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Power amp recommendation for Harbeth 30.2s

It’s not that I don’t like my current setup, it’s just that I wonder whether a more powerful amp would give the music more heft.  I’m running a pair of Harbeth 30.2s through a Prima Luna EVO 300 preamp driven by a vintage YBA Passion SS 400 power amp (purchased second hand from a reputable dealer).  I listen primarily to music streamed  from my FLAC stored collection on my NAS or from Qobuz through a Bluesound Node 2 into a Chord Qutest.   The YBA is very transparent and I love the sound of my system, but sometimes wonder on certain types of music whether a more powerful amp would be an improvement.  I like the idea of a SS or hybrid power amp paired with a tube preamp.  I chose the although  the Prima Luna preamp after listening to a Prima Luna integrated against a Hegel H590 (I had previously owned the Hegel H190) and purchased the YBA at the same time.  My listening choices are varied (folk, jazz, alternative, vocal, rock (not metal), so I’m not looking for ear shattering volume.  I don’t like the idea of a tube power amp due to both cost and how hot they can run.  I’m captivated by the Pass amps, but they are expensive.  I’ve also wondered about the Van Alstine hybrid amps.  I’m throwing this out to the experts because I may be overthinking this and should just be satisfied with the YBA until it finally fizzles (it’s pretty old).  Thoughts?
bfleetwood

Showing 6 responses by jjss49

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jjss49
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bfleet

my 2 cents

you want more heft from your setup because the mon 30’s are bass light... they are made to be that way, compared to their sister models compact 7s and super 5’s... i have had all three, sold the mon 30’s - it is fundamentally a midrange oriented speaker

i don’t believe changing amplification is going to appease your desire for more fullness and foundation... yba, hegel 190 390 590, pass, ava ss all have plenty of power to drive the mon 30’s properly with roughly same tonality, maybe yba a touch brighter up top, just a little

you might consider some subs...  or bite the bullet and try compact 7’s or shl5’s -- easy peasy to move and buy these harbeths always people wanting...
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@bfleetwood

your yba is 125 wpc currently... as i recall yba’s are quite fairly rated, not weak for their stated ratings

so 250 wpc gives you 3 db more headroom, 500 wpc 3 db more

how much do you need?

i think 2leftears hits the nail on the head, you are really asking what amps might sound different... only one way to find that out...

if you want an idea, try a big hegel... alan shaw uses an h360 them to voice his speakers
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@bfleetwood 

ahh i did miss your earlier reference and trial of the hegels... so that box is ticked

as for tubes... 

http://www.audiotubes.com/12au7.htm - brent is very accessible and helpful... tell him what gear and current tube you are running, what sound delta you seek, he will help you choose amongst his vast collection... good news is the 12au7's that the PL runs are still relatively cheap and plentiful tubes... usa made NOS organ stock (as in church choir organ, not your internal organs!) 12au7 marked hammond conn baldwin are plentful and well screened for noise and microphony... they sound great!
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@bfleetwood

I don’t have your specific PL Evo linestage but I do have a PL Dialogue Premium HP amp... from that piece I would venture to say that your PL unit will sound quite different with different input tubes in the key 2 gain positions (see your manual or the PL site, they specify which positions are key). Are you still running the poor, stock PL-supplied Chinese tubes in your EVO? If so I suggest you get some better, old stock 12au7’s. That will alter the presentation substantially. This is important, as you know, because your PL precedes the power amp, so even a subtle change there is magnified by the YBA...

Another idea, if you really want to hear what Alan Shaw intends the Mon 30 to sound like, is go on USAM and pick up a Hegel integrated... there are several there now... a Rost or a H160 can be had at a bargain... (you can resell it in a jiffy at those prices... like Harbeths, Hegels are always in demand). Then, you take the PL out of the chain, hear the speakers with the Hegel driving... that is your reference, your ’base case’ sound you then vary from with other gear... i promise you will hear more clarity slightly more bass solidity more incisive attack than you are hearing now... whether you will like that sound you can decide


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@bassdude

i think the op has said of the excellent hegels, he has ’been there done that’, and likes the primaluna in his signal chain better

@bfleetwood

you seem to have your heart set on finding out what a mega ss amp will do for you... so i hope you pick a good one and let us know... sometimes we get an itch that just must be scratched... its all part of the process of becoming satisfied with our systems

i would say that alan shaw certainly subscribes to that belief... doesn’t really matter what amp, but be sure get a big-ass one and you’re done... a couple thousand experienced harbeth speaker owners here and elsewhere may not quite agree hahaha
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jjss49
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agree w jackd that a d sachs into a van alstine unit would be outstanding

i would also comment that hegel’s h95 is lowest in their range... one should really step up to h190 if not h390 to get into the ’real deal’ hegels which have more refinement in sq as well as ’grip’
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