2. amps-preamps
  3. 164878-158349

845/211 tube amplifiers with kef reference 5?

Hi, am seeking for advise from those who have the kef reference 5 or have 845 or 211 tube amplifiers.

I personally own a pair of kef reference 5, driving them with primaluna dialogue HP integrated tube amplifiers with EL34 tubes at 70 watts. Am liking the sound but cant help but wonder if playing with the bigger tubes like 845 or 211 will give it even more tube magic, sweetness/softness, musicality and wider soundstage.

However, those amps typically are lower powered around 20-30watts, and would like to ask for advice of those are suitable to power a kef reference 5 which is 90db at 8 ohms and minimal impedance of 3.2ohms? Recommended power is 50w to 400w but i know tube watts can be more powerful than solid state. 

For those of you who have matched a system like that or heard set ups of these forms of amplifiers with the kef ref 5, or have similar experiences, would like to seek some advice/get some experience from you

Thank you!
Regards
Ben
thegreenman

Showing 3 responses by verdantaudio

verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio
1,522 posts
 
Those Kefs like power.  I think you would love the sound but hate bass performance.  I had run Art Audio Quartets which are 45w 845 monos for almost 18 months.  I am the importer.  They are  Incredible amps but they would not handle bass at reference levels and I would not recommend them with those speakers.  
Maybe bi-amp.  An 845 for mids and treble and a 200w SS for the bass?

The is probably above budget but mention it anyway.  For an alternate pure tube amp, you would love the sound of the KR Kronzilla.  It is a much more powerful tube but pricing stings a bit.  The list for the Kronzilla DXL monos is $44k but they are truly amazing amps and are 140w. They don’t come up used often but they could be had for $15k to $20k used.  Might be an Interesting option.  


verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio
1,522 posts
 
Peaks in SPL are usually at lowest frequencies.  I have ne problem driving less efficient speakers with a 45w 845 push-pull to reference levels because I never pushed the limit in terms of SPL because the speakers rolled off at 60hz.  And to Ralph's point, my amps were Push Pull and not SETs.  Pushing a SET to hard doesn't sound as good.  I have done a direct comparison of the Art Audio Carissa vs. Quartets.  With efficient speakers, Carissa kills the Push-Pulls but as efficiency drops, the Push Pulls 

That will ne be the case with the Reference 5s.  You will have peak output of about 100dBs before the amp clips.  This is going to mean VERY flabby bass.  

Seriously, wouldn't it make more sense to bi-amp.  Get a great 845 for mids and treble and power the bass with a nice, SS amp.  Get a used Krell or Chord power amp, even Musical Fidelity to pair with it and the net result will be brilliant.  
verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio
1,522 posts
 
You going to have limited output with a 50w PP 845 even with feedback.  Again, the issue is going to bass distortion during peak dynamic moments at low frequencies when you push above 100dB.  Most of the time it will be just fine.  
More to discover