Go with tubes...I recently had the CJ PF-2L which I bought new back in 1997 and know its sound well, this is a good solid Jfet design with minimal feedback.open and clean sounding with a slightly laid back presentation and good, but not outstanding depth and staging(those tube virtues again) I've had it paired with several amps mostly Quicksilver M-60 monos driving Thiel 2.3's, Cary 308T upsample CD(more on this somewhere else) VPI Aries/JMW 10.5 and Lyra Helikon from a Monolithic PS-1/HC-1 phono pre amp. wiring is all Alpha core Silver except VPI which uses Kimber Hero.
After swapping the Thiels for Maggie 3.3R's with another Gon member,I felt a more powerful amp was needed, and bought a CJ MF-2300. Not the "A" version.
Well, thinking this would be a great match with FETS all over the place simulating that magic tube sound was about as disapointing as it could be. I was only glad that I kept my Quickie tubes . Now keep in mind the 2300 is a good amp, but knowing the sound of the PF-2L with
other amps, I felt that the bass was to light weight and the sound was missing the palpable magic I had with the M-60;s..perhaps the newer 2250 with fet/bipolar devices would be a better match. 125W/ ch should be fine for you unless you really need current to drive outlandish loads.. the Thiel 2.3's I drove with the Quicksilver amps sounded very good and even pushed the amps never complained. You could get into a pair for under$1000. Good listening
Kehut
After swapping the Thiels for Maggie 3.3R's with another Gon member,I felt a more powerful amp was needed, and bought a CJ MF-2300. Not the "A" version.
Well, thinking this would be a great match with FETS all over the place simulating that magic tube sound was about as disapointing as it could be. I was only glad that I kept my Quickie tubes . Now keep in mind the 2300 is a good amp, but knowing the sound of the PF-2L with
other amps, I felt that the bass was to light weight and the sound was missing the palpable magic I had with the M-60;s..perhaps the newer 2250 with fet/bipolar devices would be a better match. 125W/ ch should be fine for you unless you really need current to drive outlandish loads.. the Thiel 2.3's I drove with the Quicksilver amps sounded very good and even pushed the amps never complained. You could get into a pair for under$1000. Good listening
Kehut