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

My favorite is the Raven Nighthawk. This is my first tube integrated because price and simple fear kept me from taking the dive. Immediately introduced to a level of reproduction I'd never dared to consider owning. The auto bias takes one of the hurdles out of the way so the user need not be constantly adjusting the bias to run tubes at right voltage. My introduction included the real fun of switching tubes in and out to see which combo sounded best. (Sometimes when I want a different sounding amp I switch them around to transform sound texture) My biggest issue was I bought my speakers first then decided on my integrated. The reason this is an issue is the Klipsch Lascala II is rated at 105 db sensitivity. That's great but with New Old Stock tubes some can be a bit hummy. (Normal sensitivity like anything 95 and down would be perfect with any NOS) Which really bugs me until I decided to consistently keep swapping in NOS tubes that were on the quiet side. They were the better sounding ones anyway. A big plus is a dedicated sub out which relieves the amp of bass load. If you've never lived with a tube amp, the realism is mind bending compared to any SS unless one breaks the bank. Looks so cool too. Has that "mad scientist" vibe in the center of my listening experience. It says 20 watts per * ohms but obviously with my Lascalas its never lacking in any punch at any volume.Raven Audio Rocks

@decooney What 92BD speakers? You are a long time member here and like some other long timers have life changes and I hope for you they all in the all good category. New gear is fun. So there’s that. 

Like me some Accuphase integrated Amps. Yup. But please consider Rogers High Fidelity. Here’s one on ebay. A phone call to Roger will save you at least 13%. I have one you can see in my Den system page. In my channel surfing of equipment changes I have kept this integrated Amp.  More here on these fora. The App works well too. (FYI Roger made me a thing to use a sub. Tell him you have two and he’ll fix you up.)  

The "why" is the sound. Bass you bet. Luscious mids. Yah baby. And I like the way it looks. I send Roger and Xmas card because he has taken care of me. 

 

 

Rogers High Fidelity. Sound fantastic, and built to a higher standard than anything else.

I’ll throw tube integrated hybrid into the mix that’ll show up the tube amps- the musical fidelity nu-vista 800.2.  Beautiful build that makes beautiful sound