I must be getting old, 6k seems like a lot for a push pull EL84 stereo power amp. The Black Ice Audio F11 you reviewed a couple of years ago is less than one third the price and designed by Jim Fosgate.
Steve, your reviews are always a masterpiece! Your knowledge are passion is always refreshing! ❤ You don’t just review the product but let me with new music/albums to listen to!
Well regarding the looks of this amp the 6k pricetag surely is pretty high. But, maybe the sound really is top notch, though I did not quite get that feeling from Steve. For about the same price we get a Audio Note Oto SE, and for a little more the signature version. And we’re talking about one of the best integrated amps in the world, all made in house and parts are premium quality..
Technical note: this amp is using a 12AX7 voltage/input stage followed by a 12AU7 split-load phase inverter/driver stage. This is very common for push-pull EL84 amps, and requires only two tubes for input and phase splitter/driver function. Split-load phase inverters as drivers, IMO, are a bit sub-optimal sonically, in my experience, but I'll leave it there. Fortunately, It's actually pretty difficult to make a truly poor sounding push-pull EL84 amplifier, as the EL84 is a uniquely engaging and lively sounding power tube. At any rate, I'm sure this Ampsandsound EL84 amp indeed sounds very nice.
@@Cocteau61There will always be The Mullard 5-10 circuit / Leak Stereo 20 guys Vs the Dynakit ST35 circuit guys.. I like both, just a diffirent presentation for me..
I’m hoping you’ll get around to reviewing both Galion amplifiers. They are very special and at the right price. Under $1500 for an incredibly musical solid state amplifier that’s at least five major reviewers fell in love with.
I’ll save you time. He’ll say he had a great time with them. He’ll describe how the music he selected moved him. Then he’ll say he “ really thinks” they are good for the money if you favor the kind of sound each produces.
@@edd2771 actually I wouldn’t. I just opened the door to the subscribers. If you want to find out about Galion, read the reviews. If you’re in the for a power or integrated amp, there’s always a trial period. Everyone has their own tastes.
The Decware is a totally different type of EL84 amp (SET type) which has a quite different sound signature and lower power output. Both are nice amplifiers, but quite different, and so a direct comparison just on price and output tube type isn't really that relevant.
@@fakeklg I'm not for or against, but their zen triode monoblocks do come in at $3000 a pair, and to be fair, at $6000 you could also get a pair of zen tori Jr amps for bi-amping and probably save $500. You do have to wait for them though, and time is quite an unfair mediator.
After you mentioning the Bernard Herrman album I went and bought it and I've been playing it loud and the dynamics seemed just very real and the resolution...
For this price you better buy a refurbished vintage tube amp from Sherwood, Fisher, HH Scott or Harman Kardon with point to point connection and spend some money on Great NOS tubes, great speakers, a Streamer and a good DAC and still have money left for my Whiskey and a vacation ! 😅
The Nuggets box is fantastic. I love obscure 60s rock and roll and it’s also fun to hear rock stars such as Mark Bolin, Andy Summers, Steve Howe, Ian Gillan and many others in their earlier bands.
I am sure it has merit, but can it beat a restored McIntosh MC275 Mark 1 with upgraded tubes (NOS Telefunken) and upgraded caps (Nichicon) -- which would be the same price ?
I tend to like the denser sound too. Especially if the sound is clear and distinct. I looked into Amps and Sound a few years ago. Now their prices are too high IMO.
I think what we'd all love to know is how this amp compares to other great EL84 designs like the Leben CS300xs or Shindo Montille EL84. Does it hang? Is it better? What does it it do differently perhaps? Also remember that a speaker with high flat impedance is more important with tube amp pairing than just looking at sensitivity in isolation. Any 11-15ohm LS3/5A should pair great with a 20w tube amp.
Thats nice, out of my Price Range for sure. Id have to already like or trust the company, as I don’t see anything that brings that cost into the crosshairs for the product. Also if someone reads this, can you tell me why I should stay with my Decware Zen 3 Mono Bloc order instead of changing back to the UFO 2.1 order I started with. Thanks Lol!
You can build a new Dynakit ST-35 for a fraction of the price of that Little Nugget. Maybe it should be called the Little Gold Nugget for what it costs. ;)
More va-va-VOOM? One of these days Alice, bang, zoom, RIGHT TO THE MOON! Another great review Steve, you have a real facility for narrating what you hear. Respect...
Seems decent I’ve owned a few ampsandsound products previously including a Leeloo and a bigger Ben both headphone amps. Pretty decent stuff not the most technical not silent floor but pretty nice tonality. I’m not paying $5k+ el84 I’d buy a 300b amp for that or 845 or 2A3.
I can't imagine that Justin sells much with his ridiculous pricing. His amps look like a DIY projects - there's way to many options out there to even consider something from AMPSANDSOUND.
Great video Steve!! I live 35 miles away from the Decware factory. Maybe stuff is just cheaper in East Peoria than California. Idk I do know I can get a rocking el84 system for 6 grand. Sadly, I’m out.
I have the Decware SE84UFO. Ordered it in 2016 when it was a 3 month build time, now 3 years. I love my little amp. Pairs well with my Klipsch La Scalas and Forte ii. And it was $5,000 cheaper.
I used my reference preamp, it's the same preamp I usei in almost every test over the last few years. The LTA Micro ZOTL. Everything in the system affects the sound of everything in the system. In my reviews, in every review that anyone ever does, and every consumer that buys products, everything in their system, and their room, and their speaker placement, everything affects the sound. Thanks for watching!!
$6000 preamp? So $12000 in amplification.....hmm For $800 more you could get the matching ZOTL40 EL34 power amp with some real innovation and a Fern&Roby chasis. Premium NOS tubes with 20000 hours life expectancy too. No brainer there.
@@carlosbauza1139 FACT CHECK: The Dynaco was $62.95 in 1964 In 2024 that is.....$638.72 So, with a cumulative price increase of 915% we're still nowhere near $6k!
Not going to comment on the amp, I prefer SS amp with a tube preamp. I have the Lyle Lovett CD, have to pull it out and listen to it again. Great review but $6k way out of my price range.
@@stimpy1226 if it didn't have the brand name printed on the front it would look much better, maybe the printed brand name is muted by the chassis color on the black one.
$6k for a vanilla implementation of a push-pull EL84 doesn't deserve a review or encouragement from the community. You have to do *something* unique to justify that kind of price point.
Hey Steve, another great video and thanks for review of the AMPANDSOUND Amp. I run all tube amplification myself and still feel tubes sound fantastic. Your videos always look pin sharp and great quality, may I ask what camera and lens you use?
Steve, how do you compare the sound of this amp to the Lab 12 Mighty? I bought the Mighty based on your review and love it paired with my La Scala AL5s!
That would be a very interesting comparison!!! Although when you look at them, the black ice weighs 12 pounds and the amp and sound weighs 39 pounds and that has to be all in the transformers, although I certainly have my qualms with the build versus price, there is no doubt that spending money on transformers is very beneficial in terms of resolution and the bandwidth. That said, that little black ice amp looks very intriguing and I'd be curious how it compared to the great old HH Scott and HK amplifiers from the late '50s that used el84 variants and produced similar power.
@@chelillingworth9466 that’s the base model, they now have a US made line of their amps and are in the same neighborhood and upgraded, more inputs, balanced inputs etc.
These new amps are all very nice. However, Quicksilver Audio still makes their Mid-Mono amps with 40 watts of gorgeous sound. The price is an honest $2195 with chrome transformer covers for the pair.
Tubes bring the beauty out of music play vinyl was made back in the day and recorded with tubes like it all was until the mid-sixties and late sixties. Original records from back then sound so right full and real as I discovered later in life because they were recorded with tubes i wish they would still use all tubes when making records today I am sure some are. They make a killing on repackaging old albums with the promise of better sound which is very unlikely the best sounding records are out of print or lost in grandpas basement lol. They might sound different but usually not better.
Looking at the website this amp is their 2nd to lowest price amp. They have a 3.2k budget 6V6! model and and the grande model monos at ... $38,000! Ok, you got me to look.😊
No no no no no. I’ll get a used McIntosh MC275 or any number of kits such as those available from tubes4hifi (which kick ass btw) before I buy this underpowered overpriced thing.
So very excited to see a well built EL84 amplifier on the market, I fell in love with the sound of this style of tubes in the great vintage HH Scott 299a and 222c. Over-specked custom transformers look awesome. But... And I know this is one of those amps that you're going to hear feedback at the price point...but PCB mounted tube sockets and steel screw terminal strips all over the place in the signal path? No point to point wiring? Coupling cap quality at this price? They should sell this as a kit it would be almost as easy to build as an amp camp!
Therfore I agree with you with the build..........and yes it is overpriced. I build whenever possible point to point ........first with good standard quality components , ....and only when it shines with good musical taste then I replace components with the better ones .........good components make it only worse when the amp has problems and doesn't sound good , but when it does a great job with the standard build than it's time to upgrade . Have a nice day sir ..... And Indeed never solderd sockets on a printed circuit board !That's a NO NO ...
Must watch, when I am not busy with kids, do you have advice on a small amp, that is affordable or cheap, but good!? I got a atlp60 and edifier active speakers. Perhaps I don't need one!?
All of a sudden there seem to be a lot of viewers shocked with the price of this amp, even without auditioning it. Is this price so unique in the audio hi fi world?
No, not unique, certainly not for US made products of this quality and one with a lifetime warranty. But of course compared to Chinese manufactured Audio the little nugget seems outrageously expensive.
All things come at a price, you get what you pay for. I have a small Luxman sq-n150 valve amplifier which cost me around 3000€ and it's worth every single cent or more. Is price an issue? of course it is, but certainly not the disdain in these commentaries. Check the price lists of any decent hi fi brand, either you can afford it or not but, please, don't act the fox in the fable, the grapes were all horrible because he couldn't reach them. When a grape raisin dropped, the fox pounced on it with all four paws.
Steve will you ever review Soundlabs DR.West is getting on in age it would be nice if you honored him with a review of his amazing creations that he perfected while others do not come close like Martin logins and similar tech but in comparison they are lifeless with no bass or dynamics no such issues with Soundlabs especially the newer ones.
6 grand? Looks like the cost of the lifetime warranty is also baked into the price. You can get a Purifi or Hypex based amp for much less than 2 big ones. Or the NAD M23 that Steve liked so much for 3,749, or its brother the NAD C298 for 2,399. But of course, those have a different sound signature.
The way it's built, with all of those channel strips means that if there's any issue I imagine they were just throw a new board in. I imagine they've designed in some good protection for the expensive transformers so that they wouldn't have to ever replace those.
Nice system Mark, bet it sounds great. As for that amp, no way would I pay $6,000 for something that looks like a DIY project. You could get the LUXMAN SQ-N150 integrated amp which exudes quality for $3,500. Even my little Cayin MT-12N integrated amp which only cost $479 from Drop is excellent and looks nicer, and works just fine with my Zu DW6 speakers.
@@chrislj2890 my Klipsch are 99 dB so no worries there. I like the features of the Luxman - remote, balance, tone control, headphones. I read the review by the measurements forum, which slammed it. Maybe I just need to try it for myself. Looks like they're $2000 used.
Ampandsound is OVERPRICED for what it is...even on looks alone its literally makes no sense to buy this kit looking amp. Even tho Decware makes you wait 9 years to get an amp, for the money, youre getting more from them than what these Ampandsounds give you in sound and looks. And besides, for Ampansound lil nugget price, I could get a AGD Audion monos FOR THE SAME MONEY and BEST this amp on day one.
Immediate pass from an aesthetic stand point - "Guys, what's the best way to ruin our product? What do you think? Crappy font, lowercase, all pushed together company name, but way too big, right there on the front so a myopic 80 year old can read it from across the room? Yeah? THAT! OK!"
Steve seriously, wth…$6,000!? If u wanna convert the average (not the wealthy) audiophile from SS to a Tube amp…..u don’t need a $6000 investment to do it…. There are many.affordable, used, or Chinese tube amps (yes China makes quality tube amps others have given good reviews on). Steve u gotta keep it real for the average audio enthusiast! Sure it’s fun reviewing mega $$$$$ audio gear….but remember WHO your followers are, keep it real! Nice shirt BTW!
Another tinker toy amp for the hi efficiency crowd. $6,000 and that giant stenciled mismash company name turn me off. As usual I just wanted to see if the music you played was any good I'm always always looking for new music as for equipment my Mcintosh equipment is still here.
I must be getting old, 6k seems like a lot for a push pull EL84 stereo power amp. The Black Ice Audio F11 you reviewed a couple of years ago is less than one third the price and designed by Jim Fosgate.
I bought my Leben CS300xs EL84 amp lightly used for $2,700. So agreed.
It is a lot of money
@@hoselrocket2001 nice, how does it sound?
yeah, its too much. Just out of principle, I will not have anything that is over 3K.
I’d take a Prima Luna over this any day of the week. It’s not even close!
On paper, I'd agree with you, but I'd have to hear them both to decide. Specs and construction NEVER tell even a quarter of the story.
Prima Luna is top shelf and they make one of best Tube preamps
Gee, but it's made in China, and nearly every time I review something made in China a lot of you guys get bent out of shape!
Ok...Decware then?
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac 😅 fair point 👊🏻🎶
These prices are insane
Steve, your reviews are always a masterpiece! Your knowledge are passion is always refreshing! ❤
You don’t just review the product but let me with new music/albums to listen to!
Thank you so much!
"Joshua Judges Ruth" is another Lyle Lovett album that is amazing both sounding and musically!!
The tube complement seems just like my (also push-pull) Yaqin MC-13s, which is currently about 1k on Amazon.
Well regarding the looks of this amp the 6k pricetag surely is pretty high. But, maybe the sound really is top notch, though I did not quite get that feeling from Steve. For about the same price we get a Audio Note Oto SE, and for a little more the signature version. And we’re talking about one of the best integrated amps in the world, all made in house and parts are premium quality..
It almost seems as if you were even more excited about the Zu pairing than you were the Pure Audio Project pairing. That's awesome!
$6k … but no dealer markup! Such a deal.
Technical note: this amp is using a 12AX7 voltage/input stage followed by a 12AU7 split-load phase inverter/driver stage. This is very common for push-pull EL84 amps, and requires only two tubes for input and phase splitter/driver function.
Split-load phase inverters as drivers, IMO, are a bit sub-optimal sonically, in my experience, but I'll leave it there.
Fortunately, It's actually pretty difficult to make a truly poor sounding push-pull EL84 amplifier, as the EL84 is a uniquely engaging and lively sounding power tube.
At any rate, I'm sure this Ampsandsound EL84 amp indeed sounds very nice.
in my studies, split loads were the the most relaxed and musical inverters. And measured best with the least feedback.
@@Cocteau61There will always be The Mullard 5-10 circuit / Leak Stereo 20 guys Vs the Dynakit ST35 circuit guys.. I like both, just a diffirent presentation for me..
I’m hoping you’ll get around to reviewing both Galion amplifiers. They are very special and at the right price. Under $1500 for an incredibly musical solid state amplifier that’s at least five major reviewers fell in love with.
I’ll save you time. He’ll say he had a great time with them. He’ll describe how the music he selected moved him. Then he’ll say he “ really thinks” they are good for the money if you favor the kind of sound each produces.
@@edd2771 actually I wouldn’t. I just opened the door to the subscribers. If you want to find out about Galion, read the reviews. If you’re in the for a power or integrated amp, there’s always a trial period. Everyone has their own tastes.
$6K is insane. Come on... That amp should not be more than $2000, if that.
You can buy a nice Decware for almost half that price.
Name it. Which one?
The Decware is a totally different type of EL84 amp (SET type) which has a quite different sound signature and lower power output. Both are nice amplifiers, but quite different, and so a direct comparison just on price and output tube type isn't really that relevant.
Now the Decware waiting list is 3 years!
@@Maria-EstherEsparza I have a preference for 300B and I run very high effects speakers so less than 10 watts is fine.
@@fakeklg I'm not for or against, but their zen triode monoblocks do come in at $3000 a pair, and to be fair, at $6000 you could also get a pair of zen tori Jr amps for bi-amping and probably save $500.
You do have to wait for them though, and time is quite an unfair mediator.
Did I miss what preamp you used with this power amp, Steve?
Solid state or valve??
Do they do a gold plated Nugget???
🎵🎶😅🎶🎵
As always, thanks Steve. How does the ST 17 compare with the Decware Zen?
After you mentioning the Bernard Herrman album I went and bought it and I've been playing it loud and the dynamics seemed just very real and the resolution...
That’s a tough price tag… I’ve got two pairs of 300B monos (both with point-to-point wiring) that cost me (minus tubes) less than $3k/pair.
For this price you better buy a refurbished vintage tube amp from Sherwood, Fisher, HH Scott or Harman Kardon with point to point connection and spend some money on Great NOS tubes, great speakers, a Streamer and a good DAC and still have money left for my Whiskey and a vacation ! 😅
The Nuggets box is fantastic. I love obscure 60s rock and roll and it’s also fun to hear rock stars such as Mark Bolin, Andy Summers, Steve Howe, Ian Gillan and many others in their earlier bands.
I am sure it has merit, but can it beat a restored McIntosh MC275 Mark 1 with upgraded tubes (NOS Telefunken) and upgraded caps (Nichicon) -- which would be the same price ?
MC275 mk1, please.
I tend to like the denser sound too. Especially if the sound is clear and distinct.
I looked into Amps and Sound a few years ago. Now their prices are too high IMO.
Thanks pal. Thanks to you im still over a year out on the decware list.
I think what we'd all love to know is how this amp compares to other great EL84 designs like the Leben CS300xs or Shindo Montille EL84. Does it hang? Is it better? What does it it do differently perhaps? Also remember that a speaker with high flat impedance is more important with tube amp pairing than just looking at sensitivity in isolation. Any 11-15ohm LS3/5A should pair great with a 20w tube amp.
For $6k, no way.
Agree.
Love tube amps. Have a pair of VAC 452 IQ Musicblocks. Tubes a little more work but you just can't beat that emotional sound.
Always a Joy to hear your thoughts... Enjoy
Beautiful shirt. I had to show my wife.
Me too. I'm like baby look at this shirt. She could make me a shirt, but I would wait a long time for it.😢
Requires quad-matched tubes? So if 1 breaks you’ll need to replace with a new set entirely? Ouch 😢
I was skeptical until the 104 point font persuaded me that this is what money should be spent on. Oof
Thats nice, out of my Price Range for sure. Id have to already like or trust the company, as I don’t see anything that brings that cost into the crosshairs for the product. Also if someone reads this, can you tell me why I should stay with my Decware Zen 3 Mono Bloc order instead of changing back to the UFO 2.1 order I started with. Thanks Lol!
$6k and not point to point wiring.
I know, right?!? Give me a PAIR of Quicksilver Audio Mid Mono amps complete with point to point wiring for a mere $2,000ish per pair.
Finally got a decent and I want to share it in the viewer systems but everyone else’s setups look so much better
I am sold, hopefully it will be delivered tomorrow.
Thanks for the Music, Steve…That Lyle Lovett album is great and soooo well recorded! 👍🏼
This reminds me of the Dynaco ST-35 or the Magnavox console amps. I have an old Magnavox amp that I modified and it sounds great. I love EL84/6BQ5
A Dynaco ST-35 is not a bad amp at all, if it's been maintained.
You can build a new Dynakit ST-35 for a fraction of the price of that Little Nugget. Maybe it should be called the Little Gold Nugget for what it costs. ;)
More va-va-VOOM? One of these days Alice, bang, zoom, RIGHT TO THE MOON! Another great review Steve, you have a real facility for narrating what you hear. Respect...
Seems decent I’ve owned a few ampsandsound products previously including a Leeloo and a bigger Ben both headphone amps. Pretty decent stuff not the most technical not silent floor but pretty nice tonality. I’m not paying $5k+ el84 I’d buy a 300b amp for that or 845 or 2A3.
Really enjoy your videos.
Thank you very much! Steve!
$6,000 that is a little nugget of gold. 😮
I can't imagine that Justin sells much with his ridiculous pricing. His amps look like a DIY projects - there's way to many options out there to even consider something from AMPSANDSOUND.
Is that a Dynaco ST35? Lol, I just sold mine with Choke and Bias adj. For 900$ on ebay lol
Great video Steve!! I live 35 miles away from the Decware factory. Maybe stuff is just cheaper in East Peoria than California. Idk I do know I can get a rocking el84 system for 6 grand. Sadly, I’m out.
I have the Decware SE84UFO. Ordered it in 2016 when it was a 3 month build time, now 3 years. I love my little amp. Pairs well with my Klipsch La Scalas and Forte ii. And it was $5,000 cheaper.
I just recently picked up a pair of Soundvalve/ Dynaco M40 tube monoblocks. My first tube amps, and I will never go back now.
Steve, this Lyle Lovett album is amazing, thanks for sharing it.
What preamp are you using -- if any -- and how does that influence the sound?
I used my reference preamp, it's the same preamp I usei in almost every test over the last few years. The LTA Micro ZOTL. Everything in the system affects the sound of everything in the system. In my reviews, in every review that anyone ever does, and every consumer that buys products, everything in their system, and their room, and their speaker placement, everything affects the sound. Thanks for watching!!
$6000 preamp? So $12000 in amplification.....hmm
For $800 more you could get the matching ZOTL40 EL34 power amp with some real innovation and a Fern&Roby chasis. Premium NOS tubes with 20000 hours life expectancy too.
No brainer there.
This little amp is VERY SIMILAR to the older Dynaco Stereo 35...a magic little amp, which sold for about 10% of this ampsandsound.
OK, did you realize that the inflation between then and now is about 10 times!
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac
.A sobering thought!
@@carlosbauza1139
FACT CHECK:
The Dynaco was $62.95 in 1964
In 2024 that is.....$638.72
So, with a cumulative price increase of 915% we're still nowhere near $6k!
I would have appreciated a comparison with the Decware Zen Triode, but I do understand that the price difference wouldn’t make it a fair comparison
Your work has been exemplary as always, dear Steven🌹. The A&S Little Nugget sounds like it really delivers on its $6k outlay.
Very nice amplifier. Custom output transformers is impressive.
$6k for a Dynaco ST35 clone 😂😂😂😂
that's why we love tubes, it's the "vavavoom energy" !
Not going to comment on the amp, I prefer SS amp with a tube preamp. I have the Lyle Lovett CD, have to pull it out and listen to it again. Great review but $6k way out of my price range.
Steve,you should also check out the Sound Artist LS5/9. Really fantastic speakers under $1000.
Thanks a lot, and yes I probably will
Did I miss it? What preamp was used for this review?
LTA MZ
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac ✌
Seems like one of the greats! I definitely don’t like orange though. The sound and the chassis color are 180° out of phase to me.
Available in all black!
@@stimpy1226 if it didn't have the brand name printed on the front it would look much better, maybe the printed brand name is muted by the chassis color on the black one.
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac thank you Steve
You clearly went bananas over this one.
$6k for a vanilla implementation of a push-pull EL84 doesn't deserve a review or encouragement from the community. You have to do *something* unique to justify that kind of price point.
Totally overpriced. 1.5k is max I would spend on this.
You should get that nuggets vinyl version even better
Hey Steve. Hope you're well. Tell Herb hi. Let's see him soon please.
. Another interesting and appropriate piece of gear the AudioPhiliac has brought us. Thanks 👍.
Acid Jazz, Funk & Brass 🔈🔉🔊
Up to date gouging 😂
Hey Steve, another great video and thanks for review of the AMPANDSOUND Amp. I run all tube amplification myself and still feel tubes sound fantastic. Your videos always look pin sharp and great quality, may I ask what camera and lens you use?
Oh man thank you! Sorry to disappoint you but it's just an iPhone 14 Pro.
The inside looks like a Luxman SQ-N100, same topology! The Luxman has a remote control, phono and line inputs.
Steve, how do you compare the sound of this amp to the Lab 12 Mighty? I bought the Mighty based on your review and love it paired with my La Scala AL5s!
Track 8: Record Lady. Fine album there Steve.
Check out Rogue Audio... California, lol.
I’d save and get the Black Ice for half the price.
That would be a very interesting comparison!!! Although when you look at them, the black ice weighs 12 pounds and the amp and sound weighs 39 pounds and that has to be all in the transformers, although I certainly have my qualms with the build versus price, there is no doubt that spending money on transformers is very beneficial in terms of resolution and the bandwidth.
That said, that little black ice amp looks very intriguing and I'd be curious how it compared to the great old HH Scott and HK amplifiers from the late '50s that used el84 variants and produced similar power.
@@chelillingworth9466 that’s the base model, they now have a US made line of their amps and are in the same neighborhood and upgraded, more inputs, balanced inputs etc.
@@chelillingworth9466 F18A is the one I’m referring to
@@chelillingworth9466 Those transformers might be a big part of why the Ampsandsound shrugged off 83db speakers like they were nothing.
These new amps are all very nice. However, Quicksilver Audio still makes their Mid-Mono amps with 40 watts of gorgeous sound. The price is an honest $2195 with chrome transformer covers for the pair.
my first amps where Quicksilver mono's
Great value...those Quicksilvers.
Or go for hybrids from VIncent Audio, tubes in the pre-amp, SS in the power-part.... their SV-500 is a very affordable intergrated tube amp....
Tubes bring the beauty out of music play vinyl was made back in the day and recorded with tubes like it all was until the mid-sixties and late sixties. Original records from back then sound so right full and real as I discovered later in life because they were recorded with tubes i wish they would still use all tubes when making records today I am sure some are. They make a killing on repackaging old albums with the promise of better sound which is very unlikely the best sounding records are out of print or lost in grandpas basement lol. They might sound different but usually not better.
Looking at the website this amp is their 2nd to lowest price amp. They have a 3.2k budget 6V6! model and and the grande model monos at ... $38,000! Ok, you got me to look.😊
No no no no no. I’ll get a used McIntosh MC275 or any number of kits such as those available from tubes4hifi (which kick ass btw) before I buy this underpowered overpriced thing.
@@Darrylizer1To each their own. I've never thought much about McIntosh, but it must work well for you.
So very excited to see a well built EL84 amplifier on the market, I fell in love with the sound of this style of tubes in the great vintage HH Scott 299a and 222c. Over-specked custom transformers look awesome. But... And I know this is one of those amps that you're going to hear feedback at the price point...but PCB mounted tube sockets and steel screw terminal strips all over the place in the signal path? No point to point wiring? Coupling cap quality at this price? They should sell this as a kit it would be almost as easy to build as an amp camp!
Therfore I agree with you with the build..........and yes it is overpriced.
I build whenever possible point to point ........first with good standard quality components , ....and only when it shines with good musical taste then I replace components with the better ones .........good components make it only worse when the amp has problems and doesn't sound good , but when it does a great job with the standard build than it's time to upgrade .
Have a nice day sir .....
And Indeed never solderd sockets on a printed circuit board !That's a NO NO ...
But is that warranty transferable? Love the orange!
6000 ??? For a direct selling company , seeing the build inside , even if it has good transformers,…..is way to much money
Must watch, when I am not busy with kids, do you have advice on a small amp, that is affordable or cheap, but good!? I got a atlp60 and edifier active speakers. Perhaps I don't need one!?
You don't need an external amp if you are using active speakers.
I would think about reviewing anything made by Galion
I will, fairly soon.
No. Absolutely saturated with this guys stuff on YT. So many more worthy manufacturers.
Eesh, why do they have print the company name at font size 50 across the front. Sort of garish.
All of a sudden there seem to be a lot of viewers shocked with the price of this amp, even without auditioning it. Is this price so unique in the audio hi fi world?
No, not unique, certainly not for US made products of this quality and one with a lifetime warranty. But of course compared to Chinese manufactured Audio the little nugget seems outrageously expensive.
All things come at a price, you get what you pay for. I have a small Luxman sq-n150 valve amplifier which cost me around 3000€ and it's worth every single cent or more. Is price an issue? of course it is, but certainly not the disdain in these commentaries. Check the price lists of any decent hi fi brand, either you can afford it or not but, please, don't act the fox in the fable, the grapes were all horrible because he couldn't reach them. When a grape raisin dropped, the fox pounced on it with all four paws.
@@vitorfragoso7355
Guess we'll wait for a second hand (rasin) one then.
Wonder if that warranty is transferrable 🤔
Steve will you ever review Soundlabs DR.West is getting on in age it would be nice if you honored him with a review of his amazing creations that he perfected while others do not come close like Martin logins and similar tech but in comparison they are lifeless with no bass or dynamics no such issues with Soundlabs especially the newer ones.
I love this company.
6 grand? Looks like the cost of the lifetime warranty is also baked into the price.
You can get a Purifi or Hypex based amp for much less than 2 big ones. Or the NAD M23 that Steve liked so much for 3,749, or its brother the NAD C298 for 2,399. But of course, those have a different sound signature.
Which manufacturer, of any type of product, doesn't factor in potential warranty cost into the retail price point of their product?
LOL
Digital amps have a different sound signature than tube amps.
Who knew?!?! 😅
The way it's built, with all of those channel strips means that if there's any issue I imagine they were just throw a new board in. I imagine they've designed in some good protection for the expensive transformers so that they wouldn't have to ever replace those.
@@saint6563Class D is NOT digital. In fact, sometime back Class D amps were being praised as having an “analog sound”.
@@saint6563 What I was saying was, given the unusually high price, they can afford to offer a lifetime warranty.
Sorry but, i like my Tsakiridis Aeolos for 1/3 of the price, 3 times the power and better looking.
You don't have to say you're sorry, I'm happy for you!
Nice system Mark, bet it sounds great. As for that amp, no way would I pay $6,000 for something that looks like a DIY project. You could get the LUXMAN SQ-N150 integrated amp which exudes quality for $3,500. Even my little Cayin MT-12N integrated amp which only cost $479 from Drop is excellent and looks nicer, and works just fine with my Zu DW6 speakers.
For less than $2k, you could get a Luxman SQ-N100 which is a fixed bias amp and more dynamic and full-bodied than the SQ-N150.
@@matele901
That one isn't in production, so it would have to be used.
Do you have the SQ-N150? It looks interesting. Some reviews savage it. It would probably be fine with my klipsch Heresy.
@@chrish.4067
No, I don't own that one, but I'd like to. The little EL84 tube amps are low power but work nicely with high sensitivity speakers.
@@chrislj2890 my Klipsch are 99 dB so no worries there. I like the features of the Luxman - remote, balance, tone control, headphones. I read the review by the measurements forum, which slammed it. Maybe I just need to try it for myself. Looks like they're $2000 used.
Ampandsound is OVERPRICED for what it is...even on looks alone its literally makes no sense to buy this kit looking amp. Even tho Decware makes you wait 9 years to get an amp, for the money, youre getting more from them than what these Ampandsounds give you in sound and looks. And besides, for Ampansound lil nugget price, I could get a AGD Audion monos FOR THE SAME MONEY and BEST this amp on day one.
For $6000 I’ll get a used McIntosh MC275 and a pile of records.
This looks like a kit amp. Nothing special
Beautiful review i wont when will you review burson audio timekeeper :)
$6,000. Come on! Ridiculous.
Good news: you don’t have to buy it.
The chifi clones cost around a few hundred bucks lol
@@fakeklg Amazing!
@@MasterofPlay7 Is there a clone of this amp?
@@bertroost1675 no but check out the fm300a clone, Germans love them, I have the 1969 clone, they sound awesome 😎
Immediate pass from an aesthetic stand point - "Guys, what's the best way to ruin our product? What do you think? Crappy font, lowercase, all pushed together company name, but way too big, right there on the front so a myopic 80 year old can read it from across the room? Yeah? THAT! OK!"
I don't mind the look. I kind of like it except the HUGE name on the front but the price is insane.
nah it's amazing
I'm fine with the orange. But then again my wife is an artist and we like color.
The $10/qty1000 AliExpress ON/OFF switch is a nice touch, too, lol
I dig it.
not for that price
a beauty but $6k... c'mon 😞
Steve i want to go back to the time
Dominique Fils-Aimé❤
Steve seriously, wth…$6,000!?
If u wanna convert the average (not the wealthy) audiophile from SS to a Tube amp…..u don’t need a $6000 investment to do it….
There are many.affordable, used, or Chinese tube amps (yes China makes quality tube amps others have given good reviews on).
Steve u gotta keep it real for the average audio enthusiast! Sure it’s fun reviewing mega $$$$$ audio gear….but remember WHO your followers are, keep it real!
Nice shirt BTW!
Would rather get an Aric Audio amp for that price.
That's cool, when are you getting the Aric amp?
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac I don’t need one at the moment, but you should do a review.
Fixed bias is still a thing ?! Geezus, amp designers, move out of the Stone Age already
$6,000 is a bit steep..!
Another tinker toy amp for the hi efficiency crowd. $6,000 and that giant stenciled mismash company name turn me off. As usual I just wanted to see if the music you played was any good I'm always always looking for new music as for equipment my Mcintosh equipment is still here.