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To be honest, I am not sure I am quite ready to get something. The reason I say this is there are so many different kinds of tube amps. (My apologies for such a stupid thing to say) I have never seen the inside of one, nor had one, so I am truly learning every time each of you suggest something. David's mention of the ZOTL was the first I had heard of an ouput transformerless amp. I just didn't realize all the different styles, terms, models, etc. It's honestly a bit overwhelming. Its hard for someone with little to no tube amp knowledge to understand the differences between a push-pull, single ended triode, pentode, and tetrode, Class A , AB, C apparently (Had no idea there was a class c amp. With speakers I can usually tell quality by looking. Looking at the construction methods, the quality of veneers and types of veneers, and even the drivers have indications of quality. Sure some are deceiving, but the 100K Tidal speakers I saw at CAF, looked like they would cost 100K. Not that they should, but they looked as though they would. Same with speaker cables that are $2500 per linear foot. Looking at them, you know its going to be expensive.

Tube amps on the other hand seem a bit deceiving. They look very simple, small chassis with tubes and transformers on top, usually not much flash or anything like that. Some very simple looking amps cost more than 10K though. It is, for me at this point, very hard to see differences in quality. Given the numbers of websites I have visited researching this project idea of mine, I have seen 100 dollar hybrid amps (still don't know what that means exactly) all the way to 10,000 dollar amps. Interestingly the chassis' are usually similar, brushed aluminum or wood, the tubes look similar as well. The only thing to the newcomers eye is the size and number of transformers on the top.

So because of this I feel like its a bit too soon to make a decision on which way to go. While I do trust all of your judgement on these matters, it seems shortsighted of me to try to rush to the finish line. I would hate to buy an amp or build one, and not have a good understanding of what does what, why each component is needed, and where value comes into play with each of those components. Thanks to all your input and advice, I feel like I am on the right path though, and for that I am very grateful

Jeff

What could you possibly power with 3/4 of a watt?

What could you possibly power with 3/4 of a watt?

And I feel like an idiot. Assumed it was another way of writing 3 to 4. Thanks Roscoe. What could you possibly power with 3/4 of a watt?