New Amp/Pre Amp for Paradigm Persona 9h Speakers

@mi4a,

I do not own your speakers but have heard them and I personally have GE Triton Reference speakers which also have powered woofers. My speakers have a 93.5 efficiency and I tried a tube integrated on them, namely a Rogue Cronus Magnum with 100wpc. I was truly underwhelmed with the sound. My woofers are powered by 1800 watt Class D amps so I am driving just 2 midrange sand tweeter with the tube integrated.

I went to solid state and used my Odyssey Stratos Extreme amp, it sounded much better, I then hooked up my CJ MF2550 a 250wpc SS amp, sounded Very slow and thick. Finally settled on a McIntosh, first a 150 per channel amp and finally a 300wpc Mac amp. Now everything sounds full and perfect (to my ears). I am telling you this because not everything will match well with your speakers.


I would look for a good SS amp. I believe that Audio Doc in NJ sells both the speakers you own and that T&A integrated. Perhaps you can demo and go from there. I would either go with that T&A or a McIntosh integrated with at least 150 wpc.

Thanks for all for responding.  Really appreciate the thoughts and suggestions.  

Also own these speakers, and have an Accuphase E650  at present. Am considering others as well, and the new Boulder 866 has come to my attention. A review in an English audio mag suggested these speakers DO need a substantial amount of power, as they dip to about 2 ohms at a point in their response. I'm using 30 watts Class A, and would like to try a warm sounding high power source to see what changes I perceive. 
The Boulder Digital includes a DAC/ROOM setup, so it hits a lot of buttons for me.  Just a thought....

brrgrr - Thanks.  Please keep me posted on your review of the 866.

Do not forget accuphase it is definitely the best integrated amplifier that i have and it works with all kinds of speakers vintage and new.