Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Magazine reviewers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below.
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.
Compared to their other products
We think it's helpful to understand how this product fits into the brand's full lineup (below). To learn more about these products, visit the brand's page.
Chubby Jinx
- Positioning: The entry-level stereo amplifier in the lineup.
- Description: Offers a sweet sound with its 6V6 tubes, providing warmth and texture. Unlike the Kenzie Ovation, which focuses on low noise for headphones, this is tailored for stereo listening with a more neutral and resolving sound, making it ideal for small rooms and budget-conscious users.
Kenzie Ovation
- Positioning: A mid-range hybrid amplifier designed for both headphones and speakers.
- Description: Praised for its romantic sound and low noise, making it perfect for high-efficiency headphones. It differs from the Bryce Monos by offering a more intimate sound with less power.
Stereo 17 - Little Nugget
- Positioning: A compact stereo amplifier offering a no-compromise entry into bespoke audio.
- Description: Known for its EL84 tube bliss, provides a stable 17 watts, making it suitable for high-sensitivity speakers in small rooms. Unlike the Nautilus, which offers more power and versatility, this focuses on delivering a liquid midrange.
Nautilus
- Positioning: A flagship personal audio integrated amplifier.
- Description: Celebrated for its dual-mono layout and ultra-wide bandwidth, offering a reference-class sound. It stands out from the Arch Monos by providing a more compact solution with excellent headphone compatibility.
Bryce Monos
- Positioning: High-end single-ended amplifiers in the lineup.
- Description: Deliver ultra-wide bandwidth and high output, making them suitable for most speakers. Compared to the Arch Monos, which offer more power, these focus on single-ended purity.
Arch Monos
- Positioning: The flagship monoblock amplifiers in the lineup.
- Description: Designed for ultimate fidelity and power, with a bandwidth of 2Hz to 110kHz. They surpass the Bryce Monos in power and transparency.
Read the reviews

Manufacturer's notes
Typical of all ampsandsound amplifiers, the power supply is massive. This, combined with a generous choke, yields our trademark low noise; less than 680mV at the idle, and stable output of 5 watts RMS into an 8ohm load and 3 .5watts into a 32ohm headphone. Frequency response is 12hz to 34hz at 1 watt, 1-dB. Carefully selected output iron reduces distortion and increases frequency response. And of course, we also use our 5% capacitors and 2% resistors.
The motivation of the Agartha is to provide wide bandwidth and give the warm mid-range bloom that is at the heart of single-ended direct-heated triode designs.
- Chassis dimensions: 15.75" Wide x 9.75" Deep
- Input sensitive w/12AX7: 1.4V P-P
- Input sensitive w/12AX7: 1.2V P-P
- Noise @ 300ohm/HiZ: 1.2 mV RMS
- Noise @ 100ohm: 1.1mV RMS
- Noise @ 32ohm: 500 uV RMS
- Noise @ 16ohm: 450 uV RMS
- Noise @ 8ohm LoZ: 430 uV RMS
- Max Power @ 8ohm: 7 watts RMS
- Max Power @ 32ohm: 5 watts RMS
- THD 1Watt: 1.360%
- THD 2Watt: 1.830%
- AC Noise: 0.212mV
- Frequency response: 12hz to 34khz @ 1 watt -1db
- Output Impedance: 8/16/32/100/300
Our take on the brand
Used
ampsandsound
What if you spend a bit more?
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With the inclusion the new tube cage, the transformer cover was raised 2" to allow the cage to fully protect any KT-120/KT-150 tube. The resulting metal work and power supply changes have yielded our quietest Nautilus yet. Many still love the sleek lower profile look of the Classic Nautilus and as such we allow you to order your Nautiluswith the original metal work style or the Rev 2. The Classic Nautilus will additionally save you $1000 on the purchase.
The Story of the Nautilus is born of the same process that brought the Zions. We set out to build my private amps apart from ampsandsound. These were to be mine without branding and never to leave for demos. All too often, my own listening space was sacrificed for the need for demo stock. I chose the HK Cit II as my inspiration point. From that seed came my own Cit II Monos build on turrets just like the best amps of the golden age.
The Nautilus brings the dual-mono layout onto a single chassis. We started with our most versatile circuit, the Mogwai, and went about creating two separate amps that share a single chassis. 2 Power Transformers, Separate Power Supplies, Chokes, and input transformers. The amps are built with separate turret boards, with the shared component being the input tube, volume control, and outputs.
The Nautilus is a classic and decidedly prosaic design, as it employs turrets and point-to-point wiring & there is no silicone, ICs, or regulators. We consider this a standard-bearer of purest audio with an American sensibility. The Nautilus is built in a way few modern amplifiers are. This is not due to intrinsic inferiority, but rather it is impossible to rush and is incredibly expensive to produce.
The Nautilus has been described as a tube integrated amp for personal audio users. We mean by this, the Nautilus allows for five separate impedances to be selected for system matching and has a pair of 8ohm 5 way binding posts. The speaker vs. headphone output is selected with a small toggle switch on the back of the amp.
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Five individualized outputs with different impedances
- Custom wound ultra-high quality output transformers provide excellent frequency extension and a flat response
- Engaging audio components offer superior sound quality using proven theories, solid engineering, and quality manufacturing, all taking place in the USA
- Brings out the very best qualities in all of the headphones tested, providing the best presentation ever heard from the Aeolus
- Build quality is a step-up from other amplifiers
Product Considerations
- The most expensive quarter inch plugs you can get, have locks on them, which can be annoying
- Unplug headphones before switching to speaker outputs
- Weighs around 68 pounds and around 93 pounds shipped in its large pelican style case—it is heavy
- Can clip when used with speakers if pushed too hard
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Nautilus sounds better than the ZMF Pendant Headphone Tube Amplifier and the Mogwai OG Tube Amplifier in every regard
- Nautilus is even more comprehensive and expressive through the powerful, well-controlled, tonal density that is detailed and rich in nuance—it has more extension and top-notch resolution
Takeaway: The Nautilus seems to be a versatile amplifier that brings out the best in headphones and speakers. It's built with quality parts and offers a lush and detailed sound experience for audiophiles who want to enjoy music to the fullest.
Video review
Our take on the brand
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Red October Rev 2 includes 2023 tube cage. This change to the metal work allows us to delineate inclusion of the Gen 5 power supply and culmination of 2 years successive efforts to improve this amazing amplifier. With the inclusion the new tube cage, the transformer cover was raised 2" to allow the cage to fully protect any 300b. The resulting metal work and power supply changes have yielded our quietest Red October yet.
Like the Nautilus, the Red October started as a personal project. It was not confined to a price point, and was not built for the masses, but instead the Red October was built to be the very best amplifier we were capable of building. We took every lesson we learned from the Nautilus, and we applied those lessons to the most legendary tube in the audio world, the 300B. People love the 300B for its true to life vocal representation and it's sense of clarity and space, it is the ultimate Directly Heated Triode.
The Red October incorporates this famous tube in a circuit that traces its roots back to the Agartha. However instead of a circuit board implementation, the Red October is entirely hand assembled using point to point wiring and turret board constriction. Every component is hand selected and chosen for performance: Jupiter foil wax coupling capacitors and an excellent 24 step stepped attenuator are standard, the Red October has no compromises. Our skilled team assembles each unit entirely by hand. There is not a single IC, voltage regulator, or silicon chip in the Red October, this amplifier is built in accordance to classic techniques and will last a lifetime because of it.
Our goal with the Red October was to honor the 300B, to do so we did a classic implementation with a single gain stage, zero feedback, and close attention to grounding techniques. The result is a deeper connection with your music, and an inky black background on headphones with no hum noise. The font end of the Red October uses a 12AX7 as an input tube. We chose this 9 pin high gain front end due to its ability to deliver a faster and more lively presentation. It also helps that 12AX7s are accessible in both old and new stock form. The front end of this amp is paired with a massive tube rectified dual mono power supply that ensures tight bass and earth shattering slam on any headphone you plug into this amplifier.
While the Red October may look like a single amplifier, it is actually true dual mono amplifier built on top of a single chassis. The only shared components are the input tube, volume control, and output jacks. The power supply, power transformers, output transformers, and even the turret boards are all separate. The result is class leading mono block performance with the convenience and ease of a single chassis.
When people talk about ampsandsound products, they often talk about our transformers. The Red October uses the best transformers we have ever developed. The power transformers are massively over spec'd and the output transformers have an incredibly wide bandwidth and provide the Red October with shockingly low distortion measurements given its single ended nature. Like the transformers we have taken great pride in our metal work. The Chassis is hand fabricated and built with 10 gauge steel. The result is a 68 pound amplifier that feels solid as a rock. To give the Red October a clean look, we covered the transformers and power supply with a gorgeous damped cover.
While many things set the Red October apart from its peers, its most unique feature is the different output impedances, 5 in total. Unlike others who use voltage divider networks to create these different impedances, our transformers are wound with taps for each impedance. The result is the ability to perfect match the Red October with nearly every single production pair headphones in existence (as well as speakers). This also gives the Red October five distinct sonic profiles for every headphone allowing the listener to choose what sounds best to them.
We call the Red October a tube integrated amplifier for personal audio use because it also contains a speaker switch and a pair of 8ohm binding posts on the back. With 8 watts of power, the Red October can easily power a reasonably efficient pair of speaker to deafening levels. The speaker selection switch allows you to select between the headphone outputs and the speaker outputs enabling the Red October to truly be the center of your audio system.
When it comes time to connect your components to the Red October, you have two choices, a pair of high quality single ended RCA inputs, and a pair of XLR inputs. The XLR inputs us a input transformer to convert the incoming balanced signal to a single ended signal for the amplifier. The input transformer allows you to retain all the benefits of balanced cabling along with providing better bass and a quieter background.
The Red October is everything we could have hoped it to be. It is truly a marvel to behold, and we are proud to call it our new flagship amplifier.
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Beautiful point-to-point and turret board construction
- True dual mono design with separate power supplies for each channel
- Offers multiple headphone impedance outputs (8, 16, 32, 100, 300 ohm) directly from transformer windings
- Tonally correct and engaging presentation with great clarity
- Can function as both a headphone and speaker amplifier
Product Considerations
- Not silent at all times, some background noise may be present
- Not suitable for super-efficient, easy-to-drive headphones due to potential background noise
- May not be ideal for driving lower efficiency speakers to concert levels without compression
- Rolling NOS output tubes can be expensive
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Compared to Nautilus, Red October is more refined, with a more effortless top end and seductive mid-range
- Compared to Kenzie Ovation, Kenzie Ovation is quieter and warmer, but Red October offers more detail and seduction
Takeaway: The Red October is an engaging and tonally correct amplifier that works great for both headphones and efficient speakers. It is a top-tier product that could be the last amplifier someone needs.
Video review
Our take on the brand
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Our customers have come to love the laboratory grade implementation of our work and its intended long lifecycle. The Bounty is built with 11gage steel plate providing a compact and extraordinarily solid amp. The Bounty is meant to bridge the gap between headphones needing big power and a no compromise stereo amp for speakers of almost any pairing. With its 17watts you can run nearly any speaker practically in most rooms. Fantastic pairings include JBL L100, KEF LS50, Tekton double impacts, Zu Dirty Weekend, Klipsch Heresy/Cornwall and Fortes, LS3/5a, Harbeth 30.1s.
The Bounty is an EL84 ultra linear amp with 17 watts of tube bliss. 2 EL84 tubes in push-pull configuration per channel with 12AX7 for input and a 12AU7 for the phase splitter. The circuit used is widely famed for its stability and liquid midrange. With fixed bias, tube rolling is a breeze. The removable tube cage protects your tubes when family and pets cant be trusted.
The Bounty is based on the famous Halfer circuit with cathode bias allowing trouble free operation. 8ohm tap for speakers with a switch for deactivation. 16ohm, 32ohm and 100ohm 4pin XLR on the front providing a multitude of options for optimal impedance matching. The Bounty produces a stable 17 watts RMS with 22watt peaks with significant current delivery. The output transformers utilize massive cores which resist saturation and deliver jaw dropping low end performance thanks to their 35watt cores.
Like all ampsandsound amplifiers, it is dead quiet with reliable performance. When we say dead… we mean put your ear to the mouth of your horn-loaded system and all you will hear is silence! Never leaving well enough alone, the Bounty is for those who demand the very last degree of performance. We employ use of custom wound transformers made exclusively for ampsandsound. The power transformer is nearly twice, and size and weight/core as needed in the unit to allow for real dynamic swings and true 200% duty cycles.
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Very powerful amplifier, suitable for both speakers and headphones
- Fully balanced design for optimal audio performance
- Creates a synergistic listening experience, allowing users to get lost in the music
Product Considerations
- Can be sensitive to electrical interference, leading to potential noise issues in non-ideal setups
- Very heavy (around 45 pounds), making it difficult to move around frequently
- May produce a noticeable noise floor with more sensitive headphones
Takeaway: The Amson Sound Bounty is a powerful and well-designed amplifier that provides an immersive and enjoyable listening experience. It's especially suited for those seeking a high-performance amplifier for their speakers and power-hungry headphones.
Video review
Our take on the brand

Double the Performance Trouble-free, noise-free, and double the power of traditional 300B amps. Made possible by patented circuit design. A New Classic We’re proud to continue a legacy of quality, American manufacturing with innovative new features. Ships with Tubes The 91E ships with new production 300Bs, the most popular electron tubes in the world. Made in the USA.
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- New patented design SCS (source current steering) allows the amplifier to have a fabulous bottom end without affecting the glorious midrange
- Proprietary noise reduction system eliminates noise that can be inherent in a single-ended design
- Circuit protects the 300Bs and keeps them in their safe operating range, so there is no chance of damaging the tube or having a shortened life
- More power from this amp than a traditional 300B, it's the difference in presentation
- It has Bluetooth, phono stage (moving coil and moving magnet), and wireless remote control
Product Considerations
- Instructions could be a little clearer about installing the 300Bs
- More warm-up is needed for each listening session than originally allowed
- The 91E was designed for operation with Western Electric manufactured 300B electron tubes
- The brands and specifications of the capacitors, resistors, transformers, internal wires, RCA jacks, switches, and binding posts are not disclosed
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs WE 91A: 91E retains what's best about the early WE 91A—its delicacy, bloom, openness, and tonal magic—and adds modern improvements
Takeaway: The Western Electric 91E is a uniquely designed amplifier providing great sound with modern features like Bluetooth and remote control, pushing what a 300B tube amplifier can achieve. It's a great option for audiophiles wanting to step up from other tube amplifier sounds.
Video review
Our take on the brand
What else competes at this price?
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Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Very powerful amp with crazy headroom, capable of driving most headphones, including those that need a lot of power, and can grow with you as different headphones
- Delivers clarity, separation, detail, and impact, making every pair of headphones sound better
- Multiple impedance outputs allow dialing in the best sound for a given pair of headphones
- Super black background—very low noise floor
- A ton of different tubes can be rolled, including EL34s, KT66s, KT67s, KT88s, 6550s, and KT90s, making it very versatile and allowing customization of the sound to exact taste
Product Considerations
- Only one input via a pair of RCA connectors
- Requires a pre-amplifier or DAC with volume control if obtained without the volume pot
- May lack convenience features because of ampsandsound's minimalist philosophy
- Can be very heavy
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Linear Tube Audio's Z10e: Z10e seemed more focused and brightly lit through the midrange
Takeaway: The Bigger Ben is a hugely versatile and powerful amplifier that could be an end-game amp, especially if you want to experiment with tube rolling. Its sound is detailed, clear, and engaging, making it a great choice for anyone who loves listening to music.
Video review
Our take on the brand
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Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Addictive sound signature, unlike any other amp, with otherworldly instrument and voice reproduction
- Delivers serious magic with Fleetwood Deville and Klipsch Heritage speakers, revealing obscure details and creating a massive soundstage
- Dynamics for days
- Combines the qualities of a nice SET amp without the downsides, like noise or tube replacement
- Exceptional build quality and design with high-quality parts
- Only has two RCA inputs, no XLR balanced connections
Product Considerations
- Heavy speaker cables can cause the amp to tilt
- The volume dial functions as a gain dial, which may be different than what some users are accustomed to
- May not be suitable for hard-to-drive speakers in the 85db range that dip into 2–4 ohms
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The AMP23R offers more texture, layering, mid-bass, and vocal presence than Nagra INT
- The AMP23R is more organic, ethereal, and dynamic than Kinki Studio EXM1
- It sounds better than the Vinnie Rossi L2iSE, so long as the speakers are easy to drive
- The Enleum has more delicacy and finesse than Pass Labs and Cary Audio
- The AMP23R stacks up with the finest gear such as ampsandsound Bryce monoblocks
- Pass Labs First Watt SIT-3 offers a bit more organic, warmer presentation
Takeaway: The Enleum AMP-23R is a small but mighty integrated amplifier with a unique and addictive sound signature, and it is built with high-quality components. It's a great choice for those with sensitive speakers looking for a reference-quality system in a compact package.
Video review
Our take on the brand

Our Summary
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.
Video review
Our take on the brand

Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Refinement and smoothness in sound
- Exceptional build and finish, including exquisite woodwork
- Seductive midrange and overall musicality
- The Sinfonia has a romantic, addictive sound that's better suited to classical music
Product Considerations
- Not the last word in slam
- Needs careful system partnering to sound its best
- Dynamics were very good, although not exactly of the same caliber as with the ModWright preamp and amp
- When pushed to the extremes, during the most dynamic passages, the Sinfonia began to reach its limit—compressing gently and giving up some of the low frequency control
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Sinfonia offers a smoother, warmer, and more seductive sound, while the S6 amplifier sounds a little 'faster' and more linear
Takeaway: The Sinfonia is a fine amplifier with a beautiful build that delivers a refined and smooth sound. It's a good choice for enjoying music and will make your eyes smile with its hand-made Italian design.
Video review
Our take on the brand

Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Exceptional build quality and aesthetics
- Delivers a robust 40 watts per channel into 8 ohms
- Demonstrates remarkable frequency handling, extending from 17Hz to 63kHz (-2dB)
- Precise bias adjustment with built-in meter
- Superb control, power, and effortless flow
Product Considerations
- Relatively heavy at 30kg
- May require occasional tube maintenance
- Power output might not suit all speaker combinations
- A softer 300B glow was not present
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The Triode as amp offered a similar kind of finely grained nearly neutral sound as the Audionet
- No amp has bettered the Riviera Levante integrated amp in dimensional quality
- Parts cost plus the Evolution comes with two Western Electric 300Bs that run $1499 per matched pair on the open market, while the Triode TRZ-300W sports four Triode-branded 300Bs
Takeaway:
The Triode Evolution is a high-end tube amp that delivers music with power and clarity. Those who value musical authenticity and appreciate the warmth of tube amplification may find it a great fit.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Magazine reviewers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below.
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.
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