tee557, I havn't heard the SE-40 with the ProAc's, but I'm using ProAc 2.5's currently with a Cary SlA 70B Signature that puts out 60W per side. The one nice thing about the ProAcs is that the have a relatively benign impedance vs. frequency curve. That's why relatively low powered amps can still drive them. However, in my experience 60W is right on the edge of not being enough power to fill my room (16x23x10) on dynamic passages. Granted, I'm comparing this to the dynamics I get with my 200W solid-state Bryston 4BST. The bass responce from the tube amp is also a little flabby compared to the Bryston, but it's also nice and tunefull, a trade off I can make on certain types of chamber music and Jazz. The reason for this flabbyness with the ProAc's and tube amps is also due to the fact that the output impedance (sometimes around 2 ohms!)of tube amps is much higher than that of solid-state amps. The impedance curve of the speaker becomes a filter that modifies the frequency responce of the tube amp. Also, tube amps are more of a Voltage source than a current source. ProAc's need current and lots of it to make the bass sound tight and powerful. So if bass is your main concern, going to a low powered tube amp like the SE-40 might not help you out.
Proac and Golden Tube SE-40
Hi Guys, Has someone heard the combination of Proac Response 2.5 and the Golden Tube SE-40 Power Amp.? I heard the amp with Audio Physic and was impressed. I use the Proac with the ARC Vt60 and the sound tend to be a little on the bright side and the bottom octaves of the Proac are not handeled well with the Vt60. Thanks a lot, Ofer.