Top of the Line Tube Amplifier Companies?

[digit_linn]

No one mentioned Allnic Audio?
English from software translation

 

[JackD201]

Wavac hasn't been mentioned

 

[tima]

The first two US companies that come to mind are Lamm and Atma-Sphere.

 

[Argonaut]

Aries Cerat

 

[audiopie]

Berning 211/845 (now just 845 on the updated model)
to quote Robert Harley in his October 2017 review: "...I can say that the 211/845 is the finest amplifier I've ever heard"

 

[joel_hifi]

Wavac

 

[LL21]

Berning 211/845 (now just 845 on the updated model)
to quote Robert Harley in his October 2017 review: "...I can say that the 211/845 is the finest amplifier I've ever heard"

You have an unusual collection of awesome audio! Berning 845 and Boulder pre and phono. Have you spent time with the bigger 2100 and 3000 series Boulder amps?

 

[Willgolf]

I would throw in Canary Audio a small boutique amplifier company out of LA. They can tailor an amplifier to your needs and budget.

 

[audiopie]

You have an unusual collection of awesome audio! Berning 845 and Boulder pre and phono. Have you spent time with the bigger 2100 and 3000 series Boulder amps?

LL21, I have heard both amp series, the 2100 series many times, but not in my home/system. Both series are impressive, but we wanted tubes in the mix. Obviously, we went opposite the way normally suggested, which would have been solid state amps and tube preamp. We had brought in the 1110 along with the 1161 for demo and were highly impressed with that pair. We felt that in many ways it bested electronics costing a lot more. We went through a lot of amps/preamps in our search and the 2110 was miles ahead of any other preamp we heard.

I agree, it is an unusual collection. While each item is awesome, I feel that right now the mix is not ideal. In fact I may start a thread about it, hopefully I can get some direction on how to optimize. But I won't be doing this until later this fall or in the winter when I have more time.

 

[Golum]

Tobian Sound Systems

 

[LL21]

LL21, I have heard both amp series, the 2100 series many times, but not in my home/system. Both series are impressive, but we wanted tubes in the mix. Obviously, we went opposite the way normally suggested, which would have been solid state amps and tube preamp. We had brought in the 1110 along with the 1161 for demo and were highly impressed with that pair. We felt that in many ways it bested electronics costing a lot more. We went through a lot of amps/preamps in our search and the 2110 was miles ahead of any other preamp we heard.

I agree, it is an unusual collection. While each item is awesome, I feel that right now the mix is not ideal. In fact I may start a thread about it, hopefully I can get some direction on how to optimize. But I won't be doing this until later this fall or in the winter when I have more time.

Agree each item is awesome...that is what grabbed my attention. From looking at the list, I could see where you might wish the collection to sound more cohesive than you appear to suggest it does.

In your particular case, you may have to decide which of your awesome pieces is 'the most awesome piece'...and then build around that a bit more synergistically. Specifically, (and the good news is), you have an awesome pre and an awesome amp...so you may need to think 'which is the keeper?' And build around that one. (And build a second system around the other one!)

 

[audiopie]

Agree each item is awesome...that is what grabbed my attention. From looking at the list, I could see where you might wish the collection to sound more cohesive than you appear to suggest it does.

In your particular case, you may have to decide which of your awesome pieces is 'the most awesome piece'...and then build around that a bit more synergistically. Specifically, (and the good news is), you have an awesome pre and an awesome amp...so you may need to think 'which is the keeper?' And build around that one. (And build a second system around the other one!)

Agree each item is awesome...that is what grabbed my attention. From looking at the list, I could see where you might wish the collection to sound more cohesive than you appear to suggest it does.

In your particular case, you may have to decide which of your awesome pieces is 'the most awesome piece'...and then build around that a bit more synergistically. Specifically, (and the good news is), you have an awesome pre and an awesome amp...so you may need to think 'which is the keeper?' And build around that one. (And build a second system around the other one!)

So that we don't derail this thread further I have started another about this issue. I couldn't wait until winter. See it here

Help Refine this system, please!

Please look at my signature with the list of components currently in our system. I love each and every item, but I haven't achieved a state of synergy where I'm happy with the results. Part of the problem is the room, I know that and can't do anything about it right now, but will in the future...

www.whatsbestforum.com

 

[R S]

So that we don't derail this thread further I have started another about this issue. I couldn't wait until winter. See it here

Help Refine this system, please!

Please look at my signature with the list of components currently in our system. I love each and every item, but I haven't achieved a state of synergy where I'm happy with the results. Part of the problem is the room, I know that and can't do anything about it right now, but will in the future...

www.whatsbestforum.com

Subscribed!

 

[S3V3RUS]

Audiopax from Brazil.

 

[Solypsa]

am curious about which companies use the most over the top and advanced manufacturing techniques to make their tube amps as premium and “luxury” a product as possible.

Can't speak to the luxury aspect but it seems Silbatone should be mentioned for their silver foil transformers ( and crazy WE museum as a reference ) yet perhaps the most interesting development is their 'Neohyb' circuit which it would appear that Morrison and Broskie invented in similar times and which it also appears that Aries Cerat is now developing as well- at least from an advancement of the art perspective....

 

[DasguteOhr]

Ångstrom audio lab
Innovative Audio
Audiomat

 

[BruceD]

MacTone springs to mind

BruceD

 

[bob82]

Valve Amplification Company (VAC)

 

[The Knife]

No one thinks Audio Research belongs on the list?

Not exotic enough?

 

[bob82]

Not exotic enough?

Had ARC Ref 5 before the VAC. The ARC was good but VAC is special and exotic.