Finding the best tube amp for under 500 is difficult. No definitive lists of the best amp, no information about tube amplification, and a lot of misleading information from sellers trying to sell you an app that is not the best. Buying a high-quality amplifier is not an easy task, especially if you are a beginner and all people around tell you that you will need to spend at least $500 to get a good amp.
A lot of shoppers can’t readily find the best tube amplifier under 500, those looking specifically for a new low power valve amp for blues and jazz might not find what they’re looking for. In reality, there are lots of inexpensive tube amplifiers that can give you quality levels similar to more expensive models (in some cases, even better).
Top Pick #
- Superior guitar tone and flexibility using this 15-Watt, 1x12 Guitar Combo Tube Amplifier with Celestion Speaker & Spring...
- Features a 15-watt tube power amplifier and a Celestion brand speaker. Amplifier Load Range: 8 ~ 16 ohms
- Uses three ECC83/12AX7 preamplification tubes and two EL84 power tubes for the amplifier section, plus a Celestion Red Truvox...
- Handles frequencies between 80Hz and 10kHz, with hum and noise -75dB below the rated power and 0.5% total harmonic...
- The cabinet is ported in the rear and features a leather handle, cloth speaker grill, and a cream-colored, textured,...
Budget Pick #
- As the title indicates, this guitar amplifier features a 5-watt tube power amplifier and a Celestion brand speaker.
- It uses a ECC83/12AX7 preamplification tube and a 6V6GT power tube for the amplifier section, plus a Celestion Super 8 GBA-15...
- The amplifier handles frequencies between 80Hz and 10kHz, with hum and noise -75dB below the rated power and 0.5% total...
- It includes a Low input and a High input, with the former attenuating the signal by approximately 50% and the latter being...
- While tone is always debatable, the increased dynamic range and even-order harmonic distortion of tubes produces the better...
The 4 most popular amps are featured on pages 1-2-3 of this article. So we have created this review in order to save you time when looking for a new tube amplifier! This makes it easier for you to spend your time doing other things like playing your guitar, taking your dog on walks, or cooking bacon on plates! The best tube amplifier will be what you need to get started playing without going broke.
1. T20 Bluetooth Receiver 2 Channel Class D Digital Mini Hi-Fi Power: Best Tube Amp under $500
It works with any hi-fi equipment that has an RCA line input and RCA line output audio, built-in two pieces 6J4 vacuum tube, and External PSU Power Supply. This is a compact tube amplifier, the size of it could be put in coat or inside pocket and it could be take anywhere as your wish.
This is a tube amplifier that produces the sound you can enjoy for many years to come. Featuring 2 channels (stereo), with volume, bass, and treble controls, this amp delivers 20 watts of power per channel. It comes loaded with 6J4 vacuum tubes and features a transformer volume control, which allows you to lower the volume while retaining the tube amp’s inherent sound character.
This product is compatible with some of our compatible headphones and active speakers. It will bring your power amplifier level up to 100 watts, with 8 onboard vacuum tubes for complete amplification. This amp comes with a powerful T20 function, which can be connected to an external speaker, and the T20 is the perfect addition for any music lover who wants loudness and good quality sound.
This tube amp weighs less than 2 pounds in tube form. This class D amplifier comes with a variety of practical features including Bluetooth 4.2 for wireless music streaming, two channels (the normal one and a second channel for headphone play), display, input selection, volume control, and an off switch. The sound output from this little amp is really impressive despite its small size.
2. Nobsound NS-08E Vacuum Tube Amp: Top Rated Headphone Amplifier under $500
Easily turn your audio input into a full range experience with the NS-08E. This Tube Amp is a brand-new Vacuum Tube Headphone Amplifier. Portable, compact, exquisite, and beautiful are its characteristics. It is a 3 watts headphone amplifier designed for high-end audio enthusiasts to do some serious listening on their favorite bookshelf speakers.
This tube amp is a very nice compact audio preamplifier that can be used for 2 channel audio or device testing. The vacuum tube provides higher quality sound than the solid-state amp designs. It is an analog circuit with an unbalanced RCA connection and there are two headphone jacks in the front, one output power 110mW for 32ohm headphone and another headphone jack 30mW for 16-32ohms headphones.
This tube amp is no doubt one of the most innovative tube headphone amps in the market. With cost-efficiency and extremely high-quality output, the NS-08E marks a new era in vacuum tube amplification. It has been designed to integrate with smartphones and other portable audio devices. This product has brought vacuum tube amplification to the mainstream consumer market for the 1st time in history.
It produces a clean tube sound at a very affordable price. This headphone amplifier is a great unit for anyone wanting a simple clean-sounding solid-state or tube amp at home or on the go.
Also read: Best Tube Amp under $1000
3. Nobsound MS-10D MKIII HiFi Bluetooth Hybrid: Excellent Tube Power Amplifier
While many of those older models are still great amps sound wise, they lacked features such as an RCA output or the ability to connect to a subwoofer with a 1/4″ input. You want your sound to stand out, you want it to be clear and vivid and have a bit of character.
We offer that solution with the MS-10D MKIII combines tube amplification technologies with modern digital sound processing techniques to create a high-quality hybrid tube amplifier that provides stunning stereo audio reproduction from a single channel setting.
This tube amp highly efficient amplifier section offers both USB and Optical inputs for easy connection to most portable devices, laptops, desktops, and docking stations. It can be connected to an external DAC or audio source via the SP/DIF digital input, USB, Bluetooth, and Coaxial digital inputs, providing a HiFi listening experience.
The aforementioned features and push-pull design ensure that this amplifier will deliver on any music genre. This tube amp based on the famous 30W stereo tube amp using 6CA7 and EL84 tubes. It has been redesigned with a beautiful leather dedicated metal interlocking top cover.
It plays a wide variety of music formats (AC3, DD, DTS, FLAC, MP3, WMA and WAV) using either USB memory input or Bluetooth from your mobile device or PC via digital optical or coaxial connection.
Read more: Best Small Tube Amp
4. Nobsound 6P1 6.8W x 2 Vacuum Tube Amp: Perfect Power Amplifier
This tube amp is a handmade, all vacuum tube stereo power amplifier using four 6P1 vacuum tubes to dual mono. The NoSound 6P1 is a high-quality monoblock power amplifier with huge per channel power output, the amplifier can produce a wide range of tones from crystal clear sparkle to warm and rich bass. This tube amp is here to save the day.
It features a stereo class A single-ended output with vacuum tubes specially designed by Nobsound to achieve optimal performance from materials used in the making of handcrafted components. The 6P1 vacuum tube stereo amplifier is a new creation from Nobsound that combines the best sonic elements of vacuum tubes and the latest single-ended triode (SET) audio technology.
This sleek, black tube amp features a glow-in-the-dark volume knob and transformers. It presents the classic Class A circuit which minimal amounts of signal distortion in order to bring you clearer sound. With a pair of 1-inch, gold plated levitation drivers, this vacuum tube power amplifier delivers high fidelity stereo sound with rich detail in a small living space.
This Tube Amp is much more than any other common audio amplifier, with outstanding tone and pristine details. Its triode-based vacuum tube power amplifier delivers pure and warm sound while offering high efficiency, low consumption, and ultra-long lifespan.
Related post: Best Integrated Amplifier under $1000
5. Reisong A10 EL34 Hi-Fi Audio Stereo Tube Amp: High-Quality Amplifier under $500
It is a first-class choice. This Tube Amp Single-end Class A Amp provides excellent music with powerful and steady output power. It is a small amplifier device to satisfy audiophile needs with a total weight of 6.5kg and dimensions of 360 x 180 x 180mm. Also, this practical tube amplifier is equipped with a smart cooling system that avoids overheating, guaranteeing continuous use without sacrificing sound quality.
It uses high-quality EL34 output tubes that can provide enough power to feed your speakers. This Tube Amp provides the gold plated RCA inputs, which will deliver your audio signals with better clarity and purity. This amplifier provides the gold-plated RCA outputs that you can connect to a pair of high-quality speakers for an outstanding listening experience.
It accepts both balanced and unbalanced connections and will help make your music sound even better. Put the true spirit of a tube amp into your music with this A-10 amp. This single-ended Class-A amplifier delivers the warm, rich tones that made tube amps so popular in the early days of rock and roll.
The good vibrations are more than just a myth, especially when you’re listening to your favorite tunes on the Reisong A-10. Single-Ended Class-A Topology is a design that uses only one end of a power tube, and output is taken from the plate (anode) directly to the speaker without the use of any coupling capacitors or transformers which eliminate noise. Save much cost for our customers and their sound quality.
Read here: Best Marshall Combo Amp
6. INFI Audio Tube 80W Amplifier, HiFi Stereo Receiver: Perfect Integrated Amp below $500
The INFI AUDIO Tube 80W features 20 certain watts RMS multi-channel RMS amplification, supported by a maximum of 4 channels stereo expanding power amplifiers and 1 channel output for connecting external subwoofers through the LFE connection terminal.
It is a great piece of audio equipment to merge your computer, TV, iPod, and other audio sources into a single system, and you can control all with the included handheld remote. Besides all that it works just like a regular amp on the top of your desk. This tube amp is perfect for home theater systems, hi-fi stereo amplifiers, home audio systems, or any other system requiring high-quality sound.
You will be amazed by the warm and powerful sound it produces. This Tube Amp is the best tube amp for under 500 dollars. It features a hybrid MOSFET/tube circuitry that offers both warm pure tube sound and power, perfect for your home applications and car audio system.
You can easily connect to any Bluetooth device and utilize its aptX codec chip to enjoy incredible quality sound in your home theater, car audio system, or high fidelity club sound system. Create a powerful audio system when you match this INFI Tube 80W amplifier with the tube stereo integrated receiver.
It provides high-quality audio output and is also accompanied by Bluetooth functionality that allows users to connect to wireless devices. This tube amp will upgrade your sound and is perfect for use with a TV, record player, gaming system, or wherever you want to connect a pair of high-quality speaker systems. We recommend connecting it to our High-Fidelity In-wall speaker systems for optimal audio reproduction.
You may also be interested in: Best Practice Amp for Metal
7. Orange Micro Dark Terror 20 Watt Tube Preamp: Outstanding Solid State Hybrid Amp
Orange Micro Dark Terror is one of the coolest-looking tube amp you will find producing a warm tube tone and well-defined bass. It is a great amp for studio recording or live stage use for rock, blues, or funk styles. This tube amp and solid-state hybrid power amp for guitar pack a lot of tonal versatility into one small chassis.
While the power section drives the onboard 20-watt tube preamp, you get enough clean headroom to fill any medium-sized venue, or enough distortion to make your ears bleed. And best of all, it comes in a paint job that would make the most outrageous punk rocker grin. Power and performance in a pint-sized package are just what the Micro Dark Terror from Orange Amps provides.
This 20-watt amp packs some serious features with four 12AX7/ECC83 preamp tubes and a solid-state power amplifier. The distortion knob lets you dial in on the perfect amount of grind, and the auxiliary input jack lets you jam along with your favorite tracks or recording.
It has taken 21 years for an amp of this character and quality to be made available for such a low price. Despite its low cost, it has more features packed in than even the most expensive amps when it was first built.
Relevant reading: Best Stereo Tube Amp
8. INFI Audio Hybrid Class AB: Affordable & Best Tube Amplifier
This amplifier is a high-quality stereo integrated amplifier, featuring Bluetooth aptX HD, coaxial, optical, and USB inputs as well as a 3.5 mm jack plug output and powered by an illuminated rotary volume control knob. This tube amp is a Home Audio HiFi Stereo Integrated Amplifier. It has an elegant and modern design with the included all metal remote control and a LED display digital VU meter.
This is best suitable for home hi-fi stereo CD, DVD, MP3 or other audio equipment. This amplifier is compatible with almost all portable devices (such as iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Android mobile phones, PSP, or any other Bluetooth-enabled device).
This Tube amp is a High-Quality Stereo Integrated Tube Amplifier with Bluetooth, USB, Coaxial, Optical, and AUX input. It plays your music on some of the best-sounding tubes that money can buy. This Class AB amplifier offers 75 watts at 4 ohms and 150 watts at 8 ohms. This means that this is not one for the headphones but one for larger speakers.
This amp includes a headphone jack if you want to play quietly. This Tube Amp is a high-performance, Pure Class A/B amplifier. Connect any line-level source, RCA or XLR, to this amplifier and it will sound wonderful. Rated at 80 watts per channel this amplifier can handle any speakers you may have.
You may also be interested in: Best Solid State Amp
9. AIYIMA Tube T4 Audio 6J1 100Wx2 Bluetooth 5.1: Perfect Tube Amplifier
It also features responsive Bluetooth wireless network technology that lets you access your music wirelessly from your smartphone or tablet. It can drive 2, 8-ohm speakers with an output power of 100 Watt RMS per channel at 4ohms load impedance. With its high amplification factor, T4 can reproduce dynamic and clear music.
This tube amp features Bluetooth 4.2 APT-X and APTX-HD audio decoding which enables you to wirelessly stream high-resolution audio. It is portable and ideal for those who need a pure high-fidelity sound system. It has dynamic audio power and high efficiency. With APTX HD technology, you will get the most beautiful audio enjoyment by Bluetooth connection.
And it features APTx HD acoustic technology to make them sound more smooth. This amplifier can easily pair with your smartphone or tablet (after the Bluetooth connection free). Through this T4 amp, you will get a fantasy of Hi-Fi music life! The T4 is a rich-audio APTX-HD high-definition stereo power tube amp.
It can transmit a high-definition audio signal to the Bluetooth speaker and Bluetooth headphones and adapter individually. The amplifier unit and Bluetooth units can be controlled separately with one remote controller. It is the perfect device to boost your TV set to a HiFi display, or synchronous music playing in the garage, pub, shop, and so on.
10. Nobsound NS-02E : Magnificent Vacuum Tube Headphone Amplifier
In any platform, that the NBSOUND NS-02E vacuum tube headphone amp can be used as an excellent vacuum tube preamplifier for any mission-critical application. This tube amp is designed to provide high-quality sound for your headphones.
Vacuum tubes are more commonly used in high-end audio equipment for their ability to deliver power into low impedance loads, while the solid-state counterpart must often use a transformer to step down voltage. This means the NS-02E will be able to output a much higher voltage before clipping than a typical solid-state amplifier and will sound better as a result.
The vacuum tube also provides several other benefits, such as a softer analog roll-off, The Nosound NS-02E is a vacuum tube amp that has a wide dynamic range, and offers a superb listening experience! It’s capable of driving loads up to 600 ohms and works beautifully with headphones that have low impedance.
With several features including Proprietary power supply filtering for stability and longevity, 4 user-programmable presets to set up your amp, dedicated earphone jacks that let you use both the main stereo output and the headphone out simultaneously, and fully balanced 2.4 Volts output on the preamp section.
It does not intend to replace your Audio Gate/Preamp, but it is designed to be used in parallel with them. The NS-02E is intended to make the source sound purer and to provide some Pro features for audiophiles like you.