Recommend low-power speaker amps

[iceman94]

I'm looking for speaker amps for a pair of 92 dB, 8-12 ohm speakers, AudioKinesis Jazz Modules. So far what I've been looking at has been anywhere from 8 to ~50 watts, although I guess I'm shooting for the 16-30 watt range. I'd like to get your guys' recommendations on brands/amps to look into. Right now, any price range is fine- I'll narrow it down later. This is for a home system for next year, but I'm antsy and like planning ahead.

In particular, I'm interested in any cool-running amps in this range. All I've come up with so far are the Red Wine stuff and Resolution S30 (part of the Opus system). I don't know what livable heat output levels would be, and want a backup.

DIY is out for now.

Also, if you guys have any comments on what I've found so far, I'd welcome your input.

Thanks!

My list so far:

BAT VK-55

Consonance Cyber 211 monos

Music Reference 300B (they only have a 45-based amp on their site, but have done this before)

Wavelength Corona 300B/50

Yamamoto A-09

Artemis DP-2 (aerius, what's up with the 12AU7 input stage? + probably too $$)

Trafomatic Experience Reference (too expensive, but here for shits and giggles)

Pass XA30.5

First Watt F4/F5

Sugden A21

Resolution S30

Red Wine Signature 30.2

[n_maher]

Maybe something a bit off the beaten path.

Vaughn Audio | High Performance Vacuum Tube Audio

[EDIT]no relation to VVA by the way.

[grawk]

congrats on the new company, vince!

[Tachikoma]

If you want to go a looong way off the beaten path:

Yahoo!??? - ???????

He isn't selling anything at the moment, though.

[tyrion]

Damn Nate, Nugget Audio and Vaughn Audio. I guess Nugget is you ss offerings and Vaughn is for tubes. I assume The Menace production model will be Vaughn Audio. We are all looking forward to it's release.

[Dusty Chalk]

Moth Audio?

Cary Audio?

Granite Audio?

There was one with a single tube that came in a cage without a front, I thought it was a Moth, but can't seem to find it.

None of these fit your "cool" criteria, I don't think, though.

AudioValve RKV w/Impedanzer?

[iceman94]

Moth Audio?

Cary Audio?

Granite Audio?

There was one with a single tube that came in a cage without a front, I thought it was a Moth, but can't seem to find it.

None of these fit your "cool" criteria, I don't think, though.

AudioValve RKV w/Impedanzer?

The running cool thing is just wishful thinking, I'm open to anything.

I always forget Moth had stuff more powerful than the 2A3's.

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. Any comments on stuff listed so far?

[JBLoudG20]

Posty seems happy with his Cambridge. I forget the model.

[iceman94]

Posty seems happy with his Cambridge. I forget the model.

That's overkill power-wise. I'm also looking at more "traditional" medium-efficiency speakers, but I feel more comfortable with my amp options there, which is why I'm only asking about low-wattage amps.

[JBLoudG20]

Yup. Sorry about that.

[Hopstretch]

Maybe a PrimaLuna? The Prologue 1 is 35 watts and has a lot of admirers.

[Dusty Chalk]

Musical Fidelity just reintroduced the A1.

[iceman94]

Maybe a PrimaLuna? The Prologue 1 is 35 watts and has a lot of admirers.

IMHO BAT VK-55 > PrimaLuna. I like the tube complement better (6SN7, 6C33B). Yeah, it's more expensive, but there are deals to be had on Audiogon.

[Hopstretch]

IMHO BAT VK-55 > PrimaLuna. I like the tube complement better (6SN7, 6C33B). Yeah, it's more expensive, but there are deals to be had on Audiogon.

Nice!

[aerius]

Artemis DP-2 (aerius, what's up with the 12AU7 input stage? + probably too $$)

Hmmm...that's odd, the one at my dealer had 12BH7's on the input.

Couple other suggestions, though I've only heard one of them. If you have a bit more money you can get the Wright Sound AU-15 which is somewhat similar to the Artemis DP-2 in that it's a transformer coupled P-P 2A3, but it uses different input & driver tubes. This one I've heard and it's darn good, it just gets the hell out of the way and plays music. Which is not to say it can't do detail, soundstage and all the usual audiophile terms, it can, in abundance, but I just don't care since it sounds so good. If you don't have the dough the Mono25W is a good bet, I haven't heard it but I trust George Wright to know what he's doing with audio design. I'd be surprised if it sounded anything less than excellent.

[luvdunhill]

Hmmm...that's odd, the one at my dealer had 12BH7's on the input.

Couple other suggestions, though I've only heard one of them. If you have a bit more money you can get the Wright Sound AU-15 which is somewhat similar to the Artemis DP-2 in that it's a transformer coupled P-P 2A3, but it uses different input & driver tubes. This one I've heard and it's darn good, it just gets the hell out of the way and plays music. Which is not to say it can't do detail, soundstage and all the usual audiophile terms, it can, in abundance, but I just don't care since it sounds so good. If you don't have the dough the Mono25W is a good bet, I haven't heard it but I trust George Wright to know what he's doing with audio design. I'd be surprised if it sounded anything less than excellent.

wow, those look awesome....

/me is looking for dealers nearby

[iceman94]

Hmmm...that's odd, the one at my dealer had 12BH7's on the input.

I was originally going off a poorly visible photo that I can't find (reading the tube type silkscreened next to the socket), but this pages says the same thing. Hmm. The 12BH7 is more encouraging, I take it? Haven't had the chance to come across that tube yet, although the Quicksilvers do use them and I guess are pretty well regarded.

Just a rant aside...why the hell does so much tube equipment have to look crappy? It doesn't take that much to have something as simple as transformer covers. Some people don't even try, and it really bugs me.

[n_maher]

Just a rant aside...why the hell does so much tube equipment have to look crappy? It doesn't take that much to have something as simple as transformer covers. Some people don't even try, and it really bugs me.

And others would rant that equipment built like that is gorgeous in its own right and that not everything needs to be farkled to death. I take it that the Vaughn Audio aesthetic is less than pleasing to your eyes?

[iceman94]

And others would rant that equipment built like that is gorgeous in its own right and that not everything needs to be farkled to death. I take it that the Vaughn Audio aesthetic is less than pleasing to your eyes?

I noticed it with the Wright stuff, too. I totally agree that things are blinged out to death too, but there is a happy medium.

[aerius]

I was originally going off a poorly visible photo that I can't find (reading the tube type silkscreened next to the socket), but this pages says the same thing. Hmm. The 12BH7 is more encouraging, I take it? Haven't had the chance to come across that tube yet, although the Quicksilvers do use them and I guess are pretty well regarded.

The DP-2 is spec'd for a 12AU7 on the input according to the manual, but for whatever reason the one at my dealer had a 12BH7. From my rather limited experience it's a better tube than the 12AU7 but it eats more heater current.

[deepak]

MSRP for the DP-2 says $9800.

Off topic, but it looks like they will be releasing a turntable (their PH-1 phono has got some nice impressions)

[slwiser]

Yamamoto amps from Venus Hi-Fi -- For the Love of Music! and other amps from there are interesting as well like almarro of japan, Manley Labs, Music Reference as shown below. The forum that has some stuff concerning Venus is here: Venus Hi-Fi - AudioKarma.org Home Audio Stereo Discussion Forums Music Reference components are very tempting to me.

[iceman94]

Music Reference components are very tempting to me.

Roger Modjeski says he can produce headphone amp versions of the EM7's...

I've seriously looked at the RM-10, but I feel like triodes would be a bit more fun. The 245.1 as it stands looks like a good fit, but is a bit underpowered, hence the 300B on my list (which Roger has also mentioned can be done).

[Dusty Chalk]

Just a rant aside...why the hell does so much tube equipment have to look crappy? It doesn't take that much to have something as simple as transformer covers. Some people don't even try, and it really bugs me.

What's wrong with you? That's like porn to some of us. Naked equipment is awesome.

How about the AudioValve look, do you like them? I would guess that that would be the perfect happy medium -- you can still see the gear, but the external shell is nicely esthetic as well.

[iceman94]

Really, it's not that big a deal, I just hate overexposed transformers. Ones that I can get by with are the Plitrons open in the BAT and mounting them on their side w/ a cap on them like on Bottlehead and Border Patrol (oo, I forgot about Bottlehead...)

Audiovalve looks interesting, if a little blinged out. But that's nothing really compared to Art Audio entire-chassis-chromed bling.