Love my new Legendarium Amp! Communicating with Perry was easy, he was super helpful with all my questions. The amp sounds fantastic with my Don Sachs Pre-Amp and Klipsch Cornwall IV speakers.

The Legendarium exceeded my expectations. I have been interested DHT amplifiers and reviewing the available options on the market. I decided on Analog Ethos after exchanging emails with Perry. Purchasing an amplifier kit is risky as there is no option to return. I had a few questions about the topology that was selected for this amp. His quick response and detailed explanation sold me on the quality. I was further impressed by the instructions that came with it. Everything was clearly detailed and the build went together without an issue. I really appreciated the included explanation of how tube amps work. 

After completing the build I had a few more questions that were also answered quickly and in detail. 

For anyone considering a diy kit this is a great option. And even if I did not have the skills to solder this up, now knowing now how good it sounds, I would have one built for me. I don’t think this price to sound quality can be beat. The soundstage is huge! With my >90db sensitive speakers 3.5 watts is sufficient to filling my living room.

Highly recommend the kit. Instructions were first rate and highly detailed. Amp quality commensurate with price. Just a terrific amplifier where quality kits are hard to find these days.

I bought the Ledgendarium kit after reading through Perry's posts on how tube amps work. I had been considering other kits, but reading those posts, along with looking through the build instruction manual, gave me the confidence that this  was exactly what I was looking for, both in design/quality and more importantly, the learning experience. I'm pleased to report the kit itself surpassed my already high expectations! The chassis is super nicely made (and looks great, it really ties the room together), the parts are all high quality and clearly labeled, and the instructions gradually ramp up in difficulty so you level up your skills as the soldering gets trickier. The amp worked perfectly the first time I turned it on, no troubleshooting required, and perhaps most satisfyingly of all, it sounds really really good. It's got that magic tube warmth and holographic imaging that I was looking for, and easily competes with other amps I have that were twice the price. All in all, one of the most satisfying things I've ever built, from start to finish, I can't recommend it highly enough!

Very happy with the sound and build quality of this amplifier. Replaced my (much more expensive) solid state amp and haven't looked back.

Give it time for the tubes to burn in, detail will really improve. I started off using a preamp then removed it to find out that it doesn't need a preamp at all and 3.5 wpc is plenty of power for my 99db speakers. I would recommend this amp without hesitation.

Dealing with Perry was great. He was very responsive and complete in any answers to questions. While I purchased a final product his DIY and design notes document was very good. Power is plenty for my 97dB sensitivity speakers. The hum pots work and the 60hz buzz is essentially not heard at my listening position (~4m). Note: I just received a pair of Linlai global T2 2A3 tubes. After adjustment there is no 60hz hum audible even with my ear right at the speaker. There is some 120 hz hiss which is not audible at the listening position. 

I'm no audiophile but my system sounds really good to me with this amp.
Feedback: From my brief experience might consider upgrade option for Linlai tubes. The base T2 are not that much more expensive than what I have seen for the Electro Harmonics that came with the amp. I got them from Grant Fidelity in Canada. They do their own QA screens supposedly with help with any warranty issues. They are the Linlai Global north america reps.

Great kit! Easy to follow instructions with good illustrations. Probably not a beginners kit, but not overly difficult either. Fit and finish of chassis is top rate. Part are good quality; no need to upgrade. Most likely two or three days if you take your time. Fun and very rewarding when you hear the SQ. An amp you can be proud of!

Extremely good instructions and good quality components. I have a multitude of tube amps and was looking for one to give me an old school tube sound, and this guy does it great, I have used it to power a set of la scalas and wow, what a beautiful sound. This is great and simple circuit that will make you reconnect with music. I recommend this amp.

If you’re looking for a nice directly heated triode amp, you could buy the Legendarium assembled and be done. It’s first-rate. Both subjective opinions, but I think it looks amazing and sounds even better. But you’d be missing out.

More than a kit, Perry has put together an opportunity to learn about tubes and tube amps. Some other kits have instructions that read like Ikea directions - connect A to B, etc. The manual that comes with the Legendarium kit is divided at the highest level into two parts: How and Why. I read them out of order, as suggested. The Why part, section 2, leads to an enjoyable understanding of how tubes and their supporting circuits produce music. I have seven DIY amps behind me, but I’m new to building tube amps. After the building the Legendarium, I think I have a good foundation for understanding this formerly mysterious (to me) audio technology. I’ve been able to ask better questions, better understand other material, and think about the nuances of different kinds of tubes in a more concrete way. The kind of insight one gets from from this makes listening all the better: more engaging, more active.

Briefly, the kit parts are great - no worries here. Perry entertained all my questions before buying and, as expected, I found everything in the kit to be top-notch. There was nothing I thought I should swap out. I built my amp straight out of the box, so to speak. Speaking of unboxing the kit, it’s worth noting that I don’t think I’ve ever seen a better packaged anything. Double-boxed, bubble-wrapped, everything nestled in its place. Packed with care is what I thought when I was unpacking it. And indeed, there were no issues related to shipping. Once I had my kit unpacked, I found the build experience to be as straight-forward as it was rewarding. The How part of the manual, section 1, is very well laid out and easy to follow. Clearly written and full of helpful diagrams, you’d have to try to mess it up. As Perry points out, take your time and enjoy the process. Don’t rush; when you’re done, you will have made something that you’re proud of.

When I finished building my Legendarium and it was time to listen, I was very satisfied. Doing my best to set aside the “I put this beauty together and I know how it works” feeling, objectively, it’s a great listen. It does bring a characteristic tube smoothness, but it’s not fat, rich, warm, etc. It’s transparent and revealing, but so easy to listen to. I can (and do) listen for hours and hours. There is mid-range bloom and top-end sparkle, and other adjectives that don’t seem related to sound…

The most honest thing I can say is just that I love to listen to music played through this amp. For reference, I listen to a lot of jazz (all the standards you know and some really out-there stuff), I’m a big Pink Floyd, King Crimson, and Rush fan. Betty Davis, The Doors, Velvet Underground, and on, and on, and more obscure… The Legendarium plays all of this with articulate speed and texture, tonal balance and nuance, space… you get the sonic picture. There are some songs better played on other amps. My old punk albums, for example, have more energy when presented through an amp with more balls. But such is the nature of punk music! It still sounds good on the Legendarium, it just doesn’t sound as right as everything else.

Also for reference, I’m listening to music via a Hana ML cartridge mounted on a Pro-Ject RPM 5 turntable, playing into a Pro-Ject Tube Box DS 2, which drives the Legendarium. I’ve been using Klipsch Forte III’s until recently, when I switched over to DIY Tang-Band based, full-range, open baffle speakers. The Legendarium does fine with both sets of speakers. I’ve never turned the volume past 50%. I’m also not in a very big space. As has been noted in at least one other review, the Legendarium does produce an audible hum if you’re close to your efficient speakers. I can hear mine when I change a record, but not when I’m in my chair. It’s directly heated. There are pros and cons. Relax and enjoy the music. I really think you will.

After a fair bit of online research for hand-built, relatively low power, tube amplifiers, (preferably built in the U.S.A.) of which there are a few candidates, I ran into a website for “Analog Ethos” (A.E.) which had and has three tube amplifier designs advertised, all of which may be purchased finished & tested, or as a kit. and buyer does the assembly and soldering. The artfully done A.E. website features fine photography, customer reviews and information/philosophies from Perry Board, who is “Analog Ethos”. I liked Perry’s philosophy, liked the way his amplifiers looked, was encouraged by feedback, and was persuaded, (seduced?) into plunking done the shekels for his “Flagship” amplifier offering - the 2A3 SET, “Legendarium”.  Asking for it to come finished and tested, it arrived relatively soon, well packaged, including double boxes. I had a question about pin orientation when inserting the two 2A3 tubes (of the five total tubes which came included) and emailed Perry to clarify, but finally had the new amplifier as my stereo component’s centerpiece, plugged in and ready to start doing some work. Flipped the switch to the “up/on” position and got an almost immediate, significant 60 cycle hum from both speakers! WTH? I then followed the included instructions and rotated the R&L “humpots” (located on amplifier top-plate, but mostly hidden behind the 2A3 tubes) to minimalize this hum. With my ear close to either speaker however, I could still hear the 60-cycle hum - a little bit. According to Perry, this is unavoidable side-effect of this amplifier design. So, I was a little disappointed, though once seated in a listening position I could not honestly say I could still hear the hum. I decided to say nothing to other music listeners in our home regarding this 60hz hum “issue”, and no-one yet has mentioned hearing anything untoward. I wish the Legendarium were absolutely silent, but on the other hand, if I can’t hear it from the listening position, is it really an issue?
My present system consists of Lii Audio’s, "Flagship", full-range speakers containing one “Silver Flagship 10”, (a 10-inch, cone driver) in each 47” tall, cylindrical, rear ported speaker box. Amazingly, they are, 100db efficient! I boost the low-end by using a small, $100.00, adjustable, Rolls brand, subwoofer crossover unit, sending the 80-90hz and below frequency range, (summed, R&L) to my good old PSE, solid state, 200-watt, mono, amplifier, driving a, U.S. built, 24”, Hartley driver which I have mounted in our formerly unused fireplace. Consequently, where the Liis start to wain in the low-end, the Hartley picks up the slack, while the Liis are still doing their full range work; their signal path goes into the Rolls crossover then directly back out again to the amplifier, untouched by any crossover cards. This approach makes a lovely difference and is superior to using the Liis only.  We listen exclusively to CDs using a Wadia 270 transport and a Wadia 27 D/A converter taking advantage of the latter’s volume attenuating ability, eliminating the need for another component (pre-amp) and another set of interconnects – though thoughtfully, this amplifier does come with a volume POT.  Speaking of subwoofers; more than a few listening guests over the years have asked me - gesturing towards the fireplace subwoofer, “Is that thing on?”, whereupon I go to the little Rolls crossover and turn the volume down/off and watch them. Bobbing their head up and down, they unfailingly say, “Oh, I see”. Somewhat sadly, but not surprisingly, non-audiophile humans seem to expect a subwoofer to sound like a low-rider, thumper - not like music, however they are unfailingly pleased with the sound - just a bit surprised that a subwoofer can be so subtle, yet so important.
For nearly a year we have been driving the aforementioned speaker setup with a Decware 341.5, SET amplifier with all the upgrades, probably a $3000.00 investment if one were purchasing it new (then waiting three to six months for delivery). It's a wonderful amplifier, both aesthetically and functionally, I have no complaints and am pleased I found one used, with most of the upgrades already done (no mean feat these days). The Analog Ethos, Legendarium amplifier sells for $1500 if you assemble it yourself, and $200 more to have Perry finish and test it. Not a cheap investment, but also no “get rich quick” scheme, (especially considering A.E.’s amplifiers have no printed circuit boards – are point to point, hand soldered), a labor of love, I believe.  Are they a good, long-term financial investment, will they hold and/or grow their value 10-20 years from now?  I could not find a used Analog Ethos amplifier for sale anywhere on the internet and have seen no negative talk on blogs about any of them either, which tells me something. To me, the investment is in the joy of well designed, aesthetically pleasing components and in the simple yet basic, human pleasure of quietly experiencing the joy of good music on a good system.
Being very familiar with the Decware amplifier sound, we then gave the Legendarium a good six week listen, allowing it time to break in, and us time to experience many different albums. The music this attractive, wood Chassis, aluminum decked, 3.5 wpc, Analog ethos, Legendarium amplifier makes did NOT disappoint. It is in short gorgeous, even robust. At first, I thought it was a touch low-mid-rangy strong, but after putting some miles on It, I soon grew to appreciate its balance, sensitivity and its, well - presence. It makes me think of what people say they love about the old, 60s models, British, Leak Stereo 20, “valve” amplifiers, i.e., their “pleasing, warm fullness”, though I think this amplifier, is more detailed.
All in all, despite the 60-cycle hum “almost issue”, I honestly (and somewhat surprisingly) prefer the sound and sheer listening pleasure of the Legendarium to my Decware amplifier. With that said, using other, multi-cone type driver systems, whether this would still be the case, I would not hazard an opinion, though I might speculate that using any high efficiency speakers – horns, open baffles, or any of the Lii Audio, full-range drivers that this A.E. Legendarium amplifier might just be a sweet way to go, while also saving some money – at least when compared to a new Decware amplifier. This is no knock on the Decware, SET amplifiers, but rather kudos to Perry Board for coming up with a tube amplifier design that is both aesthetically pleasing - even fun - to look at, and which produces sound with beauty, detail, and authority.  I tend to hold onto quality things and expect we will be enjoying this sweet amplifier for years to come. I would love to audition Perry’s AE1-C amplifier as well, but alas, for another lifetime.

If you want to jump right into a direct heated triode set amp and you have little experience with vacuum tube sound, Perry's Legendarium is your ticket to audio bliss. This amp has been pumping out tunes since I got it about a 3 weeks ago, displacing my well burned in Mogwai SE. A good sounding amp doesn't need you to refi your house or get a bank loan. This amp is amazing 3.5w of music bliss.