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new integrated tube amp guidance

hey all! i am looking to make a serious upgrade to my setup in the coming months, and i am seeking advice on picking the right amp for me. budget-wise i am thinking $5000-$7000, though i am not opposed to buying used if i find the perfect match.

right now i am primarily a headphone listener but since this is a significant investment for me i am not looking for just a headphone amp, i am looking for something with enough headroom to drive all the headphones and speakers i could reasonably get my hands on as an upper middle class hifi nerd. the primaluna evo 300 is my current frontrunner, and i would consider its specs to be generally appropriate for my needs. i have also been eyeing the cary 300sei which i know is particularly well-loved, as well as the audio research i/50. i am not married to any one variety of tube, el34s and 300bs are all great as far as i’m concerned. :)

at this price point i am also hoping for something with as much point-to-point wiring as possible, i consider some pcb usage perfectly acceptable as in the evo series but i would prefer to avoid an amp that is all fr4 inside! i am also not really looking for a hybrid amp, i would prefer all tube.

a fairly major sticking point for me here is the ability to run either triode or ultralinear. i have an extremely diverse music collection that ranges from jazz and classical to harsh noise, and it is both in lossless and vinyl format. i feel like this would be a significant advantage for me and based on my research it seems as though the people with this capability do appreciate having it, but i’m not really sure if it’s really as important as i feel it is. 

thank you in advance!

rsx11m
78sman
46 posts
 

I have a pair of Primaluna Dialogue 6's that I use as monoblocks in my main system, and I use them to drive B&W 805 speakers.  The Primaluna EVO 300 and EVO 400 are successors to my amps.  I listen to mostly accoustic jazz, accoustic blues, and classical, but I listen to other things too.  

I usually listen in ultralinear mode, but I sometimes switch over to triode when I listen listen to early jazz or blues because people would have used triodes when those songs were recorded.  I do this whether I'm listening to the original shellac recording, or a reissue on vinyl, CD, or streaming.

I also use a Pathos Inpol Tube Hybrid integrate amp in my office system, and that is also in triode mode.  I'm happy with the results from that amp as well.  That amp goes for just under $12K, but I was lucky enough to get a used one for a little over $4K.

 

hilde45's avatar
hilde45
5,997 posts
 

I'd  recommend the Quicksilver Mid Mono amplifiers (EL34)
https://quicksilveraudio.com/products/midi-mono/

There is no Triode/Ultralinear switching but it has a lot of other really nice features -- point-to-point wiring with minimal PCB, excellent transformers, and a great reputation for excellent build quality. No boutique markup.

Alternative Quicksilver option: The Horn Mono amps.

No headphone jacks though. There's an Integrated by QS also and a headphone amp, too.

Not quite speaking to all your requirements, but I really love QS.

paradisecom
503 posts
 

Cary Audio SLI-80HS:

SLI-80HS Integrated Amplifier | CaryDirect

 

Point-to-point wiring, Triode and Ultralinear modes with toggle switches, Lots of tube rolling options, remote control, made in USA.

rsx11m OP
3 posts
 

thank you all very much for the recommendations, i am extremely grateful! i have done some thinking though and it really does seem like the best way to ensure i am truly getting what’s best for me would be to budget for a speaker and headphone amp separately, that way i am not limiting myself too much in one direction. :)

doyle3433's avatar
doyle3433
388 posts
 

@paradisecom  my thoughts exactly! I really enjoy my SLI80, good price point too from Cary Direct. Built like a tank. 

The Rogue is a great choice as well. 

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