Most beautiful and exotic tube amp

I can't say that there's a single example presented so far that I would consider "beautiful" - many of the designs seem to be examples of "trying too hard" - although many are "exotic," I guess.

Maybe I'm just a traditionalist because my eye is mostly attracted to classic '50s and '60s designs, but I'll try to play along anyway...



DIY amp, builder unknown:



The Elekit Tube Amp from Japanese designer, Koichi Futatsumata:



Philips MBLE:

 

Those aren't doing it for me.

 

I actually disagree in that I'm jealous most old amps have tubes in the back where they can't be seen. I think the new design are mostly pretty neat. Just a shame they apparently don't have the same sound as the older models.

 

That's why we're lucky to have options!

 

Nagra VPA monoblocks.

 

H.H. Scott Stereomaster 399. Those vintage early 1960’s champagne colored Scott components have real classic mid- century industrial designs.

(Sorry had a link but the pictures disappeared)

 

Some very weird and interesting looking stuff in this thread. As far as looks are concerned, I sort of like the Engstrom gear:
Engström: Scandinavian Sound

Also, Absolare makes some nice looking tube gear:
http://www.absolare.com/

Sound is another matter, I have not heard the gear of either brands.

 

Maybe not the most beautiful, not the best, but it's the most classic of all!

 

I can't help considering the sound and other considerations when looking at particular gear. Do the WAVAC and Airtight and Audio Note amps look good, purely from a visual perspective or do I also consider that I like the sound? I sort of like the look of the Line Magnetic amp, but, it also looks to me like a rip off of something like the WE 59A amp (an amp I've heard and like a lot).

I can say I like the looks of Engstrom amps without consideration of sound because I've never actually heard that amp.

 

Personally, I say keep it simple.

 

I think that’s the model they use to attach the clamps to the suspect’s nether regions for interrogation

 

That’s awesome! I read about it. I didn’t understand, it said it “did not win awards”. Did it suck? Looks awesome

 

Carver Silver 7 700.

 

Glorious. Love the satin finish. AAARGH! poverty

 

It certainly did not suck according to Ken Kessler (the only journalist I know who reviewed it), indeed this page claims he thinks it is still the best amp ever made:

Nice Marantz Tubes.

and it gets a mention on his Hi-Fi News page too:

Meet the Team; Ken Kessler - Meet the Team

("Another bombshell was the Marantz T1 [HFN, Jan ’97]").

I worked with Ken Ishiwata and his team when I was at Philips developing SACD, and, as I recall, Marantz did not want to go to the expense of CE mark certification, etc., so this became a special order for most territories outside of Japan. As a result, extremely rare, and largely unknown to this day. I did try to convince my bosses at Philips to let me buy 10 of them for a bi-amp'ed M-ch system. They didn't spring for that, but I did get five stereo Marantz SM-5 Mk. IIs until we decided to switch to Pass Labs X-series amps:

Marantz sm-5 on thevintageknob.org

 

Cool! Thanks for that. It’s certainly a beautiful amp. I wonder who has one out in the world

 

This was co-developed by Pat Hickman who did some work on some of my gear a while back (he's still my go-to for tuner alignment). Dubbed the Whammerdyne, it's a direct-coupled stereo 300B SET.

 

Couldn't agree more. Exotic and beautiful can be miles apart, and most of the examples here are. I would throw most of the current exotic turntables under the same bus as well. While I realize that the mega-buck amps have to deliver on the wow factor, most of these do nothing for me and I own dozens of vintage tube amps, tuners and receivers.

In the famous words of Jack Dalton:

 

Mine was the original War of the Worlds or maybe a prop in an another HG Wells movie.

Too freaky for my tastes

 

I think it would have made a world of difference if they dressed up the transformers a bit

 

Wasn't this a prop in the original Frankenstein?

IT"S ALIVE!!!!!!!!

 

Art Audio Diavolo. I used to own one of this. Great little amp...and just gorgeous!

 

Reminds me of Spock's "Stone Knives and Bear Skins" tube computer from City on the Edge of Forever

 

I am going to ask the mods to delete this thread due to undue pain and suffering to my wallet and psyche. I am having amp envy. My SS amps are suddenly looking rather cheap and droopy over there on the rack....

The drool / envy factor on this thread is unbearable, I am looking for an "Ignore Thread" button, but don't see it...