Are there other, similar designer/builders, or does Steve Deckert’s shop exist in a vacuum?
I have pleasantly been listening through Decware amplification and speaker design for over a decade. The value at the time was fantastic.
These days, there is a two year waitlist from date of order, and the cost has increased with notoriety and success. Business is booming. All things being equal, Decware is not something that I would consider today for those reasons alone, and that would be my loss.
My question is, are there currently any affordable and readily-available, efficient analog circuits like Steve’s that fill in the niche that Decware inadvertently left behind in 2020?
In terms of affordable options, I can’t offer a lot - but Amps&Sound makes the best sounding tube gear I’ve ever heard. He’s an absolute genius, and has a large family of amplifiers and headphone amps to choose from based on heavily improved classic designs.
He’s also a great communicator and works quickly. He keeps a backstock of as much of his menagerie as possible, and stands behind his work. Definitely worth reaching out to at least explore what might be a good fit given your specifics.
Its crazy that Steve sold a point to point wired SET amp for $899 up until like 2020. He made money on his other products.
There is a 2 year wait list because he would rather sell you something else that costs more 😉