Finding affordable tube amps can be a bit daunting in the beginning. Are these even any good? Is there much to a tube amp in this price range compared to modelers and amp pedals? Let’s take a look.
Key Takeaways
An all-tube amp has tubes in the preamp and power amp: a fully analog signal path.
Watch the wattage: tube watts are loud. For home use, stay in the 1–5 watt range or rely on a good master volume.
Most affordable real entry: Harley Benton TUBE5, actual tube circuit, not a hybrid.
Best all-rounder for beginners: Marshall DSL20HR: two channels, reverb, FX loop and authentic DSL voicing.
Easiest maintenance: Bugera Infinium series: built-in tube monitoring extends tube life and simplifies replacement.
Affordable Tube Amps: Our GuideA Real Marshall Amp on a BudgetHarley Benton Tube AmpsBugera Infinium All-Tube Amps
Affordable Tube Amps: Why Go All-Tube?
An all-tube amp means tubes in the preamp and tubes in the power amp. It is a completely analog circuit with no digital influence on the signal path, at least before effects. Tubes naturally deliver the highest dynamics and the most sonic power, so even a 5-watt all-tube can be very loud and is, therefore, unsuitable for home use.
As all-tube amps can be pricier to manufacture than digital amps, most of these might exceed your budget. However, there are a few very interesting candidates for affordable tube amps. Here, you will find the cheapest tube amps: You can choose from amps by Marshall, Harley Benton and Bugera.
A Real Marshall Amp on a Budget
The Marshall DSL20HR delivers the authentic DSL sound. With three ECC83s in the preamp stage and two EL34s, the amp delivers a mighty 20 watts of tube power. It offers two channels, reverb, a serial FX loop, flexible tone controls, and an additional footswitch for changing channels remotely. The Marshall DSL20HR is available here at Thomann*. Its little brother, the Marshall DSL1HR, with only 1 watt of tube power, is also available from Thomann*.
Marshall DSL 20 · Source: Marshall
Other popular Marshall amps in this beginner’s price range are the Origin 20H and Origin 50H. Both are extremely popular because of their classic design and sound, drawing from the roots of the legendary Marshall amps.
Both amps are single-voicing designs and very simple to use. These affordable tube amps, get the Origin 20H and the Origin 50H from Thomann*.
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Marshall DSL1HR
Customer rating: (182)
$255.00 / £233.00 / 265.00€ at
Marshall DSL20HR
Customer rating: (240)
$425.00 / £385.00 / 439.00€ at
Marshall Origin 20H Head
Customer rating: (99)
$511.00 / £459.00 / 529.00€ at
Marshall Origin 50H Head
Customer rating: (100)
$609.00 / £553.00 / 629.00€ at
Harley Benton Tube Amps
There are also quite a few affordable tube amps from Harley Benton! The Harley Benton TUBE5, TUBE15, and TUBE30 models feature ECC83/12AX7 tubes in their preamp stages. They are either equipped with EL84s or, in the case of the TUBE5, 6V6GT power amp tubes.
Harley Benton tube 15 · Source: Harley Benton
These amps look great and they’re very well-designed. The Harley Benton Tube5 with 5 watts of power is available here at Thomann*. In addition, check out the TUBE15* top unit with 15 watts ot the larger TUBE30*. Regardless of which one you pick, each one of these is a great first tube amp that will bring you joy of tube distortion and warmth for years!
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Harley Benton TUBE5 Head
Customer rating: (27)
$125.00 / £111.00 / 129.00€ at
Harley Benton TUBE15 Head
Customer rating: (72)
$211.00 / £189.00 / 219.00€ at
Harley Benton TUBE30 Head
Customer rating: (7)
$387.00 / £347.00 / 399.00€ at
Bugera Infinium All-Tube Amps
Bugera has also been successfully offering tube amps with an excellent price-performance ratio for several years now. Their Infinium series offers affordable all-tube amps from 5 watts to an astonishing 55 watts of power.
Bugera Infinitum · Source: Bugera
The Infinium series features different tube configurations and flexible operation. You can choose between modern models like the Bugera G5 Infinium and classic models like the Bugera V22HD Infinium.
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Bugera G20 Infinium Head
Customer rating: (91)
$338.00 / £305.00 / 348.00€ at
Bugera V5 Infinium Bundle
No customer rating available yet
$263.00 / £238.00 / 271.00€ at
Bugera V22 Infinium
Customer rating: (322)
$443.00 / £399.00 / 456.00€ at
Conclusion
Most affordable tube amps are reputable amps with an exceptional price-performance ratio. We hope this selection will help you find your next one. For purists, the all-tube amp is and remains the first choice.
FAQ on Affordable Tube Amps
What is the cheapest all-tube amp you can buy?
The Harley Benton TUBE5 Head is currently one of the cheapest all-tube amps on the market. It runs an ECC83 in the preamp and a 6V6GT in the power stage which makes it a real tube circuit, not a hybrid.
Are cheap tube amps any good?
Yes, within their limits. Amps like the Harley Benton TUBE15 or the Bugera V22 Infinium deliver genuine tube compression and edge-of-breakup at a fraction of boutique prices.
How many watts do I need for home use?
Less than you think. Tube watts are loud: a 5-watt amp pushed into power-amp saturation is already beyond comfortable living-room levels. For home players, 1 to 5 watts (like the Marshall DSL1HR) is the practical range, or a 20-watt amp with a good master volume kept low.
Which affordable tube amp is best for beginners?
The Marshall DSL20HR is the safest pick: two channels, FX loop, reverb, and the classic Marshall voicing in one amp. If budget is the priority, start with the Harley Benton TUBE15.
*This post about affordable tube amps contains affiliate links and/or widgets. When you buy a product via our affiliate partner, we receive a small commission that helps support what we do. Don’t worry, you pay the same price. Thanks for your support!
The post Affordable Tube Amps: The Best All-tube Models under 500 Euros appeared first on gearnews.com.
