[mateo]

Hi all,

I'm looking for a small footprint tube amp or integrated. By "small footprint", I mean not deeper than 9-10". I know there are a bunch of flea-power small amps out there, but I need something in the range of 30W, at least. So far, the only one I'm coming up with is the Music Reference RM-10. Anyone have any other suggestions?

Thanks!

[zacster]

The ST-70 isn't very deep.  It isn't very expensive either, but you have to find them on ebay or audiogon.  It is spec'ed at 35wpc, but I don't think it does it in real world systems, so maybe 25-30wpc.  There are lots of mods, replacement boards and transformers to tweak with.  My own ST-70 is nothing like an ST-70 anymore, with 6B4G DHT power tubes and a Curcio driver board, quad cap replacement board, and a bunch of other changes.  The only things left are the transformers and the chassis.

[JDK1]

Technically, not a tube amp - I suggest you consider the Red Wine Audio products - the RWA Sig 30.2 is small in footprint (hits your 30w power slot) and is very easy to place...
- jdk

[mateo]

Technically, not a tube amp - I suggest you consider the Red Wine Audio products - the RWA Sig 30.2 is small in footprint (hits your 30w power slot) and is very easy to place...
- jdk

I have one, I'm just looking for tube amps for comparison . I know people will just suggest putting a tube preamp ahead of it, but I can't really justify holding onto both the Sig 30.2 and a quality tube pre at the same time, and I just want to satisfy my curiosity regarding tube poweramps.

[Scott F.]

A couple come to mind. First one is the JoLida 102b, its 12x8. It puts out about 25wpc of EL84 power. The second is the Opera Cyber10 Multifunction. Its a single ended KT88. It only puts out 12 wpc in ultralinear mode. Its footprint is the same as the JoLida. The cool part about this amp is it has an internal USB DAC.

If you have a smaller room and reasonable speakers, the Cyber does just fine as long as you aren't looking to go much above about 95db of listening level. The JoLida can handle most any speaker (within reason). The factory modified version (an extra $100) will hold its own with nearly any amp on the market. It is a tremendous amp.

[jon_010101]

Even narrower than a Dynaco ST70 is the ST35!  It's about the smallest decent tube amp I can think of, and sounds probably a bit better than an ST70, if your speakers are efficient (EL84s are great little tubes).  You can buy a kit new for under $500.

[Zero]

I'll second the Dynakit ST-35.  Normally I'd suggest the Vista i84, but it pushes out 15wpc -  and I'm not sure of Boris's i34 fits the dimensional criteria.

[jon_010101]

I'll second the Dynakit ST-35.  Normally I'd suggest the Vista i84, but it pushes out 15wpc -  and I'm not sure of Boris's i34 fits the dimensional criteria.

Well, the ST35 is also ~15WPC, so these might be worth considering too!  The Vista looks like a nice piece of gear for a good price. 

[K.C.]

So far, the only one I'm coming up with is the Music Reference RM-10.

ONLY coming up with one of the best amps made ?

If you've got the budget for the RM-10 go for it (he says with an RM9 playing in the background aa)

[doak]

So far, the only one I'm coming up with is the Music Reference RM-10.

ONLY coming up with one of the best amps made ?

If you've got the budget for the RM-10 go for it (he says with an RM9 playing in the background aa)

I've gotta second K.C.'s "emotion."  I got an RM-10 Mk.II a few weeks ago and let's just say I'm enamoured with it. 

[JoshK]

Not to derail this thread, but I am going in a different direction.  Most of my amp projects are short of monstrous.  Even for smaller powered amp, like the Uber Beam Machine project, the top plate is going to be around 18" x 16".  Why?  Because good tube amp power supplies are bulky.   

The only way to really design well designed power supplies for tube amps is with electrolytic caps, which most all commercial amps use anyway.  However, from everything I've read about designing tube amps, 'lytics are to be avoided if one wants really great sound, not just mediocre sound.  Chokes also increase the size dramactically, same with tube rectifiers, but both can offer benefits sonically.  The power supply makes or breaks the amp. 

I am not saying all 'lytic/SS diode designed PSU's are bad.  But I think here is where you have to trust your designer.  I think it is going to be a good deal harder to design a good sounding PSU around 'lytics and SS diodes.