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Why some 2 Watts tube amps cost so much?

Probably not the thread to dig into that, it's been discussed thousands of times on this forum and others. You won't find any data that I'm aware of. It's personal preference, some people prefer the sound produced by tubes, significantly more don't.
 
dnewma04 said:
Probably not the thread to dig into that, it's been discussed thousands of times on this forum and others. You won't find any data that I'm aware of. It's personal preference, some people prefer the sound produced by tubes, significantly more don't.
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Completely agree with you.

I wish I have an opportunity to listen to a properly tuned tube amp in my system and compare it with with the Nak TA-4A and some other SS gear that I have. Maybe some day...
 
dnewma04 said:
You won't find any data that I'm aware of. It's personal preference, some people prefer the sound produced by tubes, significantly more don't.
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It's doubtful that "significantly more don't like tubes" group has ever listed tube Hi-Fi or other tube equipment, like guitar amps.

But look on the bright side, with a few years of depreciation, that $2k SS amp can be had $400 on CL. LOL
 
I find the depreciation of decent tube gear and decent SS gear to be comparable based on what I've paid, and what I've considered paying. There are, of course, contrary examples that can be found of just about anything, but generally it seems true.
 
I listened to a pair of some fancy Dynaudios with a Mac SACD player and pre-amp, with a 600 watt mono Aragon (sp?) amplifier on each speaker.

It didn't sound like tubes, and it didn't sound like solid state. It just played music to the best of it's ability to my ears.
The Dynaudio's sound amazing...but are such little heatsinks...
 
whoaru99 said:
The $99 BB receiver does not represent all SS. Some very nice SS amps can be had for $2K that almost certainly facilitate a much wider selection of synergistic speakers than a 2W SET amp. I know this isn't a SS vs. tube thread, but that shot below the bow just can't be ignored.
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:drool: I wasn't attacking SS. I like those too. The original poster thought that 2 wpc for $2K was no bargain. The poster I quoted said output has nothing to do with cost. I agreed, citing the example of the much more powerful 100 wpc reciever for 99 bucks at Best Buy, that's all. What shot below the bow are you talking about?
 
whoaru99 said:
I find the depreciation of decent tube gear and decent SS gear to be comparable based on what I've paid, and what I've considered paying.
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Based on what you've paid? So, you have tube gear too?
There are, of course, contrary examples that can be found of just about anything, but generally it seems true.
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That's a nice disclaimer but the problem with it is, seeing people almost giving away late 60's-70's-80's SS hi-fi on CL or ebay. Meanwhile, the 1960's tube forerunners still command a premium everywhere, anytime.

For my disclaimer, I own some vintage SS Kenwood and Sansui amps but nowdays would never waste time hooking up or listening to. Over the years, I've listened plowed ground of other peoples powerful but robotic and 2 dimensional sounding SS setups. I wanna run from that "stuff". For hi-fi, the promised land is an intoxicating brew, high voltage, mass electron emitting, and big OPT laiden goodness.
 
whoaru99 said:
I find the depreciation of decent tube gear and decent SS gear to be comparable based on what I've paid, and what I've considered paying. There are, of course, contrary examples that can be found of just about anything, but generally it seems true.
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I'll have to disagree. The vintage tube stuff has had a pretty stable cost of ownership for a while. I am certain I would not loose any money if I decided to sell my Citation II for instance. I have not lost any money on a batch of Langvin recording amps I acquired, or on the MC75s' or 275's I've had.
cheers,
Douglas
 
I'd have to agree with PakProtector.
Classic tube gear is comparable to collectible vintage cars.
IF.....in good working condition, will most always command a premium price.

Steve

Steve
 
Check the prices on a TOTL monster SS receiver and convince me they aren't retaining or growing in terms of value. Good luck.
 
scottfan said:
Based on what you've paid? So, you have tube gear too?

That's a nice disclaimer but the problem with it is, seeing people almost giving away late 60's-70's-80's SS hi-fi on CL or ebay. Meanwhile, the 1960's tube forerunners still command a premium everywhere, anytime.
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I have a tube pre, but it probably doesn't really qualify because it doesn't really sound "tubey" to me (well, more to follow on that). A Transcendent Sound Grounded Grid, currently on the sidelines because of tube microphonics with the Conn/RCA clear tops. By the time I get home from vacation I should have a trio of Hammond long black plate (unsure origin, maybe Raytheon??) tubes waiting for me.

And, my comment about similar depreciation disclaimer I still stand by that because of the items such as you and PakProtector mentioned, and the monster SS receivers mentioned by dnewma04. There are cherry picks either way. For every collector-type piece of gear sold of either type that has risen in price, I can find dozens, probably hundreds of examples of quality gear of either type selling for $0.30-$0.40 on the dollar. When I look at Audio Research, Conrad-Johnson, Cary, Sonic Frontiers, et al, tube amps I see very similar depreciation to what I saw and bought into for SS gear of the same general cut of cloth.
 
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similost said:
Stick the word high end or audiophile grade on an item, and you can charge what ever you want. Someone will come along and pay the price just so they can brag about what they paid.....

In this case, looking at the amps, they are pretty different. The trannys on them are like no others I've ever seen, and the woodwork is pretty nice too..

I'm sure the markup on these is at least double of manufacturing costs if not a little more, but everyone needs to cover their overhead too...
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I was looking at some high end audio vibration absorber to set turntables on when I was trying to isolate my turntable from vibration. I found some that ran $45 apiece. I looked real close and just shook my head. I opened a new browser window and ordered the same vibration absorbers for about $2 each from Grainger. The expensive ones were exactly the same as the ones I use all the time in commercial HVAC/R installs and repairs.
 
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