[M.P.tubes]

Affordable amp. up to $1200
Any suggestions and good price/quality
Thanks!
M.V

[deauguie]

Check out Decware.  Lot's of amps in your price range, and all hand made right here in the USA!!! 

I've been using them for over a year now, and I'm always impressed everytime I sit down to listen (unfortunatly not nearly enough).

Dan

[Russtafarian]

Check out PrimaLuna.

http://www.primaluna-usa.com/ 

Prologue 4 power amp for under $1k and Prologue 2 Integrated for $1400.

[roscoeiii]

Impossible to answer if we don't know what speakers that the amp will be driving. $1200 is a tough price point for tube amps if your speakers require a good deal of power. I'd imagine any Decware amp below $1200 would be pretty low-powered and thus only suitable for high sensitivity speakers with a benign impedance load.

So your speakers and their specs would help (especially sensitivity and impedance characteristics).

And I see that this was your first post. Welcome to AC! This is a great group of very helpful and generous audiophiles. If you have any questions about what I just posted, please feel free to ask.

[vortrex]

oops wrong thread.

[medium jim]

Get a Frank Van Alstine ST-70....that is if your speakers can be driven by 35 watts of tube bliss!


http://www.avahifi.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=171&Itemid=231&74a0ad6b5f7a1df0ef4ab98b8fffbb41=386bab211b01952ab93d59dc16ac9c12



Jim

[FullRangeMan]

Check out PrimaLuna.

http://www.primaluna-usa.com/ 

Prologue 4 power amp for under $1k and Prologue 2 Integrated for $1400.

Prologue 2 Integrated looks good to me.

[geowak]

If you have speakers that are EASY to drive. This would be a GREAT choice for half your budget of $1200.00
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=113050.0

[Johlke]

See if you can find a used Vincent 236.  Another good option would be a good used NAD.  Either way you'll be getting plenty of good amp at a good price (but make sure you save some money for good cables too!).

[jarcher]

Presumably you're looking for a tube amp I've you've posted on tube-o-phile circle.......

New at that price point, perhaps something from Jolida (integrated or just tube amp). But if you can stretch the budget I think I would prefer Primaluna.

Used, many options.  I bought my 1st gen Manley Stingray integrated amp for about $1200, and that's about what they are worth. Been very happy - very punchy R&R tube amp, looks cool, great build.  Excellent re-saleability as well if you don't like.

If you want to go in the opposite direction, you can often pick up early used Conrad Johnson tube amps for $1200 or less.  I.e. "MV" models from the early 90's.  I thinking of getting an MV75A1 that's been refreshed for about $800.  Got plenty of power and very warm liquid sound.

I think much of the Rogue Audio gear would be a good used buy and within your price range w/ a bit of luck.

And of course the many modded ST-70 amps out there, "new" and used are good choices.

[borism]

I would also consider the Niteshade (a sponsor on AC) amplifiers. They seem to be very reasonably prized (NS-40 is $1200) and have received great reviews here on AC. There is a lot of customization possible but may also require some time.

[FullRangeMan]

I would also consider the Niteshade (a sponsor on AC) amplifiers. They seem to be very reasonably prized (NS-40 is $1200) and have received great reviews here on AC. There is a lot of customization possible but may also require some time.

The Point-to-Point wire work of Niteshade is very good, his amps and hand made with no PCBs.
THis always make points in case of re-sale the amp.

[DaveC113]

Need to know what speakers it will be used with...

[Hear Clifford Brown]

I second the vote for Decware.  Also point to point wiring with no printed circuit boards.  But more importantly, Steve Deckert and his team really know what they are doing.  I was using some very expensive and highly regarded Coincident 300B mono block amps, the Frankenstein Mk2, here's a picture:



I had to sell them for financial reasons, and ended up buying a Decware model SE 34I.3, which sounds as good or better than the Coincident amps.  This amp and the other Decware amps in your price range will require fairly efficient speakers.  The speakers I'm using are rated at 92dB and 16 ohm impedance (Coincident Super Eclipse III) in a 19' x 15' room, and with this amp play plenty loud.  My SPL meter shows average listening levels of between 80 and 98 dB at 9 feet from the speakers with no apparent distortion.

Here's the Decware amp I'm talking about:

http://www.decware.com/newsite/SE34I.htm


   

[M.P.tubes]

Hi and thanks! I just got back from a trip, so I will be looking of what you've listed here right on.
Best regards and thanks again. I'll be in touch soon.

[M.P.tubes]

I guess I'll be putting my tube stock for selling, because it turns out that I will be buying some custom made speakers from here  .
Cheers!

[earwaxxer]

Not sure if you are just interested in tubes, but Emotiva has some great amps - I have the XPA-2. Driving my maggies. I need the power. I would still recommend the amp, even if you have efficient speakers.

[soundbitten1]

.

[Ericus Rex]

Dudes.  This is the Tube-o-phile circle!


Jarcher mentioned Rogue above.  You could find a used non-Magnum Cronus for under $1.2k.  You could also easily find a Tempest I for well under your max.  If you can find a Tempest II for $1,200 that would be my Rogue choice.  That price might be impossible though.

[SteveFord]

There's a couple of VTLs on Audiogon right now in your price range.
There's the 450s if someone wants to buy me a late birthday present.