What is best measuring tube headphone amp, to buy in 2023?

[Music1969]

Hi all

What is best measuring tube headamp to buy in 2023?

Please nobody reply "buy solid state" because I already have state of the art SMSL SP400 THX AAA 888

Thanks!

@solderdude

 

[solderdude]

The whole 'tube amp' business is not about 'best measuring' but rather 'most pleasing sounding to the owner'.
I would not worry about measurements from tube amps.
Only bandwidth and output power are somewhat important numbers here.

 

[Music1969]

The whole 'tube amp' business is not about 'best measuring' but rather 'most pleasing sounding to the owner'.
I would not worry about measurements from tube amps.
Only bandwidth and output power are somewhat important numbers here.

But there has been one or two with SINAD at least 96dB but I can't recall which.

Maybe substitute "best measuring" for "at least not broken measurements"

 

[Music1969]

Found one:

 

[Music1969]

Found from 2019:

Amirm wrote: "Overall, if you are determined to put a tube amp on your desk, the Monoprice Monolith Liquid Platinum by Alex Cavalli is the best choice out there. It seemingly does little harm to audio signal unlike the classical tube amplifiers sold to audiophiles."

Monoprice Liquid Platinum Headphone Amp Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Monoprice Liquid Platinum Headphone Amplifier by Alex Cavalli. It is on kind loan from a member. It costs USD $770 and is currently out of stock on Monoprice website. Alex Cavalli used to design, sell and manufacture his own tube amplifiers...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[solderdude]

It's a hybrid though.

 

[JeffS7444]

DIY required, but this is the tube headphone/speaker amp that I'd want to build for myself:
http://pmillett.com/Jonokuchi.htm
But it's larger and heavier because it's an all-tube (not hybrid) design.

This would be about the smallest all-tube design that I'm aware of. It's DIY but much more convenient in the sense that all parts are included. Dunno how much output you'll get at the lowest frequencies, but I sure do like building Elekits. They've been able to reduce the size by using an outboard SMPS, and (maybe?) using smallish output transformers.
https://www.elekit.co.jp/en/product/TU-8185