etdpoo t1_j6egvob wrote on January 29, 2023 at 7:53 PM

Reply to comment by pavoid in Friends, I’m so happy right now by pavoid

nah, the cheap tube amps like those two have poor quality control and are muddy. on the other hand, vali isn’t a great value because it just sounds like a solid state. i would recommend valhalla, a diy sangaku, or maybe a bottlehead crack if you like it really warm. that being said i got a piety too and it’s pretty great for the price so don’t get too much fomo

audiophile_lurker t1_j6iqw43 wrote on January 30, 2023 at 5:00 PM

They specifically sound fairly muddy because they have a fair bit of THD that results from the use of tubes. Hence the suggestion. If trying to go for a fairly clear but still tubey sound, then Bottlehead Crack, Shortest Way 51+, or Woo Audio 6 - but those are all quite pricy comparing to budget OP is reasoning about.