Tube Integrated Amp Recommendation

Honeybee

Honeybee

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Fellow Sharks.

I need a recommendation. Looking for a tube integrated amp at apx 100 WPC. Looking for 0 neg feedback. No need for phono stage. $4000 to $5000 price range.

Any suggestions?
 
If you can live with less power and no remote, take a look at the Decware amps.
 
@mep. No it's not but honestly zero feedback at this price won't be beaten by the PrimaLuna Dialogue Premium HP Integrated, it'll destroy it. Seriously though this integrated for the dollars is special
 
KeithR said:
Used vac sigma might get close to your price range. No feedback.

What speakers do you have?
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thanks -- My speakers are the Joseph Audio Perspective model. Not very efficient.
I have auditioned the PrimaLuna power amp w/ Kl 34 tubes. I have not heard a PL integer rated with KL 120 or 150.
 
Honeybee said:
thanks -- My speakers are the Joseph Audio Perspective model. Not very efficient.
I have auditioned the PrimaLuna power amp w/ Kl 34 tubes. I have not heard a PL integer rated with KL 120 or 150.
Click to expand...
The 150's bring as expected more power & a very easy sound to live with that has an effortless type of presentation.
 
I don't there are any real alternatives to Prima Luna given the OP's requirements, and no negative feedback is unlikely as well given those conditions.
 
Rogue and Ming Da make KT120/KT150 amps below the OP budget but I believe employs some feedback.

A couple of grand over is the KR VA900 at 90wpc when using KT150s. No negative feedback. This is a "reverse" hybrid however so some folks might not consider it a full tube amp. Then again some people say the same for tube amps without tube rectification.

I can't think of any companies other than Primaluna and Ayon that have integrated amps with more than a pair of output tubes per channel. Ming Da's claim of 150wpc out of single pairs of KT150s makes me suspicious.
 
I don't know about Zero feedback but the Octave V110 is a great integrated. There is a pre-owned one on Agon now for just under 4K. Built like a tank with a lot of nice features especially output tube protection. When I had mine it drove Raidho D2's just fine. I would also recommend a black box or super black box to lower the noise floor and give you some extra headroom. The KT 150's will work just fine in that unit but will not give any extra power. It also has a switch on the back so you can run EL34 6550 KT88's but at 70W.
OCTAVE Audio
When I was at Axpona I found out Octave reduced the list price to 7K USD from 8.2K due to the low Euro. Euro is still down and I believe the list price is still 7K.
 
rbbert said:
I don't there are any real alternatives to Prima Luna given the OP's requirements, and no negative feedback is unlikely as well given those conditions.
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+ 1


Thanks All. Good to have educated advice.

~ I will get a PrimaLuna HP or a Cronus Magnum 2. Looks like 0 Neg Feedback is not in the cards for me at my price range.
 
Honeybee...if you are open to idea of buying used, that Octave V110 on Agon (mentioned above) is a very nice integrated amp. You can add the Black Box (outboard power supply) down the road to it, offering an upgrade path. Good price for an excellent piece of gear. Sounds neutral so no tubby base and syrupy midrange but very balanced and clean across the frequency band but retains tube goodness where it counts with good musical flow, liquid sonics, and good 3D imaging. Something to consider. Not very well reviewed here although if I remember correctly they have been reviewed by a number of folks in the US in the last 5 years but very well received in Germany where they are designed and made and in rest of Europe. I have heard them, and to me they are very similar to Audio Research in that they are a modern tube design offering the best of SS and tubes put together. Just a thought.
 
cmalak said:
Honeybee...if you are open to idea of buying used, that Octave V110 on Agon (mentioned above) is a very nice integrated amp. You can add the Black Box (outboard power supply) down the road to it, offering an upgrade path. Good price for an excellent piece of gear. Sounds neutral so no tubby base and syrupy midrange but very balanced and clean across the frequency band but retains tube goodness where it counts with good musical flow, liquid sonics, and good 3D imaging. Something to consider. Not very well reviewed here although if I remember correctly they have been reviewed by a number of folks in the US in the last 5 years but very well received in Germany where they are designed and made and in rest of Europe. I have heard them, and to me they are very similar to Audio Research in that they are a modern tube design offering the best of SS and tubes put together. Just a thought.
Click to expand...


Thanks. That Octave looks nice. I will certainly research.
 
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