Valve amplifiers

I had never really thought about getting a valve amplifier.

Maybe a bit too esoteric? Too much "trouble"..

Until I had the chance to hear one this week, with my own turntable, and in many ways it was outstanding.

Clarity, separation, imaging like I'd never heard before.

Not much at the bottom end, which would be an issue for me since I listen to a lot of dance music, though this one was only 4 watts and I understand you can get more powerful ones which when coupled with more efficient speakers may well give it enough "oomph".

I'm left wondering:

- If more conventional integrated amplifiers (at any price) can ever get anywhere near what this valve setup could do with sound staging?

- If the most powerful valve setups coupled with very efficient speakers could give the bass the capabilities I'd want;

- How much this will cost right now and if it might be the case that the valves 'wear out' (maybe quite quickly at the volume at which I listen) and the first time this happens, I'm going to think "This is lovely, but it's not sustainable".

Has anyone else gone down this route and are you glad that you did?

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Valve amplifiers