[username643827]

Hello

I need recomendations for tube amps. I mainly listen to jazz and classical. Budget would be 500$, are there any amps with balanced connections in this price range?

Headphones: Grado SR80, Grado SR325x, Grado PS500, Grado Hemp, Grado RS1e, Grado, GH2, Sennheiser HD600, Beyerdynamic DT770 250ohm, Audio technica ATH R70x,


THX

 

[michael2v]

In that price range, the Crack w/ speedball is the best I've heard. It is absolutely phenomenal with high-impedance Senns, but mixed feedback for Grados. Some say it's not a good synergy, others say it's sublime, so YMMV.

 

[Monsterzero]

You will want to avoid an OTL amp, which will work great with the HD600, DT770 and the R70x, but not so great with your low impedance Grados.
A tube hybrid or transformer coupled amp will be able to handle the Grados as well as your high impedance models.

 

[DenverW]

It depends on what’s more important to you. If you want an amp that can play well with your complete collection of headphones, a non OTL like a dark voice 336se is something to look at.

If you want what I would consider the best sounding amp, and most ‘tubey’ the the Bottlehead crack is my rec. It works best with high impedance headphones, and you need to build it, but the payoff is there.

 

[pataburd]

The Schiit LYR+ [tube/hybrid] is a worthy contender, powerful and versatile.

 

[Ioanast]

For under 500 bucks as you want, and balanced outputs, you can check out these:
X-DUOO TA-10R

X-DUOO TA-20

X-DUOO TA-22

And SHIIT LYR as above mentioned is excellent, and VALHALLA too, I don't see balanced though:

 

[pataburd]

Try to find one of these used:

Plenty of power. Both pure solid state and tube/hybrid modes. Great with 6SN7 singles or with adapters allowing 2x 6J5 or 1x 6922. Positively disproportional bang-for-the-buck.