Voxy 5-10W amp in $500 range?

[gobseulmuhri]

Let me get this off my chest. It's been a sad few months for me because I just have not been able to find the opportunity to play my AC15 at the sweetspot volume. When cranked up, it sounds SO good, but I rarely have the opportunity to play it loud enough. Lowering the master volume or using an attenuator didn't do the trick. There just has to be a certain amount of volume to push the speakers, and I can't get there without it being too loud.

So I'm sadly considering selling my AC15 and getting a lower wattage replacement. What, if any, are some good Voxy EL84 based 5-10W combos with preferably a 10'' speaker that are in the $500 range? The idea is that I can push the amp a good amount at apartment volumes. I know that the AC4TV is an option, but I'm wondering if there's anything in a higher range.

[Ryan Trevisol]

Well Vox offers the AC4 and the Night Train, but they both are a few watts out of your range in either direction.

Personally, I've been wanting to design a 5 watt, SE EL84 amp with a cascading dual EF86 preamp.

I hope to get a prototype working this summer. If everything goes right, I might have it to demo at the Mojo Guitar and Amp show in Raleigh.

[ruppert240]

vox ac4. fun and cheap little amp. your problem with pushing the speakers is most likely always going to be a problem at apartment volumes, no matter what amp you buy.

[ruppert240]

if you are concerned over the difference between 4,5 and 7 watts, then you probably shouldn't be buying a tube amp. haha

[gobseulmuhri]

vox ac4. fun and cheap little amp. your problem with pushing the speakers is most likely always going to be a problem at apartment volumes, no matter what amp you buy.

Would this be the case even with 10'' speakers?

[Songman]

Where are you playing these? I'm guessing home. If so, 5 watts is still too loud. You are not going to get that sweet tube tone at a bedroom level even with 5 watts IMO.

Either stick to your Ac15 or buy a Super champ XD.

[ShavenYak]

You need to forget about getting the sound of a pushed speaker at apartment volumes. Unless you can find a speaker that starts to break up with 1 watt or less.

I think the AC4TV sounds great on its 1/4 watt setting cranked wide open, and it's only half your budget.

[ruppert240]

it would be awesome if someone could design a large speaker that broke up at extremely low wattage. it would be the perfect solution for the bedroom crowd.