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Very good conditions and sounds wonderful. 85 watts per channel (stereo).4 x EL34 (Svetlana - made in Russia)4 x 12AT7 (Eletro-Harmonix - made in Russia)approx. 600 hoursmade in the USA, 120V (comes with a AC voltage converter, price included)pick up only as it is too heavy to post (~22 Kg)
A$2,200 is fair to slightly strong, but not out of line for a VTL ST-85; new Australian pricing is around A$6,495, and typical used-market references put it roughly in the A$2,500–A$3,200 neighborhood for a clean example, so this listing is a reasonable ask rather than a steal.
What makes it worth a look is the ST-85’s reputation for real tube drive, good control, and enough power to handle speakers that can make smaller valve amps struggle. If it’s been serviced, runs quiet, and comes with healthy output tubes, that supports the price; if it’s original and untouched, I’d want proof of recent tube condition and bias stability before paying top-end used money.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Vacuum Tube Logic (VTL) traces its roots to the early 1980s, when recording engineer David Manley began designing high-fidelity vacuum tube amplifiers in South Africa, initially modifying Leak units. By 1983, the brand launched its first power amplifiers and preamplifiers under Vacuum Tube Logic in the UK for the European market. David and his son Luke introduced the products to the US at the 1986 Consumer Electronics Show, relocating production to Rhode Island and then Chino, California, as Vacuum Tube Logic of America. In 1993, Luke Manley founded VTL Amplifiers, Inc., independently, solidifying its American base in Chino, where all products are still handmade today.
VTL specializes in high-powered tube amplifiers and preamplifiers, emphasizing pure tube designs with simple circuit paths, robust power supplies, and premium output transformers for full-frequency response and minimal distortion. Their lineup focuses on delivering dynamic, musical sound reproduction, blending modern technology with user-friendly reliability. While not venturing into speakers, turntables, DACs, headphones, or cables, VTL's components excel in recreating live music's vitality in home audio systems.
Positioned firmly in the high-end hi-fi market, VTL commands a reputation for timeless, reliable tube gear that appeals to discerning audiophiles seeking emotional engagement over gimmicks. Led by Luke Manley, the brand marries musical purity with elegant design and proven longevity, earning acclaim as a leader in high-performance tube amplification for over four decades.
See all VTL listings on RADAR.
