Cary 805 questions; with Sonus Faber Amati Homage speakers


I just bought a pair of Sonus Faber Amati Homage speakers (92 dB efficient but some impedance dips in bass and treble). Looking for a good tube amplifier. I use a Thor TA-1000 preamp and listen to mostly vinyl (Sota Star Sapphire, Koetsu Rosewood Signature. Half jazz, the rest split between blues, classical and rock. I am quite allergic to any treble brightness but appreciate treble extension if it doesn't create fatigue. That said, I prioritize a rich, real midrange, and like a somewhat laid back stage perspective.

Stereophile described the Amati load as "The speaker is a moderately demanding load, however, as can be seen from its plots of impedance magnitude and electrical phase angle against frequency (figs.1 and 2). With a maximum of 7.8 ohms, but a value below 6 ohms in the midrange and below 4 ohms in the bass and high treble, a good 4 ohm-rated amplifier will be called for."

I appreciate any thoughts about other tube amps that might be good with the Amati's. Also I have questions about Cary 805 monos in particular because I have a chance to buy a pair locally:

1. Do the 805s have a forward presentation?
2. Do the 805 create "larger than life" images? I owned them for a short time quite a while ago and recollect that images were very big.
3. Does anyone know if they would work well with the Amatis?

thanks for any thoughts!
montaldo

Showing 1 response by zipost

Montlado... Cary 805 will work at a listenable level.  Small room moderate level will be good.  Midrange will be seductive and the highs will not be too edgy.  The concerns here is the bass, the 805 can not control the bass drivers. 

My recommendation is either the old Conrad Johnson premier 8 with 6550 tubes, or the new lp250 by CJ.  You can also look into the Vac 200-300.  Sonus Faber great match for push and pull tube amps or solid states.  Single ended will not quite move those drivers.   Happy Listening!