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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
kennyc
2,830 posts
 

Wow, what a “rare” sonic bargain.
Thanks for sharing 

teajay OP
1,738 posts
 

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.

968firehawk
16 posts
 

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.  

 

oddiofyl's avatar
oddiofyl
4,563 posts
 

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

johnah5
237 posts
 

John here, I have the Pine Tree Earth Tone 6L6 GC SET amp and will do a review on it. The amp is stunning in sound.  This amp has the bass control I hear from my Solid State Plinius SA-50 class A amp and the hollow graphic wonderful mid range of a SET.  I am stunned that a 5 watt amp sounds so good and controls my speakers. That said I am using Devore O/96 speakers that have a 10 to 12 ohm resistance so likely I have found synergy.  This amp is the most surprisingly to the good audio product I have experienced.  It is also dead quiet.  Highly recommend. 

Best

jh

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