JohnK - on the other hand, I believe most of this tube kit mystique is the "I did it myself" factor of the actual building of the piece.

Having said that, I will soon have a tube amp in my house. I've inherited a radio/gramophone from my grandparents' estate and it does have that fat, round tube sound... from 1938.

I'll post my impressions when I get it. I haven't actually seen it since I was about 8.

Bren R.