Amps for Sonus Faber Stradivari Homage


I have a pair of Stradivaris that I love, but I´m having a little trouble finding the right amps for them. My system consists of: Emmlabs CDSA SE latest version, Clearaudio Champion Level two/ SME V/ Benz Ruby, ARC REF3, MSB 202 monos.
I have driven the speakers with a set of Pass XA 100.5 before, but they sounded compresed quite quickly. The MSB´s offer more power than the 100.5´s and sound more detailed and airy, but also leaner and brighter.
I love detail and air, but I also crawe bass slam and body in the midths and highs. I absolutly hate lean and bright sound, no matter how detailed it might bee.
I have owned quite a lot of Krell gear in the past. I liked the bass of the ols stuf like the KSA s series + the first FPB stuff. The rest of the frequency range however, sounded rough and "solid state" to me. I liked the detail of the MCX 450´s, but they sounded to lean in the low frequences to me. I have tried tube amps as well, but I have not yet found a pair that did´nt sound like tubes in the bass region
So I am dreaming of a set of amps that delivers a full bodied, warm but detailed sound with bass slam and bass detail as well.
Any recomendations ?
NB: English is not my native language, so I hope for your understanding if my spelling is off !
0461
i've the Nagra VPA on my Stradivari and they're superb,also i tried the Gryphon Antileon stereo also they're great
i've the Nagra VPA on my Stradivari and they're superb,also i tried the Gryphon Antileon stereo also they're great
i've the Nagra VPA on my Stradivari and they're superb,also i tried the Gryphon Antileon stereo also they're great
I have a mcintosh mc402 now playing on the Strads, but will probably go back to my Mcintosh 2102 when I re-tube. The Strads sound best with my tubes. I just put some Telefunken smothplates in my Pre, C220. The 402 plays louder with more control. The tubes provide more midrange magic, IMHO.
Hate messing with tubes though.
I have the Strads hooked up to Mcintosh MC2301's and rotate between the Jadis DA60, VAC 300.1/Sigma 160i and MC601's. Cabling is Nordost Valhalla/Odin and I also use Kubala-Sosna Elation. Your welcome to come by for a demo, we are located in the Miami,Fla area just minutes from the airport, I am a dealer for all of the above mentioned brands.
Watching this thread with interest. Running a MSB DAC with B&W 803D's and have both the 202's and XA100.5's on my short list. Pre might end up being either attenuator to DAC or the likes of REF.3/LS5/CT5/XP20. Interested to hear how the 202's compare to the XA's after suitable break in.
Hi Doug2507,

After having listened to both the Pass and the MSB´s for a few months now, I must say that MSB is the owerall winner for me. They do everything better, except for midrage warmth perhaps. But if you end up going for the MSB´s, make sure that you get them in the latest version because the earlier models can fail. But if you buy them new today, they will be allright I have heard !
Congrats 0461!!!!!

i imagine you have read Martin Collom's review of these on hifi critic? i am particularly intrigued by msb's digital stuff. have been speaking with them about their new universal media transport.
My MSB´s have broken down... So now I think I will be ordering a set of Pass XA 200.5. They say they sound like the 100.5 but with a lot more Umpf... Interesting.
Wow...what happened to the msb? too bad. yes, Pass and Strads are a great combination. good luck!
I have a sonus faber stradivari with mcintosh mc275 V. I changed the 4 6550 tubes to tung sol gray plates. I used mullard cv492 12ax7 and mullard 12at7 with kondo ksl lp interconnect connected to jadis jp80 mc pre amp and sounds satisfying.
Nice, Teleshack...i have heard many Strad owners enjoy them with Mcintosh. Jadis! Wow! I have heard them with CJ mid-powered amp, and with CJ preamp/Gryphon Antileon...tremendous speakers! Enjoy!!!
Hi All,

Im using Audio Note M3 Preamp and Audio Note P4 Monoblock 2x300B tube each, driving Tannoy Canterburry, now I'm thinking to replace the Tannoy speaker with Stradivari, does anyone have experience to drive Stradivari with 300B tube or other Audio Note gear ? Tks alot in advance.
Sorry...i have not done it...only midpowered tube amp. CJ MV60 (55 watts/channel EL34 tubes). it was beautiful midrange and CJ does have a special 'fire' in the midrange when driven by midpowered tubes...but the bass response is superb when driven by very powerful, good quality solid state. I have never driven the Strads with high powered tubes...would love to try. I ended up with Class A Solid State. In your case, how good is the bass control of the 300B tubes? The Strad is not difficult to drive 'well' in the bass...but for it to sound world class i was only able to manage this with high powered Class A Solid State. I have heard good things about ARC Ref 210 tube amps.

hope that helps. good luck. Great speakers! And you've already got a great system!
Hi Lloydelee21,
In my system now the bass is quite deep and solid, I think Audionote p4 produce quite enough power to drive high sensitive speaker like canterburry with 96db level but note sure for the Stradivari with 91db. I should audition these speaker with high power tube like 300b before decide to buy it. Will post the result after experienced it. Takes a lot for your comment. Have a nice weekend.
Good luck. BTW, it is not just the 91db...you should be fine there. it is the ohm load of the STrad. it is a 4ohm load...but 2.7ohms in the lower registers...that might be something amps may struggle with. Because the speaker is well balanced...it will be fine...but it may not be 'rock solid/pitch perfect, tactile bass'.

Look forward to reading about your observations! Enjoy!
I have had a lot of Krell gear myself and am currently running a Krell KCT to MSB 202 amps and the sound is stunning. Much smoother than the Krell amps but faster too, very very fast! There is so much more music there with the MSB 202 ampsthey are just musical to the core but fast and powerful too. All of my interconnects are solid silver and the preamp line to the amps is a silver plated copper line and it does not sound lean on my Apogee Diva Ultimate's. I have been lucky enough to hear a lot for high end equipment and there is a higher level of gear like FM Acoustics and Vitus that just take you much further and deeper into my music and the MSB 202 amps do that too. I do not think they are the issue for you. The Reference 5 SE preamp is much smoother and has more punch too you may like that?

Rob