mini tube amp

Hi
Some time ago I remember seeing some pics of mini tube amps - I mean about the size of a paperback novel.

Anyone rememebr what make they were as I am considering something like that for my new PC set-up. Obviously not for serious listening but just for messsing around with the PC.

Do they sound half decent or are they just a gimmick?

Also looking for cheap second hand Alesis M1 Active Mk 2s as an alternative.

 

I use the big Joe III. with a built in DAC. I was using it with a pair of Martin Logans.

 

Here is the newer version:

Alesis Prolinear 820 Top end monitors with 8 inch kevlar drivers. In mint condition, with boxes. These are the non-dsp version. See: http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jan04/articles/alesisprolinear.htm
£250ono. Email Stephen (Dumfries) 01/12/09

Or some KRK, though I prefer Alesis.

KRK RP5 G2 Mint condition, hardly used, boxed etc. Can courrier.
£175 ono. Phone 07833 140 956 or Email (LONDON) 29/11/09

 

Thanks Hifi Addict - like the name "big joe"

What I was thinking off looked a lot more basic than those. They looked like a piece of wood with some electronics bolted on.

Googling doesn't provide much in the way of price and availability for Big Joe - is that a line that you stock? are you selling your domain?

And thanks Tenson - will check those out

 

I'm ABC Audio now. My assistant died in a motorcycle accident and took all the domain codes with him. So when the domain name expired someone nabbed it.

Russ Andrews sells the Firestone audio stuff. they are about 4"x3"x5" deep.

I did make a mistake they are not valves though.

so quite small.

 

fatman? i tube,
nando

 

Actually i was thinking something more along the lines of this...

http://www.tnt-audio.com/ampli/miniwatt_amplifier_e.html

But I'm sure I've seen a better looking one with real wood base...

 

Worth a listen IMO.

 

quote

the fatman i tube is about £150.00 and as dev said well worth a listen,
nando.

 

Seriously, why go for valves? In something small and cheap the transformers will be just that, and cripple performance. Go active Kenan, if you want good sound rather than a pretty toy.

I'm a little drunk and righteous.

 

Yeah your right

 

Not wanting to add to the plethora of plugs and power suppllies under my desk, what are the alesi USB monitors like? Any good?

Also anyone heard of Auna speakers? also looking at USb versions

 

Seconded, and I'm sober

A couple of distorted watts a side and your speakers being driven by tiddly little output transformers might be fun as a school project on the kitchen table but it isn't hi-fi.

Driving headphones is a different matter, though I still don't see the point.