Tube amp with Vienna Acoustics Beethovens?

Thanks for your input Newbee and Mthieme.

I was thinking about amps in that power range but I started to have second thoughts when I read the recommendation chart on the VTL web site. They suggest that with speakers with two 6" woofers to use the MB 185. I was thinking more along the line of their ST 85. Would a <100 watt amp have the damping factor needed to control a speaker with five drivers? The Beethovens have 2 7" woofers, 2 mids and 1 dome tweeter. They present a 4 ohm load but have 91 dB sensitivity.

Here's an Update for tube amps with the Beethovens. I went to a dealer near me that has both VTL and Vienna Acoustics gear for sale. I listend to a VTL st85 and fell in love with the sense of air and the beauty of the mids and highs. The sparkle and liveliness were intoxicating. The bass was pretty muddy and slow though. I don't think I could live with this amp. I'll try the VTL ST 150 next. By the way I listened to a Bryston 3bsst and an Ayre V5x? in the same sitting and just thought they were boring and uninvolving compaired to the VTL, although they did do the bass very well. I've been ruined by one tube amp audition, one that didn't even make the cut!

Thanks for the tip Ttrhp, I'll definetly persue a trial with a BAT.

Hey Everybody,

I just received a used VTL ST150 and I am evaluating it right now. My first impressions are generally good. The bass is very good, tight fast and full bodied. This is a definite improvement over the ST 85 that I tried. The midrange doesn't have the same lush bloom that the ST85 did. I guess this is a function of using 6550 instead of el34 power tubes. This being said the midrange is still real pleasing. The high end was a little harsh at first, kind of bright, female vocals had a lot of sibilence. But this seems to be calming down now. I ordered some Mullard CV4024 to change out the input 12AT7s. The ones in there are of unknown origin. I'll post back in a few days after listening over the weekend. As of now I think this is a keeper.

OK,
Mullard to the rescue. The CV4024 are a huge improvement over whatever the 12AT7s were that came with the amp. The harsh highs are gone and have been replaced with sweet and extended highs. The high end is the biggest suprise for me with this amp. Much more detailed and extended that I thought tubes would do. I am enjoying a Mississippi John Hurt recording right now in triode mode. Very relaxed and open. Nice airy presentation with a sound stage that goes deep behind the speakers. The sound stage is not as wide as the McCormack DNA 125 but I think that is what the McCormack does better than most amps I have heard.
The width of the soundstage is about the only area that the McCormack is better than the ST 150. Don't get me wrong I really like the DNA 125 and would recomend it to anyone looking for a good reasonably priced amp. I am keeping it, just moving it to the bedroom were it will replace an Acurus A250. The ST 150 is staying in the big system for a long time.
Jim