Tube amp <$200

[Pariah]

Yekshemash,

 

I'm looking for the bestest, warmest tube amp for around $200 or less. Hoping to use this with Massdrop HD6XX if/when they make another appearence.

 

I see the schitt gear fills out the pinned recommendations, is this the best way to go? Or are there others in this price range worth mentioning? I'm looking for a warm sounding amp because although I really like the sennheiser sound, I'd appreciate a little more colour. Accuracy is still important to me though, so take that with a pinch of salt. I'm looking for a tube amp because I think they look awesome, but again, pinch of salt.

 

Lemme know what you suggest, thanks in advance.

 

"Waaaa read old posts, we've gone over this 100billion times"

shh, you love it, you know you do.

[seduce_me]

Don't think there are good OTL tube amps under $200. For hybrids you could go for a Vali 2 if you wanted to but I'm advocating SS for under $200.

[Pariah]

32 minutes ago, seduce_me said:

Don't think there are good OTL tube amps under $200. For hybrids you could go for a Vali 2 if you wanted to but I'm advocating SS for under $200.

Thanks man. What sort of price are we talking to get a decent OTL? Would it be into the realms of poor price:performance vs hybrid or SS? SS = Solid state I'm guessing?

[Dackzy]

4 hours ago, Pariah said:

Thanks man. What sort of price are we talking to get a decent OTL? Would it be into the realms of poor price:performance vs hybrid or SS? SS = Solid state I'm guessing?

You are looking at the Valhalla 2 and if you are as picky as me then you are looking at feliks audio Elise.

You could always just get a vali 2 and get a small taste of what a tube sounds like,  though it doesn't really show you much tube, even when you change the tube to a very warm one.

[Pariah]

25 minutes ago, Dackzy said:

You are looking at the Valhalla 2 and if you are as picky as me then you are looking at feliks audio Elise.

You could always just get a vali 2 and get a small taste of what a tube sounds like,  though it doesn't really show you much tube, even when you change the tube to a very warm one.

Ok cheers, the Elise is way over the budget right now, though it does look amazing. Perhaps one for the future. I hadn't heard of Feliks before, really like the look of their headphone stands

 

It looks like Ill either go with the vali 2 or valhalla 2, and probably the vali. It's hard to justify spending 150%+ of the headphone price on the amp

 

I just wish the schitt stuff looked more like hot schitt, and less like some dull grey schitt. I'm all for subtelty and understatement, but not in a tube amp. Some sparks and a massive frankenstein-esque lever would be nice.

 

how about: https://www.massdrop.com/buy/dark-voice-366se

Edited September 18, 2017 by Pariah

[Dackzy]

26 minutes ago, Pariah said:

Ok cheers, the Elise is way over the budget right now, though it does look amazing. Perhaps one for the future. I hadn't heard of Feliks before, really like the look of their headphone stands

 

It looks like Ill either go with the vali 2 or valhalla 2, and probably the vali. It's hard to justify spending 150%+ of the headphone price on the amp

 

I just wish the schitt stuff looked more like hot schitt, and less like some dull grey schitt. I'm all for subtelty and understatement, but not in a tube amp. Some sparks and a massive frankenstein-esque lever would be nice.

 

how about: https://www.massdrop.com/buy/dark-voice-366se

Well schiit tries to make the more subtle looking stuff.

 

The dark voice is very warm and it doesn't have much detail and the sound becomes kinda muddy. After I tried it again for a longer period I cannot recommend it.

[Pariah]

5 hours ago, Dackzy said:

Well schiit tries to make the more subtle looking stuff.

 

The dark voice is very warm and it doesn't have much detail and the sound becomes kinda muddy. After I tried it again for a longer period I cannot recommend it.

bah ok thanks. Out of interest, how do you think that muddy sound would compare to my current set up? - Sennheiser 599's and a decent gigabyte z270 mobo with onboard headphone amp.

[seduce_me]

Muddy tube sound =/= warm. 

It won't sound good for most headphones unless you like that kind of sound. It should be on par or slightly above your onboard. Spend your entire budget for headphones for now. Don't bother with an amp unless you require more power / decide to go deep in this money pit of a hobby.