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What is the "purest"/"cleanest" sounding tube amplifier you've ever heard?
- Thread starter Hawkeye83
- Start date
Hawkeye83
Super Member
Appreciate everything, still undecided...was leaning towards OTL for awhile...like a LTA ZOTL10...not sure if I'm ready to spend the coin yet though...
Then I remembered this sweet sounding little packard bell 6bq5 amp...maybe now I'm looking for an inexpensive little 6bq5 amp...
Or maybe a Decware SE84UFO?
The search continues...
Eventually I gotta hear tubes with these F-15's...they are such chameleons...so transparent...should be fun, whenever it happens...
Then I remembered this sweet sounding little packard bell 6bq5 amp...maybe now I'm looking for an inexpensive little 6bq5 amp...
Or maybe a Decware SE84UFO?
The search continues...
Eventually I gotta hear tubes with these F-15's...they are such chameleons...so transparent...should be fun, whenever it happens...
playittwice
Super Member
Maybe a Dynaco ST-35? Very sweet sounding 6bq5 amp! Im using mine with efficient speakers and it is simply amazing!
Maybe Im late to the game here, as I did not read completely through this thread. Just thought I'd throw that out there.
Crestwood23
He said touch it in the back
Most transparent I’ve ever heard are the Atma-Sphere m-60 OTL mono blocs. Those amps are just on another level to my ears - you hear every single amazing detail - in the best way possible. Left to right, front to back, the music becomes a giant 3d onion hovering in front of you and the m-60’s effortlessly peels back the layers. And I’m not even on drugs LOL.
A killer budget pick for more efficient speakers would be a Pilot SA-232 - Amazingly sweet midrange, crystal clear and “clean” top end.
Lavane
Lunatic Member
I have to agree here. I recently built one from a kit sold by Dynakit. The only changes I made were better RCA jacks, taller feet and I replaced the 50 ohm dropping resistor with a choke used in the ST-70. It is a very clear, clean sounding amplifier. And dead quiet. It has pretty much replaced my ST-70. Music sounds very detailed compared to my other amplifiers. My speakers are rated at 93db and the ST-35 pushes them nicely. More efficient speakers would help make this little amp really shine. The output transformers really are something speacial.
Lavane
Lunatic Member
special. EH'S Defenetly made an improvement for the better in mine.
Counterpoint SA4 OTL amp. OPG.
Destructor
Super Member
Some day I would like to do something with my NOS Mac MA 230 output and power transformers. My main amp has been for almost two years an AVA Ultravalve.
Hawkeye83
Super Member
Thanks for ALL the input everyone! I ended up going with this guy - hopefully you can view this...
https://audiokarma.org/forums/index...ox-8600-dg-se1-scratch-build-thx-mr-g.817266/
Description here from the builder/seller (our very own @Wharfcreek ). Price was right, heard good things about it..."only" 4 watts but I'm sure they are "good watts" so we'll see how this works out with my "The Truth" preamp and Lii F15, crossover-less speakers. I'd think a very PURE sound would result!
"Selling one of my builds (#7) of Mr. Gillespie's re-make of the Magnavox 8600. I refer to this as the DG-SE1 amp, which I believe was given Dave's blessings early in the history of this project. I know a good many folks have recreated Dave's circuit in one form or another. This particular one is essentially an exact duplication of Dave's 'Version 2' circuit....which included the Bias adjustment pots and the 'original' P-T31 AES output transformers, with 2 exceptions: 1) The original Magnavox used a 6CA4 rectifier tube where this one uses a 5AR4, and 2) the original has a 3-stage power supply where this one has 4 stages. I wanted to incorporate the octal based 5AR4 so I could included it's 'slow start' function, so I sourced a Hammond Power Transformer with a 5 volt winding. Because the voltage drop of the 5AR4 is minimal, a 4th stage dropping resistor and filter capacitor is included in this amp in order to achieve the proper B+ and B+1 voltage levels. This was an 'all new parts' built, and the amp works beautifully!! I still have 3 more of these, including my 'original' build of the project, a 'super-build' ( I did a thread on that one), and yet another that is my daily driver!! I think there's also a build thread on this amp too.....'Last of the good ones'....lol. This amp has been up-graded a bit since it's birth, but still basically the same! Those upgrades were the addition of the PIO coupling caps vs the original poly caps. I also changed the value of the choke input cap which allowed me to change the dropping resistor. Finally, I also added a safety cap across the power switch so as to eliminate that annoying shut-off 'pop'! Anyway, simply put, these are great little amps! I can't commend Dave enough for his sharing of this project. So..selling this one as pictured, including the PIO coupling caps, a 'new' JJ 5AR4 rectifier, a NOS 12AX7, and a nice strong pair of 'vintage' 6BQ5s, and even the 'gold' Banana plug adapters on the speaker terminal strip! An EIA power cord will also be included."
https://audiokarma.org/forums/index...ox-8600-dg-se1-scratch-build-thx-mr-g.817266/
Description here from the builder/seller (our very own @Wharfcreek ). Price was right, heard good things about it..."only" 4 watts but I'm sure they are "good watts" so we'll see how this works out with my "The Truth" preamp and Lii F15, crossover-less speakers. I'd think a very PURE sound would result!
"Selling one of my builds (#7) of Mr. Gillespie's re-make of the Magnavox 8600. I refer to this as the DG-SE1 amp, which I believe was given Dave's blessings early in the history of this project. I know a good many folks have recreated Dave's circuit in one form or another. This particular one is essentially an exact duplication of Dave's 'Version 2' circuit....which included the Bias adjustment pots and the 'original' P-T31 AES output transformers, with 2 exceptions: 1) The original Magnavox used a 6CA4 rectifier tube where this one uses a 5AR4, and 2) the original has a 3-stage power supply where this one has 4 stages. I wanted to incorporate the octal based 5AR4 so I could included it's 'slow start' function, so I sourced a Hammond Power Transformer with a 5 volt winding. Because the voltage drop of the 5AR4 is minimal, a 4th stage dropping resistor and filter capacitor is included in this amp in order to achieve the proper B+ and B+1 voltage levels. This was an 'all new parts' built, and the amp works beautifully!! I still have 3 more of these, including my 'original' build of the project, a 'super-build' ( I did a thread on that one), and yet another that is my daily driver!! I think there's also a build thread on this amp too.....'Last of the good ones'....lol. This amp has been up-graded a bit since it's birth, but still basically the same! Those upgrades were the addition of the PIO coupling caps vs the original poly caps. I also changed the value of the choke input cap which allowed me to change the dropping resistor. Finally, I also added a safety cap across the power switch so as to eliminate that annoying shut-off 'pop'! Anyway, simply put, these are great little amps! I can't commend Dave enough for his sharing of this project. So..selling this one as pictured, including the PIO coupling caps, a 'new' JJ 5AR4 rectifier, a NOS 12AX7, and a nice strong pair of 'vintage' 6BQ5s, and even the 'gold' Banana plug adapters on the speaker terminal strip! An EIA power cord will also be included."
I was going to suggest it but could not find the ad, wasn't sure if it just ended or was sold.
playittwice
Super Member
I will put a “plug” in for Tom (Wharfcreek), I think you will be very happy with your new acquisition. I bought an amp from Tom a couple years back and couldn’t be happier. Top notch builder, and a nice gentleman to deal with as well. Enjoy.
Hawkeye83
Super Member
I was going to suggest it but could not find the ad, wasn't sure if it just ended or was sold.
Yeah I had actually inquired about this amp like 4 years ago...was interested back then so glad to see it pop back up again.
Big factor here was price, but also simplicity.
I may not even end up keeping this entire system very long so didn't want to drop big $$$...as much as I WANTED to LOL.
So this system will be The Truth preamp -> this new tube amp -> Lii F15. I think it should be super transparent. Sources are Rega RP1 turntable (with Rega Fono) and from my PC, streaming through a Denafrips R2R DAC.
The system I am likely to keep, long term, in favor of the above one, is a Leben CS300XS feeding Tannoy Arden. Not even that it's much or any better, just for the pretty build quality and prestige and pride of ownership and all that jazz.
But I'm in no hurry to get rid of either system. I do kind of hate having lots of extra gear around but whatever, it's just toys to play with while I work from home. I can rotate both systems in my office.
Other two systems are the home theaters...with Legacy Focus and KEF 107 speakers.
It's going to be really hard to get rid of any of this stuff.
But for now, this thread is about the new tube amp, so excited to see how the Lii F15's respond to tube power! Haven't got to hear that yet. They are very transparent so I expect to hear a noticeable difference.
Hawkeye83
Super Member
This is gorgeous. Very interested in this stuff...Shindo...etc. Unfortunately my wallet is less enthusiastic about the purchase of one of these amps.
Hawkeye83
Super Member
My only concern with Atmasphere is the HUGE number of tubes. I was thinking about trying ZOTL designs, like a ZOTL 10 from Linear Tube Audio. Perhaps some day. Wonder if anyone has heard both Atmasphere and compared to LTA? If so, let me know.
Very interested in owning a Pilot SA-232 some day, if a restored one comes up at a good price!
Of course you need these.
