Looking for opinions & advice on tube amps

mulveling

New speakers are arriving next week (Tyler Acoustics Linbrook Sig monitors), and - inexplicably - I already want a new power amp Current amp is a PS Audio HCA2. Preamp is a Melos SHA-Gold Reference that I love, so I'm not interested in an integrated. For resale value concerns I'd prefer to buy used on audiogon, but I'll buy new if I have to. Looking to keep this under $2K; $1.5K would be ideal.

I though I'd have a Parasound Halo A21 on the way, but that deal fell though. After some reflection, I'm thinking I might prefer a nice tube amp since I vastly favor tubes in my preamps and heaphone amps. I think I'd want around 50 Watts /ch or more. Speakers are 92 db, 4 ohm.

Here are the models that have caught my interest so far:
PrimaLuna Prologue (4, 5, 6, or 7)
BAT VK60
Audio Research VS55 (or VT50, VT60)
AES Six Pac

Anybody got experience with any of these models? Or, does anyone who's had a few tube amps have opinions on this matter?

ND13

Those Prima Lunas have caught my attention as well. Seem to be of better quality than the ASLs and just as much of a bargain price wise. I'd be interested to know more about them, since all I have to go by are written reviews. I wish I knew someone with personal experience. The AESs are supposed to be ALMOST the same as Cary's, if I'm not mistaken.

With your budget, you'll have a plethora(sp?) of possibilities on the used market.

dorokusai

Skip the Prima Luna....and add some used Manley gear to the watch list.

AES is exactly like Cary Audio.

halo

I'd add McAlister Audio's PP150 to your list. Under a grand new and it sounds awesome. The photos on his site aren't current: link The new design looks better imo. Here are some pics (front and back) of my amp with blue caps (they were replaced with black caps after the photo), followed by Chuck's (madmax), and finally Rich's (SCompRacer) - which is the original design.

mulveling

dorokusai wrote:

Skip the Prima Luna....and add some used Manley gear to the watch list.

AES is exactly like Cary Audio.

Interesting. Any particular reason you don't like the PrimaLuna's? Have you heard any of the models? To be honest, the made in China thing doesn't thrill me. However, a fellow head-fi forum member - with similar tastes and gear - has the Prologue 6 monoblocks with the same Linbrook monitors and loves the combo. Hence my interest in their amps. I was skeptical and wondering if they might be overhyped, before he posted his impressions. If you've had a bad experience with their products I'd be intersted in hearing about it. I do think the Manley gear would be nice, but the aesthetics of their entry level amps (like the Stingray) don't really do it for me

I'd add McAlister Audio's PP150 to your list. Under a grand new and it sounds awesome. The photos on his site aren't current: link The new design looks better imo. Here are some pics (front and back) of my amp with blue caps (they were replaced with black caps after the photo), followed by Chuck's (madmax), and finally Rich's (SCompRacer) - which is the original design.

Sweet! Now that looks like a tube lover's tube amp! I've heard many good things about his electrostatic tube headphone amp - it's often cited that it's hard to imagine how he builds them for such a low price. I like the big 'ol caps sticking out. Actually preferred them blue - reminds me of my Singlepower "Supra Dupra Supra" headphone amp:

Just a question; what's the function of that umbilical cord attached to the tops of the big tubes? I've seen that before in mega-power tube amps but I have no clue what it does. I do like the prospects of that McAlister amp; thanks for the rec!

tonyb

If your just getting started,grab a good used amp from any of
the above mentioned,Cary,Bat,etc...nice thing is you can always
tube roll to alter the sound a tad.Have fun!:)

SCompRacer

mulveling wrote:

.....what's the function of that umbilical cord attached to the tops of the big tubes?

He uses horizontal output tubes and that terminal is the top anode connection. These tubes coupled with his interleaved output transformers provide amazing bass for a tube amp. Output impedance is 0.5 ohm and relative to 7 ohms which is high for a tube amp and in SS territory. It was primarily designed to drive electrostatic speakers so it has the guts to drive low efficiency speakers.

Due to the high voltage/amperage he runs the tubes at, you have a 30% chance of changing the sound with tube rolling. You would have to hear it to determine if you wanted it to change.

It doesn't look as good as some amps, but it's hard to beat the price for performance.