Name your favorite Integrated Tube Amplifier & why?


ASK:

If interested, and something comes to mind - Please feel free to reply and name your favorite Integrated Tube amplifier & why? 

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Thought it might be fun to post the question to Agon members. Maybe the one I missed comes to mind for you. I'm a former owner of a modded Cary SLI-80 Signature too, might need just a little more current/grunt this next time around  :) 

Yes, I DID carefully look over many prior threads and felt it necessary to post a new thread. Nothing stated moved the needle much for me, so trying a new post in 2026.

Speakers:

  • 92.5db sensitivity, 4ohm imp, dual 8" nomex woofer drivers, with air motion transformer tweeter/midrange

Background:

Regretfully I'm considering the journey of selling and collapsing two full sets of my last favorite separates systems (preamps, and amps) back to a single integrated amplifier for space, consolidation, room changes.   

Thanks in advance for your consideration and replies.  Happy New Years yes

 

 

 

decooney

For the price I do really like my rogue audio Cronus magnum iii. I think upgrading to dark version well worth it. I’ve upgraded center tube to a NOS tungsol 12au7 smooth plate tube. Having the integrated phono allowed me to gradually upgrade to a separate phono stage and a better MC cartridge. I didn’t feel rushed to purchase everything at once.  

I've been in the game for ~50 years, and the Linear Tube Audio Z40+ is the best sounding integrated amp that I have owned. Most of my experience has been with SS, but that would include Accuphase, Pass Labs, Bryston, Jeff Rowland, Gato, and most recently, the excellent hybrid Circle Labs A200.

The only qualification that I would make is that I have rolled a couple of the stock tubes, and to great effect on my system.

Associated components:

Aqua La Scala DAC

CEC TL-5 CD transport

Fink Team KIM speakers

 

My mcintosh  901 is great for bi amping and the crossover is fantastic 300 watts tube ,600 watts solid state. I like Mac house sound and blue meters.enjoy the music

The best integrated I have owned is an Audio Note Meishu Tonmeister Silver.  Beautiful resolution, great MM phono stage, not bass shy 300 B.  Elevated the performance of my two sets of high sensitivity speakers (Audio Note AN-E Spe HE 97 dB, Pure Audio Project Duet 15 96 dB).  

Favorite Lines overall:

1) Audio Research:  gold standard, they tend to just get it right overall, as tube amps go

2) Linear Tube Audio:  most like a good SS amp, which I prefer, works well with a broader range of speakers than most tube amps

3)VAC:  Eye candy, clean smooth, and lovely sound when set up well

4) Rogue:  very good and balanced sound overall, best value

5) MacIntosh:  for midrange lovers, match well with Sonus Faber, iconic looks