March 15, 2026
by Jameson O'Guinn

Which Bottlehead speaker amplifier is right for me?

March 15, 2026
by Jameson O'Guinn

Our customers frequently ask which amplifier is right for them. There are many ways to answer that question, and comparing specs only gets you so far. Below is a chart that shows some important information to consider when choosing a Bottlehead amplifier. But remember - the most important thing about an amplifier is how it sounds. Pop over to our user forums to get user impressions and building tips.

Speaker Amplifier Comparison Table

Specifications in this table represent stock models. Some models have upgrades to enhance or alter performance.

Bottlehead Paradyne monoblocks in a cozy room.

Bottlehead Paradyne 805A Monoblock Amplifier Kit

$5,499.00

Bottlehead Kaiju 300B Amplifier Kit

$2,145.00

Bottlehead SEX 4 Kit for Headphones & Speakers

$885.00

Bottlehead Paradyne 805A Monoblock Amplifier Kit

$5,499.00

Bottlehead Kaiju 300B Amplifier Kit

$2,145.00

Bottlehead SEX 4 Kit for Headphones & Speakers

$885.00

Power

35 WPC

Power

8 WPC (stereo) or 16 WPC (monoblock)

Power

~4.5 WPC

Gain

15 dB at 8 ohm tap

Gain

18 dB at 8 ohm tap

Gain

17 dB (low feedback mode), 11 dB (high feedback mode) at 8 ohm tap

Inputs

One unbalanced input

Inputs

One unbalanced input

Inputs

One unbalanced input

Outputs

One unbalanced output (one channel per monoblock)

Outputs

One speaker output

Outputs

One speaker output, one unbalanced headphone output (6.5mm)

Input Impedance

1M Ohms

Input Impedance

100K Ohms

Input Impedance

100K ohms

Output Impedance

1.53 Ohms (on the 8 Ohm tap)

Output Impedance

—

Output Impedance

2 ohms (low feedback mode), 1.5 ohms (high feedback mode)

Damping Factor

5.2

Damping Factor

3 (wired for 8 ohms)

Damping Factor

3.96 (low feedback mode), 5.44 (high feedback mode)

Operating Mode

Monoblock - each kit contains one pair of amplifiers

Operating Mode

Stereo, configurable for monoblock (requires two Kaijus)

Operating Mode

Stereo, configurable for monoblock (requires two SEX 4s)

Input Sensitivity

3.1V for full output

Input Sensitivity

—

Input Sensitivity

800mV (low feedback mode), 1.53V (high feedback mode)

Bandwidth

At 6dB Below Rated Power (12.5V/19.5W): -3dB at 13Hz and 50kHz. At 1W: -3dB at 8.2Hz and 50kHz.

Bandwidth

—

Bandwidth

-3dB at 17Hz & 36.5kHz (low feedback mode), -3dB at 17Hz & 35.5kHz (high feedback mode)

Volume Control

None

Volume Control

None

Volume Control

None

Tube Complement

2 x 805A, 2 x 6BL7, 2 x 7L7 (one of each tube per monoblock)

Tube Complement

2 x 300B, 2 x 5670

Tube Complement

2x 6FM7

Assembled Footprint (L x W x H with tubes)

12.25 in x 17.25 in x 11 in

Assembled Footprint (L x W x H with tubes)

18 in x 12 in x 12 in

Assembled Footprint (L x W x H with tubes)

9 in x 13 in x 6 in

Shipping Weight

—

Shipping Weight

—

Shipping Weight

—

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