If you love 6L6GC tube based amplifiers: Check out Pine Tree Audio's new SET design


Pine Tree Audio just released their new Earth Tones SE tube amplifier. I am flabbergasted with performance of this 6L6GC / 12AU7 tube SET design which is superlative - beautiful tonality/colors, totally transparent allowing all the details to shine through, excellent dynamics and bass control for a SET, and 3D imaging with great air between individual images in the sound-stage. Now , here's the "punchline" it sells for $995! Built in the US with excellent parts/construction. Congrats Jesse, you nailed this, with an unbelievable price tag.

teajay
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A dear friend of mine borrowed the Pine Tree Audio 6L6GC SE to try it in his system. He too was shocked at its performance and felt it a marvel based on price vs. performance ratio. He will be purchasing one in the next few days.

teajay is onto something here... I have the luxury of having this amp in-house, and it's an absolute gem.  The textures and colors are vivid, along with being "warm and woolly" at the same time.  Incredible decay, richness, and resolving timber, with a naturalness that goes with the flow.  Male voices have that "chest", image depth is palpable, and soundstaging is excellent.  It has that special tube-like sound, along with dynamics, pace, and a window into the recording that would make Windex envious.  

The amp is dead silent.  The drive (current) feels strong for its power rating.  

Seems like a delight for tube rollers.  With only 1 pre-amp tube and 2 power tubes, it offers a really fun way to "roll" through options.  For now, I've only listened to it with the stock tubes.  I'm looking forward to the upside of exploring a number of NOS options.  Add to this that it's hand-built in the USA, and it's a great addition to the audiophile landscape.

If this amp is a good fit for the power-envelope requirements of your speakers/listening environment, it's hard to think of a better value.  It would require a significantly higher investment to improve on.  

In terms of price-to-performance ratio, this amp nails the diminishing returns equation.  

 

Nice to hear affordable tube gear is being made here in Massachusetts.