s any longer. 

My first tube amplifier was a *used* MC275.  Today a classic. It was a trade in..  I used to sell audio and was also able to secure with a salesman's accommodation a new Luxman tube amp.  Back then they were not well known. No one knew about burning in equipment back then, and the AC quality was raw.  So, the Luxman was given a quick listen and sold, as the MC275 remained the head rooster. 
The MC275 was impressive with KEF 104ab's. Tube amps did not have good bass control. Their damping factor was weak,. It was years before I liked certain solid state. Yet,finally one Class D amp gave me a certain quality that reminded me of the MC275, but with superb bass control.  Now, its a tube preamp, but Class D amp.

@lowtubes

Many new issue KT88 tend to sound unrefined compared with El 34.

But there are also good KT88 like Golden Lions.

New issue Tungsol 120 has overall good sound.