There's something about tube amps that just make them all the more cooler than your run-the-mill digital receiver. Perhaps it has something to do with how unbelievably steampunk they look, or maybe some of us are just curious how well analog sounds with our new media players. Whatever it is, there seems to be a market out there as high-end audio makers seem to be churning these out a lot this year. We've rounded up a few standout products... just be ready when the HiFi price tag hits.
The set featured above is the Logic 3's Valve80. It comes with a pair of bookshelf speakers in black piano and is pushed by a tube amp that outputs 40 watts per channel. You can grab it for $488.
The Glow Amp One is tiny and fits right in between a couple of books on a bookshelf. It's also available for $488.
This 2B Tube Amp radio can be easily turned into an all-purpose kitchen stereo with a Y-converter to your iPod and output to some old stereo speakers. Announcements on price can be found on their site.
The Acoustic Research AV1000 Tabletop Radio with iPod Dock has everything built right into it. It's cheaper, costing only $145.
You can check out this Supercent Audio System which has CD-player variations and a sweet wooden finish. Japanese info can be found here.
Better yet, turn it into a DIY project using Peter's own directions provided here at Unplggd.
[via Engadget]
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hmmm. I was thinking of getting a conventional amp/receiver for my bedroom so that I could run a couple of wall speakers.
This has me thinking in a new direction. Perhaps I could get an amp that could do the above but also dock my iphone?
I do have one question though before I move forward on any amp scenario--My airport express is directly on the other side of the wall from where the new amp would be--
can I split the mini jack that runs into the airport express?
Ideally I would run the split connection through the wall into my new amp and could run itunes without having to invest in another airport. (I cannot simply run another audio out or another set of speaker wires from the original amp because it is a bose this is not possible) Damn them.
So, will any of these units above take an rca connection from my express and have extra speaker wire hookups?
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