All SET Amplifiers

Product Strengths

• Excellent build quality and a sexy aesthetic, with a glossy black finish
• Relaxed sound that one can listen to all day without stress
• Voices are fixed and nailed in the middle, creating a relaxed sound
• Soundstage size, depth, and layering are strengths
• The overall build quality is outstanding

Product Considerations

• It's a heavy two-box unit, which can make setup difficult
• May not be the right device for speakers that need more power, especially at louder volumes
• Bass may lack the punch some listeners prefer, making it less ideal for genres that require high-impact bass

Takeaway: The Line Magnetic LM-845 Premium is a high-quality tube amplifier that offers a relaxed and colorful sound, particularly excelling with vocals. If musicality and a fatigue-free listening experience are valued, this amp could be a great fit.

Product Strengths

• Clean midband, detailed top end, and tonally neutral with a touch of added warmth.
• Large dynamic swings with great energy and attack, with leading edges of notes not softened or slurred.
• A large, spacious, and holographic soundstage with three-dimensionality.
• Powerful enough to drive most speakers cleanly.
• High-grade parts are used throughout including an ALPS volume pot and MIT and Mundorf N-Cap capacitors.
• Only has RCA inputs and no balanced input.

Product Considerations

• Generates a lot of heat, and is heavy (42kg) and large, which can be an issue.
• Changing tubes can be an extra maintenance cost.
• The unit lacks a phono preamp section, turntable input, headphone output, and DAC.
• The stock tubes might need upgrading for users with very high expectations.

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Compared to the NAD-C298, the LM-805iA offers a warmer sound, unlike the NAD-C298 which is more detailed and accurate.
• Compared to the Line Magnetic 508IA, the 805IA has a more polished sound compared to the more visceral and gritty 508IA.
• Compared to the McIntosh MA252, the LM-805iA creates a huge soundscape.

Takeaway: The Line Magnetic LM-805iA is a well-built tube amplifier that offers a balanced sound with enough power to drive most speakers, making it a great choice for audiophiles who appreciate the unique characteristics of tube amplification. Its ability to create a holographic soundstage and its refined sound signature make it a worthwhile investment.

Product Strengths

• Pellucid sound, rich tone, and textural detail are characteristic of a well-designed single-ended triode (SET) amplifier.
• Forceful and tuneful bass defies the stereotype of slow or puffy bass in SET amps.
• Expansive soundstage allows instruments and voices to float free of speakers.
• High build quality includes point-to-point wiring and quality components, such as an ALPS potentiometer and RealCap capacitors.
• Dynamic slam and a physically involving sound

Product Considerations

• The 845 tubes operate at high temperatures, potentially causing burns if touched and significantly increasing room temperature.
• No balance control
• Some found the stock tubes to impart an aggressive or steely tone that could be improved with tube rolling.
• Careful matching with speakers is required, one reviewer noted inexplicably harsh sound when paired with certain speakers.

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• The LM-845IA has changes to internal components and redesigned output transformers, compared to the LM-518IA.
• The LM-845IA has a lighter touch and more refinement, while the Gold Note PA-10 monoblocks sound more solid in the bass.
• The LM-845iA offers a more powerful punch, while the Kora TB140 sounds lighter on its feet and faster.
• The Ayre EX-8 edges out the LM-845iA in clarity and detail.
• The Cambridge Audio Edge NQ sounds similar, but can't quite match the realism or the directness of the Line Magnetic.

Takeaway: The Line Magnetic LM-845IA is a powerful tube amplifier that offers a unique and engaging listening experience. It's a good choice for audiophiles who want a robust and resolving sound with dynamic contrasts.

Product Strengths

• Wide and deep soundstage, with a depth extending as far as 70 feet in one test
• Music reproduction is natural and realistic, creating a sense of instruments and voices being present in the room
• High frequencies and cymbals shimmer and crash realistically
• Impeccably constructed and manufactured with original circuit solutions
• Capable of drama, delicacy, and danger which transcends reproduction — turning the act of listening into a full-fledged experience

Product Considerations

• Selector knob on top of the unit is difficult to access when the tube cage is installed
• Speakers need to be a good match for the amplifier's 23 watts of power
• Bass was shy and ill-defined when used with the Dynaudio Contour 60i speakers

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Compared to Conrad Johnson Premier 10 & 11A, the Simply 845 has a wider and deeper soundstage and better reproduction of high frequencies and cymbals
• Compared to PrimaLuna (top-of-the-line), the Simply 845 sounds better sonically
• Compared to Line Magnetic Audio LM-845iA Integrated Amp, the Simply 845 does delicate better

Takeaway: The Simply 845 is a revealing integrated amplifier that makes music sound magical and is an excellent choice, especially for horn speaker lovers. This amplifier transforms speakers into something wonderful and will enhance the music experience.

Product Strengths

• Beautiful and elegant design and high build quality
• Delivers a true single-ended triode sound field, offering enormous delicacy and a full organic sound presentation
• Simplifies the process of using tube amplifiers with automatic bias control
• Sound is concentrated in the midrange, dense, saturated, and organic
• Offers a variety of color options without an extra cost

Product Considerations

• Requires careful speaker matching
• The on/off switch's location on the back might be awkward
• The acrylic glass on the front of the tube cage might be scratched easily and its mounting is questionable
• May not be ideal for hard rock due to a tendency to smooth out some of the pain

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Vs Unison Research Triode 25: The Unison has more interesting, bolder, more dynamic, transparent, and engaging sound
• Vs Unison Research Preludio: The Mira Ceti has better design, build quality, and sound performance

Takeaway: The Mira Ceti 300B is a beautiful amplifier that provides a delicate and organic sound, especially when paired with the right speakers. It's a great option for anyone looking for a quality tube amplifier.

Product Strengths

• Very wide and distinct soundstage, with a 'halo' effect and detailed separation of instruments
• Exceptional midrange performance providing realism with weight and complexity
• Tuneful and tight bass with many layers of resolution
• Uses carefully chosen and exotic parts including hand wound silver transformers

Product Considerations

• The unit operates very hot, requiring additional air conditioning in warm climates
• Without a tube cage, the exposed VT4C/211 output tubes are a burn hazard
• Cosmetics are not easy on the eyes
• Reveals faults in the system

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Compared to the Audio Note Oto, the Ongaku does more, but the reviewer personally prefers the Oto
• The Jinro is considered a 'mini Ongaku,' offering similar sound but with less silver and a lower price
• The Audio Note Tonmeister Meishu has a more emotional response and musicality, but once the Ongaku is paired with an m8, m9, or m10 preamp, it surpasses the Tonmeister Meishu
• Compared to the original Japanese Audio Note Ongaku version, the UK version uses interstage transformers—supporting small signal tubes
• Compared to regular top 100 amplifiers in the world, the Ongaku is violent, scary, and intense—requiring gear on a 'whole other level' to tune into

Takeaway: The Audio Note Ongaku is a legendary amplifier that provides a very intense listening experience with distinct sound separation, and lots of detail for those with a high-end audio system. It is a powerful product for listeners looking for something special.

Product Strengths

• Offers a richer, more complex tonal palette with greater texture and nuance
• Improves the midrange with much more energy and life without brightness or peakiness
• Capable of transparency in a way that few other amps can manage, preserving harmonic and dynamic envelopes around instruments

Product Considerations

• Requires prolonged break-in and warm-up time to sound its best
• May clip at extreme volume levels, causing certain frequencies to localize
• Can be a bit lacking in natural warmth and body, potentially sounding slightly cool and abrupt

Takeaway: The Audio Note Kegon is an amplifier that improves midrange, treble, and bass and that provides a richer sound overall. With its ability to reveal nuances in music, it offers a unique and potentially rewarding listening experience.

Product Strengths

• Unusual transparency
• Crystal clear sound
• Delivers an effortless and open image
• Vividly built and creates euphony and intimacy
• Handmade with point-to-point wiring and high-quality components

Product Considerations

• Requires high-efficiency speakers to perform well
• Dimensions (26 x 15 x 57.5cm) might make placement difficult on standard shelves
• Not charming in an obviously tubey way
• Visually peculiar and to some people controversial
• Speaker binding posts look rather common

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Vs First Watt F7: The F2A11 is more agile with a slightly edgier bass contour, whereas the F7 is softer, rounder, heavier—and more spherical—in the bass
• Vs Trilogy 925 integrated: The F2A11 shows background like a true champ, in comparison to the thicker and darker Trilogy 925 integrated

Takeaway: The F2A11 is a unique integrated amplifier that delivers clear and transparent sound with a focus on accurate reproduction, making it suitable for listeners who appreciate detail and nuance in their music. It is well-crafted and has a distinctive design, appealing to those who value both sound quality and unique aesthetics.

Product Strengths

• Pure sound, free of coloration while retaining musical detail, allows a graceful and effortless listening experience
• Natural and tangible sound due to accurate reproduction of details, creates a believable presentation
• Solid and controlled bass performance, unusual for a 300B single-ended triode amplifier
• Excellent sense of touch and tactile sound, making instruments like plucked strings and bowed violins sound very convincing
• Wide and deep soundstage with good 'air', providing a transparent and 'hear-through' sound, especially with complex music

Product Considerations

• Careful matching with partnering equipment is required, especially speakers with high efficiency
• Relatively low overall gain requires a source with a high output voltage
• Output transformer links need to be correctly set for speaker impedance, requiring dealer assistance
• Some reviewers found the top end sounding a bit rolled off before use of appropriate high efficiency speakers and source gain settings
• Changing the EL803S driver valves requires carefully matched pairs supplied by Thöress

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Vs Shindo Haut-Brion/Corton-Charlemagne, Thöress has more treble extension and transparency, Shindo has better upper-bass/lower-midrange substance and body—and more drive

Takeaway: The Thöress SE-300B offers a supremely musical and detailed listening experience with a focus on accuracy and sonic purity. When paired with the right speakers, this amplifier could be an excellent choice to bring out the best in music.

Product Strengths

• Exceptional midrange detail and gracefulness
• Extended and complete bass and treble performance
• Capable of driving a wide array of speakers, especially those with high sensitivity (90dB or above)
• Recreates the original spectral balance and harmonic structure of recorded material with great detail
• Produces a three-dimensional soundstage without boundaries due to its transparency

Product Considerations

• No-feedback design means adding feedback can soften the sound and foreshorten the soundstage
• Maintenance includes periodic tube replacement
• It is best to pair with speakers that work well with the amp's characteristics rather than trying to tailor the amp using feedback
• Uses hard-to-find tubes that have no substitutes
• Aesthetics are very basic and lab-like, which some may find unappealing

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Vs Lamm ML2.1: Offers more midrange detail, more bass depth and liquidity, and more transient speed and definition
• Vs Atma-Sphere MA-2 Mk III: The Atma-Sphere has greater transparency, while low frequencies are better integrated

Takeaway: The Lamm ML3 Signature is an amplifier that is capable of recreating music in a very realistic way, with a level of detail that makes music sound incredibly lifelike. If true-to-life sound is valued, this amplifier could really bring music to life.

Product Strengths

• 'Luscious rendering of tone color' without being overly romantic
• Unearths musical meaning and offers unparalleled performance in many regards
• Realistic tone and spectral balance, along with image weight and dimension
• Very natural, organic, and grain-free sound, free from electronic haze
• Excellent bass control and dynamic drive for a SET amplifier

Product Considerations

• Requires careful matching with speakers that have high sensitivity (at least 94dB) and a benign impedance
• May not be ideal for music requiring significant bass extension, control, and wide dynamics, or for reproducing orchestral climaxes without strain
• Requires the user to check and adjust the plate voltage and plate current of the output tubes periodically using a voltmeter
• May not be a good match for all speakers; for example, it was notably less impressive with QUAD ESLs due to lower feedback
• Extraordinarily heavy (107 lbs in its crate), which may pose an installation challenge

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Vs LAMM ML2.1: Sounds a little more forward, with a bit more meat to instrumental and vocal sounds in the treble range
• Vs LAMM ML3 Signature: The ML3 surpasses the ML2.2 in terms of transient speed and definition, drive and musical savoir faire
• Vs Atma-Sphere MA-2 Mk 3.1: The Atma-Sphere amps offer unmatched transparency, but bass is a little better integrated
• Vs Shindo Haut-Brion: The Shindo Haut-Brion is better at expressing musical touch and force

Takeaway: The LAMM ML2.2 is a high-end amplifier that delivers a uniquely realistic and engaging listening experience if you are looking for something very special. It provides exceptional musicality and tone and brings a very strong connection to music.

Product Strengths

• Versatile option as a headphone amp or a speaker amp
• Rich tonal timbre and expansive soundstage
• Creamy, sweet, and liquid smooth midrange provides deep insight into the tone of individual instruments

Product Considerations

• Headphone output has a relatively high amount of background noise with a distinct transformer buzz
• Not a ton of play on the volume pot when listening to headphones
• No muting relay for the speaker output when headphones are plugged in

Comparisons (according to reviewers)

• Agartha's bass wasn't quite as punchy or resolving as the Wells Audio Milo

Takeaway: The Agartha is a versatile amplifier that works well with both headphones and speakers. It brings out a liquid timbre and digs into the nuances of the music.