Lower powered class A amps

[John]

Any thoughts round good low powered amps suitable for high efficency speakers something between 9 to 15 watts

[Mike]

There are many possibilities here... what sort of speaker sensitivity are we talking?

Do you want to build or buy?... And, what price point?

[John]

96db
not sure if my DIY skills are up to building a good amp
Price range £1000 approx can be new or second hand

[Spectral Morn]

If you want a class A power amp the Pass labs Aleph0 or Aleph 3 are worth looking for small bricks that are mostly heat sinks...very plain art deco. You will probably need a pre with balanced outs to match though....(I think the Aleph series is balanced )its XLR and single ended...can't remember.

Always meant to check these out but I don't (A) have the money now or (B)speakers that are sensitive enough.

The Pathos TT r integrated amp is a Class A valve hybrid 35 watts..but needs very sensitive speakers...you must treat it like a low power Single ended valve amp. Again fantastic, excellent sound...but I don't have speakers sensitive enough. Its very big, very heavy, two man lift and fantastic looking.

Your budget would get you the pass labs but you would need a bit more for the Pathos except maybe a mk1 you want a later one though....they're better.

regards D S D L

[aquapiranha]

96db
not sure if my DIY skills are up to building a good amp
Price range £1000 approx can be new or second hand

My fostex's are 95db, and I can shake the windows with just shy of 1.8 watts!!

so the world is your oyster there.

[Clive]

WD KEL84, 15W. £479 basic kit or up to £700 with relay inputs, upgraded caps and fully assembled. Seriously good, even though it's push pull.

[Steve Toy]

Push-pull (done right) plays real world music. SE works with speakers that carry their own set of compromises although I know this option can work where space in-room permits.

I come from the flat earth school of thought on this and I ended up with push-pull valves....

[Marco]

LOL. Oi, don't be so defensive Stevie boy!

I don't think Clive meant it like that

Marco.

[Clive]

LOL. Oi, don't be so defensive Stevie boy!

I don't think Clive meant it like that

Marco.

Indeed, I've now edited and added a smilie.

[jandl100]

In my fairly limited experience, solid state class A can be a pretty boring affair. I've had home dems of Pass Labs Aleph 3 (just plain uninteresting into my 100dB+ Avantgarde Unos, should have been a good match ...) and another, but this one class A to AB switchable beast whose name slips my mind at the moment . Anyways, both of those were dead tedious to listen to, although the switchable one perked up a bit when in class AB.

Valve class A is a totally different container of piscine wonders, though.