Antique Sound Lab TULIP 2A3 Amplifiers Reviews

revandspark

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
The first time I'd heard of this amp was the review in the now dead "Listener". From the credibility of the author and the basic design ideas, I bought the amp unheard. During the break in period it was unremarkable, but it truly made music afterward. Being a single ended amp it is very easy to change it's sound characteristics by changing the tubes. All three of the tubes in the amp are common and often very inexpensive. My favorites? The best rectifier I is, not surprisingly a mullard, but the very inexpensive Sovtek is very close. The 12AX7s are probably best when they are 1950s GEs. The Sovteks are too dark but very musical, the cryo'd JJs I've tried just sucked, the NOS lRCA cheapies are pretty good. Find your own flavor just for rolling some different tubes! The output tubes are very easy, and a no brainer. The Sovtek single plate 2A3s are fantastic, and for the money, literally the best! I do have an original RCA single plate 2A3 and the Sovteks are the price of the sales tax on a NOS single plate from the twenties/thirties. The sound difference? The Sovteks might be a little more etched but are very close.
The Tulip does not do everything well. But it makes music. It is an 'event' and every time you get to listen to it, you will realize it is special.

audiokachina

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Price Paid:  $400.00 from ebay

Summary:
hi
i'm very glad with this power amp ,great sounding for flea wattage,my quads esl57,sound wonderful,the amp is in original condition,if any one have any mod ,please email me,i listened with the shunguang chinise 2a3,its ok ,but when i change with the nos tung-sol every thing change,the mids are so clear and liquid,i'll be try anothers tubes like eh,sovteck,rca any coming first.the preamp that i'm setup is a AMC 1030,I have another preamp golden tube sep-1,and still waiting his turn to let sing the asl tulip.my tulip is with the small bias screem on the face plate.

Strengths:
good bass ,ecxelent mids,nice looking

Weaknesses:
nothing found yet

Similar Products Used:
golden tube se-40,bel 1001mkii,dynakit st70,quadii,amc 2030