AudioRoundTable.com: Thermionic Emissions » Could someone point me toward an inexpensive tube amp?

Home » Audio » Thermionic Emissions » Could someone point me toward an inexpensive tube amp?

Show: Today's Messages :: Navigator :: Polls
E-mail to friend

Could someone point me toward an inexpensive tube amp? [message #61993]

Fri, 05 March 2010 12:51

Rick B
Messages: 4
Registered: March 2010
Location: Jefferson City MO

Esquire

I'm messing around with a tri-amped project and need a small inexpensive tube amp to drive my tweeters with. They're compression horn tweets and a couple watts per side would work fine.

I've looked at the "Audio Angel" Chinese amps on ebay and they're quite cheap price wise. Anyone here familiar with them?

Anyone know of anything else around?

All I need is one set of line level RCA ins and output jacks for two speakers. A volume control would be nice too.

Any thoughts?

http://cgi.ebay.com/MA-6P1-6AQ5-x4-Hi-End-Stereo-Integrated-Tube-Amplifier_W0QQitemZ280469456700QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item414d48473c

TIA

Rick

Report message to a moderator

Re: Could someone point me toward an inexpensive tube amp? [message #61994 is a reply to message #61993]

Fri, 05 March 2010 13:17

Wayne Parham
Messages: 18793
Registered: January 2001

Illuminati (33rd Degree)

I like Audio Note amps, but they're not what I'd call cheap. They aren't real expensive either, so I think they're worth a mention.

Then there are the Stoetkit amps, which I think are great but hard to get. Once Frank Stuppel died, I sort of lost my connection. So I guess I'm no help there.

Look also at amps from DIYhifiSupply and Welborne Labs.

Of course, you also have Bottlehead amps. They sound pretty nice and are fun to build. They're like small block Chevys, with lots of upgrade parts and good support. I always hated how they looked, like an erector set, if you asked me, but that's easy enough to change. Build a custom chassis and make it as pretty as you please.

Report message to a moderator

Re: Could someone point me toward an inexpensive tube amp? [message #63040 is a reply to message #61994]

Wed, 02 June 2010 19:49

jimdgoulding
Messages: 26
Registered: July 2009

Chancellor

http://store.virtueaudio.com/category-s/27.htm

Hear your music, not your speakers

Report message to a moderator

Re: Could someone point me toward an inexpensive tube amp? [message #63042 is a reply to message #63040]

Wed, 02 June 2010 22:27

Wayne Parham
Messages: 18793
Registered: January 2001

Illuminati (33rd Degree)

I saw those at LSAF and they seemed like neat little amps, but I think Virtue Audio only makes digital amps. The only ones listed on their shopping cart are digital. Do they make any tube amps? I don't think they do, but perhaps I'm mistaken.

Report message to a moderator

Re: Could someone point me toward an inexpensive tube amp? [message #63045 is a reply to message #63042]

Wed, 02 June 2010 23:35

jimdgoulding
Messages: 26
Registered: July 2009

Chancellor

Oh my, it wasn't Virtue I was thinking about, it was Dodd Audio. I don't know how much they are.

Hear your music, not your speakers

Report message to a moderator

Re: Could someone point me toward an inexpensive tube amp? [message #63054 is a reply to message #63045]

Thu, 03 June 2010 10:35

Wayne Parham
Messages: 18793
Registered: January 2001

Illuminati (33rd Degree)

Oh, gotcha. I did see Dodd Audio makes tube amps. Do you know if they make kits? If Rick needs to save money, kits are a good way to keep the cost down. Might be an option. Then again, the Dodd Audio stuff might be real reasonably priced anyway. Definitely worth checking! Hopefully they'll chime in here with some prices.

Report message to a moderator

Re: Could someone point me toward an inexpensive tube amp? [message #63056 is a reply to message #63054]

Thu, 03 June 2010 11:37

jimdgoulding
Messages: 26
Registered: July 2009

Chancellor

I don't know, sorry.

Hear your music, not your speakers

Report message to a moderator

Re: Could someone point me toward an inexpensive tube amp? [message #63115 is a reply to message #61993]

Wed, 09 June 2010 20:59

jimdgoulding
Messages: 26
Registered: July 2009

Chancellor

JoLida, perhaps, also.

Hear your music, not your speakers

Report message to a moderator

Re: Could someone point me toward an inexpensive tube amp? [message #65105 is a reply to message #61993]

Thu, 02 December 2010 08:56

audioaudio90
Messages: 623
Registered: October 2010

Illuminati (1st Degree)

I like Audio Note amps as well. You can buy outright or they do offer kits if you are interested in building one yourself. That would be a fun project.

Report message to a moderator

Re: Could someone point me toward an inexpensive tube amp? [message #65283 is a reply to message #61993]

Tue, 14 December 2010 19:22

Adveser
Messages: 434
Registered: July 2009
Location: USA

Illuminati (1st Degree)

I see Mono (?) all-tube pre-maps in Sweetwater's catalogue for 100 bucks a piece. Their I/O is 1/4 mono jacks, I believe.

I am not an amplifier expert by any means, but shouldn't that work?

http://adveser.webs.com/

Report message to a moderator