Recommendations for tube amp to replace Plinius

I never liked the SA100 MkIII. Took it home a few times but my tube monos always played better music. Then I heard the SA102. Murdered the tube monos on 75% of the music, with the tube monos only being better on maybe 10% of the music. At that hit rate I now have the SA102 and I can't see myself changing it for a while. The 102 is not an updated SA100 - it is quite a different amp. You have used the word analytical to describe the SA100. I always thought the SA100 mechanical - perhaps we mean the same thing. By comparison the SA102 is very organic. It does not romanticise, but the problem I find with gear that romanticises is that it only really works with a narrow range of music.

It all comes down to your ears. But, IMO, a CJ MV 60 SE is the best route. New it is a little more then your 2500. You can get a MV 60 used for 16-1700 and then have it upgrade for 300. It is a wonderful and magical amp.

I owned Focus speakers for many years. I agree with the assessment that they need alot of current especially since the impedance drops to 2.7 in the mid-bass. Consider the Spectron Musician amp. It is class D and doesn't sound like traditional solid state but can provide plenty of current. Enjoy listening.

Electrocompaniet is very tube like in the mids and high's but doesn't have much bass.

I have owned the Plinius SA-100 and now the SA-102. I have tried a number of tube amps but have felt the lack of dynamics and impact is too much loss. Please look up my review of the SA-102 here at Audiogon, I use it with a Placette active pre-amp, Sony SCD-1 and Dunlavy IVa speakers and am extremely happy. Major improvement over the SA-100, much more liquid and naturual while keeping the dynamics.

Hi Wellfed, sorry I missed you last time you where in town.

Unless you want to be a guinea pig, I think the best advice is for you to poll Legacy Focus users for what amps work best with these speakers. Use a subject line like "Best amp for Legacy Focus loudspeakers?". I think you would probably like the amps I am using, Atma-Sphere M-60's, but the 4 ohm impedance of your loudspeaker requires the use of a product called the ZERO autoformer to achieve good results. Paul Speltz, ZERO designer, would be a good source of information. His email address is listed at the ZERO site. The ZERO's can replace your speaker cabling. Used M-60's and new ZERO's will cost about $2,500-$3,000. Another excellent resources is the Atma-Sphere Owner's Group, obviously a site dedicated to Atma-Sphere products, but they will discuss other brands as well. There are a number of technically savvy users there that will give you good advice.

Thanks for your feedback. 1markr makes a good point about the current needed to drive the woofers. I guess I don't understand the practical application of the sensitivity rating. I've never heard the Plinius 102. The Plinius is a great amp, very pristine and good across the whole spectral range(highs to lows) but at times I feel its too analytical and I was hoping a tube amp would romanticize my system a bit. I think the real issue is my fascination with the low powered set and triodes. even though I've never heard them, I feel I'm missing out on something.

I have heard the Plinius SA-102 and thought it was a great sounding amp. How does the 100 compare?

In my opinion, you are not going to be able to move three 12" (or are they 14", I don't remember) woofers very well with a low powered tube amp. You won't get a whole lot of bass out of them, as they require tons of current. I lived with the Focus since 1990, and have just recently replaced them. I was very close to getting a Manley Stingray for them, until I heard the two together. Thin, but great midrange.

I have a pair of Focus 20/20 and use the EAR 534. It is 50 wpc and has rca/balanced inputs and also individual gain controls for each channel. It is a beautiful amp with a chrome front. It is also relatively maintenance free as tube amps go. It can also be mono. I have two of these amps and really only need one to drive these speakers. It retails for $3595 and I would sell you one of them for 1850 shipped.

I'd try the Sonic Frontiers Power 2 I just happen to have listed. Shameless plu, and I'm willing to give you a more in budget price.

Being there with Plinius 100 mk3. Went with Mesa Baron, and Dynaudio Countour 3.3, and went back to Plinius! Plinius is fantastic amp, especialy in class A operation. What would you like to achieve with changing of the amps? I gained little bit deeper soundstage, and more liquid midrange, bass was good too, but not as good as with Plinius. I would look into better tube pre-amp, before i ditch Plinius. If you want tube sound, try Pass Aleph amps!

Music reference RM-10. This is under your budget as a new amp and just got a rave review in Sensible Sound. I use the RM-200 and love it.

You may be happy with Rogue amps, not the most revealing, but very nice sound.

I think there is something made by Antique Sound Labs that uses the 845 tube single ended for about 22 watts per channel. A friend uses one to drive his Silverlines.