The modern tube power amp thread

[Desertdweller]

KSR has something really cool coming out. So far I've only seen the renders but the feature set is pretty great, even if the front is so utilitarian:


KSR has had the PA25 and PA50 out for a while too:


Then there's Fryette's full suite of offerings with the Power Station, LXII, 2/90/2 and 2/50/2. And who can deny all the awesome things Steve Fryette is doing now for rack enthusiasts:


While not exactly power amps, Soldano has recommitted to rack gear the past year as well:


What else is out there in current gen? I'm not talking classics like the Marshall, Mesa, Carvin or ADA power amps of years past, but what else is out there in the modern space, current production rack amps/power amps we may have missed?

 

[Eagle]

Engl

 

[Badonkey Kong]

I really like that new KSR form factor (shallow rack), but the price is way out my league for the foreseeable future.

Of course the Synergy stuff.

 

[EOengineer]

The 2u KSR power amp looks cool. The extra control options are useful-ish - it would be better if they were MIDI controllable.

The first company to tie those resonance and NFB controls into accepting MIDI is gonna win this race. In the modern world there’s no excuse to not allow me to control those externally in a way where I can tie it into my Helix presets or whatever I’m working with.

 

[EOengineer]

It is refreshing to see companies still investing in rack gear in 2025. Tube power amps in particular seem to be popping up more and more in modeling rigs - or I’m just noticing it because I’m migrating in that direction.

I’d love to see some mono tube power amps, or more widespread support for bridged mono. I don’t need stereo, just give me one amazing sounding channel of big iron amplification.

 

[RaceU4her]

i been using my little 1w randall that has a loop as my power amp lately, i run my myasnikov iic+ and 3 monkeys jose preamp into it with the mesa 5 band it and its just awesome for low volumes, if you want tube power at low volumes its great, and on its own it sounds great too

 

[Whizzinby]

The KSR power amp looks badass. Would like to get more details on it. Wish it was stereo, but he said this is a test of the market and stereo might find a way if this sells .

+1 on the rack resurgence.

 

[RaceU4her]

anyone ever try one of these fuckers?

https://reverb.com/item/2432416-atomic-mb-50-power-amp-black

 

[EOengineer]

anyone ever try one of these fuckers?

https://reverb.com/item/2432416-atomic-mb-50-power-amp-black

Remember the Atomic Reactor powered combos? Man you really just brought me back to PODxt days.

What a blast from the past.

 

[RaceU4her]

Remember the Atomic Reactor powered combos? Man you really just brought me back to PODxt days.

What a blast from the past.

i do now remember them looking at one now, i dont remember anyone having one though, if he shipped i would grab it lol

https://reverb.com/item/84519738-atomic-reactor-112-powered-guitar-speaker-cabinet-preamp-not-included-cab-only-local-pickup-only

 

[EOengineer]

i do now remember them looking at one now, i dont remember anyone having one though, if he shipped i would grab it lol

https://reverb.com/item/84519738-atomic-reactor-112-powered-guitar-speaker-cabinet-preamp-not-included-cab-only-local-pickup-only

They have a cool looking floor wedge version too.

 

[laxu]

anyone ever try one of these fuckers?

https://reverb.com/item/2432416-atomic-mb-50-power-amp-black

I had the Atomic FR 1x12 combo that might use the same poweramp. This was the amp that followed the Atomic Reactor, preceding the Atomic CLR.

I liked it and should have kept it. Other than weight distribution being to one side, I had no complaints. Worked very well with modelers.

 

[EOengineer]

I had the Atomic FR 1x12 combo that might use the same poweramp. This was the amp that followed the Atomic Reactor, preceding the Atomic CLR.

I liked it and should have kept it. Other than weight distribution being to one side, I had no complaints. Worked very well with modelers.

It would be interesting to see how some of their tech from that area holds up now with our current gen modeling. I’d even be tempted to take something like the reactor and replace the FR speaker with my guitar speaker of choice and run without cab sims just to have access to the all in one portable tube power and combo for convenience.

 

[laxu]

It would be interesting to see how some of their tech from that area holds up now with our current gen modeling. I’d even be tempted to take something like the reactor and replace the FR speaker with my guitar speaker of choice and run without cab sims just to have access to the all in one portable tube power and combo for convenience.

From what I remember, I mostly ran it with the tweeter at fairly low volume, like maybe a quarter up. I'm sure that helped make it a good bit more "cab in the room" with the Axe-Fx 2.

I sold it when I didn't have any gigging needs for it.

 

[Mongillo19]

The KSR power amp looks badass. Would like to get more details on it. Wish it was stereo, but he said this is a test of the market and stereo might find a way if this sells .

+1 on the rack resurgence.

I get the love for KSR but their time estimates are terrible. I was quoted 6 weeks for an amp and it took over a year before I transferred the order to someone else. They told me transformers were the issue and that often holds them up. That's fine and all but please don't quote me weeks and have it take years

I say this because I see people who put orders in for this power amp when it launched still not having them. Guess what, it's the transformers again. Not saying it'll take a year but I'd just go in understanding you may be waiting awhile for any KSR product that isn't already built

 

[Whizzinby]

I get the love for KSR but their time estimates are terrible. I was quoted 6 weeks for an amp and it took over a year before I transferred the order to someone else. They told me transformers were the issue and that often holds them up. That's fine and all but please don't quote me weeks and have it take years

I say this because I see people who put orders in for this power amp when it launched still not having them. Guess what, it's the transformers again. Not saying it'll take a year but I'd just go in understanding you may be waiting awhile for any KSR product that isn't already built

That sucks. I’ve never actually bought anything from them. I’ve circled the drain on the PA50 more than a few times, but never been able to pull the trigger. Curious how people get on with this new one.

 

[Elric]

I get the love for KSR but their time estimates are terrible. I was quoted 6 weeks for an amp and it took over a year before I transferred the order to someone else. They told me transformers were the issue and that often holds them up. That's fine and all but please don't quote me weeks and have it take years

I say this because I see people who put orders in for this power amp when it launched still not having them. Guess what, it's the transformers again. Not saying it'll take a year but I'd just go in understanding you may be waiting awhile for any KSR product that isn't already built

I've had one on order since before they were announced. Hoping they're worth the wait. Have multiple amps already, so willing to wait for the Good Stuff.

Down side: I've repeatedly reminded my wife that I have it coming on order but at this rate there is no way to avoid her errantly calling it out as a 'stealth gear purchase' because most massed produced stuff, you buy it on Amazon and it's here by end of day the next day... She's not plugged into anything with 6 to 12 month lead times.

By the time this shows, she'll have forgotten about it by the time it shows up... "What is that? A power amp? Don't you have like ten amps already? You never told me you were buying another amp!"