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Entry Level Tube Amp

post #1 of 10
7/15/11 at 12:25pm
Thread Starter 

Suggestions for a first tube amp? I would say under $300 if possible.


Edited by kenellenberg2 - 7/15/11 at 12:50pm
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post #2 of 10
7/15/11 at 1:18pm

Musical Paradise MP-301MK2. A lot of bang for the buck. Great speaker amp too.

http://www.musicalparadise.ca/mp/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6&products_id=75&zenid=82433d043223f3cfbd69ab709de79a5e


Edited by ETAHL - 7/15/11 at 1:20pm
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post #3 of 10
7/15/11 at 1:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kenellenberg2 View Post

Suggestions for a first tube amp? I would say under $300 if possible.


Heya,

 

Little Dot MK III. It's $199 (shipping puts her at $244).

 

It's powerful, looks great, you can tube roll, and has really great sound (especially with Mullard tubes they say!).

 

Very best,

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post #4 of 10
7/15/11 at 6:03pm


At that price point you are pretty much in the hybrid range. Unless of course you are good with a soldering iron and want to take a crack at building a bottlehead.

 

However, with that said I am also very impressed by the sound the MK III puts out at it's price point. Without any tube rolling my hd650's sound really great.

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post #5 of 10
7/16/11 at 1:01am
Build a Bottlehead Crack. Everything else around $300 is on a PCB. Point-to-point is the best way to build a tube amp.
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post #6 of 10
7/16/11 at 3:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ETAHL View Post

Musical Paradise MP-301MK2. A lot of bang for the buck. Great speaker amp too.

http://www.musicalparadise.ca/mp/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6&products_id=75&zenid=82433d043223f3cfbd69ab709de79a5e


The power output is less than 10 watts on that amp, what kind of speakers would it be capable of driving?

*spelling correction
Edited by cheezies - 7/17/11 at 9:54am
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post #7 of 10
7/16/11 at 10:39pm

Here are two threads that discuss the MP-301 Mk2 with speakers:

http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/553325/review-musical-paradise-mp-301-mk2-vacuum-tube-integrated-amp

http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/536681/new-info-musical-paradise-mp-301-mk2

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post #8 of 10
7/17/11 at 12:13am
Quote:
Originally Posted by cheezies View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by ETAHL View Post

Musical Paradise MP-301MK2. A lot of bang for the buck. Great speaker amp too.

http://www.musicalparadise.ca/mp/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6&products_id=75&zenid=82433d043223f3cfbd69ab709de79a5e


The power output is less than 10 watts on that amp, what kind of speakersspeakers would it be capable of driving?
Highly efficient ones. Usually horns and singledrivers. Some AMTs are efficient, too.
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post #9 of 10
7/17/11 at 1:15am
Quote:
Originally Posted by cheezies View Post



The power output is less than 10 watts on that amp, what kind of speakers would it be capable of driving?


You be surprised at how much volume can be achieved with 6.5 watts per channel. You shouldn't have any problems driving almost any bookshelf speakers to a comfortable listen level.

My bookshelf speakers are only rated at 88db/W/m each. A pair will get you 91db/W/m. I have no problems getting good volume in a 13'x18' room. Add a sub for bass reinforcement, and you have a very nice setups.


Edited by ETAHL - 7/17/11 at 1:17am
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post #10 of 10
7/17/11 at 3:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Erik View Post

Build a Bottlehead Crack. Everything else around $300 is on a PCB. Point-to-point is the best way to build a tube amp.


 I'll second the Bottlehead Crack. Sounds exceptionally good for the money, You'll get an education building it. It's easy to put together. And there's a great support group if you get in trouble or later decide on an upgrade path.

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