Tube Amps with Vandersteen 2Ci's ???

Why not having the best from the both worlds? You have excellent pre-amp(tube)You need excellent solid state amp. Remember, Vandersteen 2ce are already "warm" speakers, and with probably the best bass ( at that price range).Why would you want to "tame" that? I suggest:Mccormack/ PD DNA-0.5/120Wpc Good Luck!

I have seen Richard Vandersteen demo his speakers twice, the 2C and Mod. 5, and each time he had Audio Research tube amps on them. The bass was full, vibrant and well defined. A dealer I used to frequent consistantly played the speakers (2c) with Audio Research tubes or B&K solid state. I don't recall RV saying he specifically endorsed AR, but it was a match that he really liked.

I have seen Richard Vandersteen demo his speakers twice, the 2C and Mod. 5, and each time he had Audio Research tube amps on them. The bass was full, vibrant and well defined. A dealer I used to frequent consistantly played the speakers (2c) with Audio Research tubes or B&K solid state. I don't recall RV saying he specifically endorsed AR, but it was a match that he really liked.

I actually think a solid state amp is a better match for the vandersteens. The tube amp will cut out quite a bit of the bass. I assume you like bass if you bought vandersteens. If you need to trim some of the bass boom, tube amps are a good way to go. Vandersteens are relatively insensitive to their amplifiers. I think the mccormack amp is a great match for them.

Personally, I could not get over the metallic sound of my 2ce high end even with a tube amp. I tried a CJ MV50 which did not control the bass at all. I really think that in your price range it would be very tough to buy a tube amp with enough power to run the Vandees and not have an amp that is very expensive. Unless you really like the Vandees and are willing to spend 2.5k plus on an amp. I really prefer my present set up with Pro Ac Resonse 2 w/ an ARC Classic 30 which cost used 1300 and will power the Pro ACs which would not happen w/ the Vandees.