Quote Originally Posted by Bigman80 View Post
What kind of valve amp would sound "as it should"?

Freely available and not the price of a used car please lol
Lol, as ever the best things in hi-fi are never quite so straightforward!

"Freely available", however, you've got no chance. The best valve amps I've heard have always been 'no compromise' (within a given budget) bespoke designs, built by experienced specialists [unhindered by commercial demands], who fundamentally understand the technology (its limitations as well as its strengths) and how to get the best out of it.

That usually results in the production of a valve amp which sounds "as it should", i.e. where its strengths outweigh its limitations, and where it's not trying to be something it isn't (nor ever will be)!

Incidentally, the same also applies to solid-state designs, particularly those that try to sound 'valvey'.

Marco.