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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 2 responses by twoleftears

twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,313 posts
 
In your first post you mention "an improvement" and in the last "better", but you don't specify on what axis or axes that amelioration might be achieved.  You also state there's more than sufficient bass.  If you were using 50W on them I'd say yes, go ahead and try 150W.  As it stands you're intrigued by different sounding amps, and there's a variety of amps that will give different presentations. BTW, if you check out the Harbeth User Group (HUG) you'll find a remarkable range of amps being used with different Harbeth models.  There's no orthodoxy on this one.  I think you need to audition (in store or at home) to make significant headway with this issue.
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,313 posts
 
The basic issue of preamp/amp mismatch is output impedance to input impedance.  So long as the preamp's output impedance is at least 10 times lower (1:10) than the amp's input impedance, you're fine.  Most (but not all) products meet this criterion.
Beyond that matching preamps and amps is more a matter of taste than anything else.  Often claimed "synergy" is really just something that sounds good to one person.
That being said, many people combine a tube preamp with a SS amp to get the best of both worlds.  With 30.2's, so long as you have an amp with 100-150W with a stiff power supply you should be fine.  And beyond that, as SS amps do sound different, once again it's more than anything a matter of taste.  If you're sticking with separates, there are alternatives to the Hegel.
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