Low power tube amp for Sonus Faber?

Audiothesis,
Thanks for the additional amplifier information, it confirms what I suspected. All design and built parameters of a power amplifier have to be considered. 50 watt amps of the caliber of this Mastersound Evolution can manage speaker loads that some higher wattage amplifiers can druggie with. Just saying that ’X’ amount of power is sufficient doesn’t account for the entire picture/scenario.

I recall a situation described by an Audiogon member Raquel ( former TAS reviewer I believe ) several years ago. At a demonstration a 750 watt VTL was having a very tough time driving a pair of speakers. They replaced the big VTL with a VAC Renaissance 70/70 (65 watt) amplifier that easily drove the same speakers. Obviously this suggests very different design aspects of the two tube amplifiers.

The VTL wasn’t a bad amplifier by any stretch, just a poor match with these speakers despite the very high rated power. Power supply and transformer quality are crucial considerations in the big picture with regard to tube amplifiers.
Charles

The problem is that you can’t just go with arbitrary power/watt numbers to decide, it isn’t that simple. Two amplifiers can have identical watts and yet be in some cases vastly different in performance and drive capability. This is what Garcia was alluding to in an earlier post.

I’d strongly suspect the 55 watt Mastersound has beefier transformers and power supply which would be an advantage. In your smaller room environment and listening levels and preferred music fare it’s possible the 30 watt amplifier could be quite adequate. It just depends on the variables involved. I’ll ask again, is there the opportunity for a home audition?

If the 55 watt Mastersound is within your budget certainly it’d be the safer choice. 
Charles

Hi ei1001h,
I can understand your fondness for the Mastersound 845 as they can sound simply gorgeous with the ’right’ speaker match. You’ve received some good replies.
1. George makes a compelling point in regard to the load demands of your speakers in the difficult mid bass region.

2. I find it interesting that atmasphere doesn’t consider this to be a challenging issue (mid bass load ).

3. Mr. Garcia makes a keen observation that in a small room the 30 watt SET amplifier won’t be a limiting factor (he may be right given the circumstances ).

Is there any possibly to hear the Mastersound in your system prior to purchase? Obviously this would settle the issue.
Best of luck,
Charles