10 tube amplifiers that are essentially works of art ..

.

Number 3 resembles something I saw behind the counter at Starbucks.

I find AR D76 much more beautyful then these "wanna-look-impressing" things.
For me the output delivered to speakers is what it's all about. If i want artworks i'll
buy a artwork and nail it to a wall somewhere.

Yikes!

$90K! for! Stereo!

Is anyone here willing to take a stab at how one crams $45,000 worth of "stuff" in a box of that nature - that is, without using the term: Obscene Profit Margin.

I guess nothing succeeds like excess!

I prefer my hand-built Bob Latino VTA ST-70. Nothing more than what is needed to get the job done; form follows function.*  I even know the guy who built it!**


*I do find the Dynaco brown tube cages to be absolutely hideous!

**Hey, that's me!

My big question is how many of these uber expensive amps get sold in a month. And is it enough to stay in business. Perhaps with 300% markup. Can't imagine a boutique audio store wanting $150,000 of product sitting around for 6-months. But they are amazingly creative and would definite want to take a listen!

Nice!

Maybe years from now our grandchildren can check them out in a vacuum tube museum somewhere. A family member will chime in "you know, you had a crazy grandfather that was into tubes like those, and I think his junk is still in the attic" And the beat goes on....

Thanks for the link Bob.
While those were nice I have seen others that I thought were more works of art..
I like seeing gear that has a lot of style, not that I'm going out to buy it. I can appreciate the
effort though..

Art is very subjective.  One can either like and appreciate something or not.  That said I've seen PC cases with more character than this.



Now THESE are sexy as hell!

they would only need to sell one a month to stay in business, since the cost is only maybe 20% of the retail price!
It's the 90-10 rule again, or in this case, more like 95-5 rule. You'll get 95% of the sound for 5% of the price with a VTA amp!!

tubes4hifi wrote:they would only need to sell one a month to stay in business, since the cost is only maybe 20% of the retail price!
It's the 90-10 rule again, or in this case, more like 95-5 rule.   You'll get 95% of the sound for 5% of the price with a VTA amp!!

You get 125% of the sound at 5 % of the price with a VTA.

Don't think higher price automatically means a better product!

This is worth repeating.
My postal worker has the McIntosh 275...paid $6-$6500.. Listened to my Bob Latino m125's and was much impressed to the point he commented about selling the 275, picking up the 125's and still have money in his pocket.
He also stated that HE did not notice any variable sound difference in quality or performance when comparing the m125's withd the McIntosh 275.

Those comments made my day then and still do today!

tubes4hifi wrote:they would only need to sell one a month to stay in business, since the cost is only maybe 20% of the retail price!
It's the 90-10 rule again, or in this case, more like 95-5 rule.   You'll get 95% of the sound for 5% of the price with a VTA amp!!

If I want art I'll go back to the Impressionists Exhibit the Louvre has on the docks at the Musee D'Orsay: http://www.impressionniste.net/museums_exhibitions.htm
When I thought nobody was looking, I reached out and touched a Tolouse Lautrec. It was a rush.
5 Euros and you're in all day. Go early and there's no wait.
However, if I want good sound I'm stayin' right here, where music is the art. Beats the cost of an 18-hour ride on Air France, even in coach.