2. amps-preamps
  3. 1221604868

Powerful Tube Amp for SF Strads?

I am looking for recommendations for a powerful tube amp for my Strads. A powerful tube amp which truly excels at palpability, musicality but also has very good bass control (though bass control is not as 'mission critical' to me as palpability).

My current amp (see below) sounds great to my ears!...but runs out of steam much too soon.

My system today:

Zanden 5000S DAC
CJ Act 2
CJ MV60 (EL 34 tube)
SF Strads (4ohms, 92db sensitivity though impedence does dip to 2.5ohms)
Velodyne DD-18 (run in parallel)
Transparent Ref/Ref XL cabling throughout
Purist Audio Dominus PC

In addition to recommendations, any thoughts are welcome on Wavac, Audio Note, Zanden, VTL, CJ LP275...or monoblocking MV60 (EL34)? Thanks!

Lloydelee21
lloydelee21
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
The top line VTL monoblocks--the Reference or the Siegfried. This is the best-sounding, most seductively addicting and at the same time most dynamic amp I have *ever* heard.

They give you the best of everything: Magic of tubes, wickedly powerful, and regulated by a complex solid state circuit that maintains proper bias, speed, and linearity.
tmornini
1 posts
 
Have you considered the McIntosh 2301 dual mono pair?

They come straight to mind when you say powerful and tube in the same sentence! :-)
alimartin
4 posts
 
Try the new Eternal arts OTL amp. Just got a rave review in German mag "image hifi". I bought one 6 months ago and it is simply amazing. Best of both worlds: tube sound with Dartzeel speed. Look it up at www.audioclassica.de. I run mine withg Audionote AN-E loudspeakers, Bliss.
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
I don't question the quality if the Eternal Arts - never having heard them, but I would stick with Atma-sphere for OTLs which are outstanding soundwise, U.S. made, very reliable, can repaired here in the US should it ever need it, and has a healthy afetermarket if you should ever tire of it. In fact you can by used here and sell back for roughly the same should it not be your cup of tea.
jskg
16 posts
 
What about a pair of CJ LP140s or push the boat out further with a pair of LP275s?
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