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Recommendation for higher power tube amp

AudiogoNers - I am interested in trying more tube power with my Thiel CS2.3s, which are hard to drive (~3 ohm load over 100Hz), budget is ~$3000-3500, used is fine as long as reliability is not a big risk, what would you recommend?

Currently running a BAT VK-55 and love the sound of tubes with these speakers, first thought was to get a second VK-55 and run them in mono, but realizing there are several other potential contenders in this price range, including Sonic Frontiers Power 2, Music Reference RM-200, a few VTL models, Antique Sound Labs Hurricane, Jolida Fusion, Manley Snappers, and more ARCs then you can shake a stick at, I thought I'd post the question.

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millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
My recommendation always tends towards finding the best value. Spending $3500 to hopefully make a pair of $1800 difficult to drive speakers maybe sound a little better. 
You love the sound of the tube amp you already have. Imagine how much more with better speakers. 
testpilot
896 posts
 
Why are you trying to put a square peg in a round hole?  Theil's love and perform best with high current SS amps. 
gakerty's avatar
gakerty
175 posts
 
If you want to stay tube, for ~$3500 you could get a Rogue Stereo 100, which outputs 100W into 8 ohms when in ultralinear mode, 60W in triode.  I have one paired with a RP-7 preamp and I love the combination, but I'm not running a difficult load.
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,510 posts
 
What sets the Music Reference RM-200 apart from (as far as I know) all other tube amps is that it's power output does not decrease with speaker impedance---it puts out 100 watts at both 8 ohms and 4 ohms. It also has a low (for a tube amp) output impedance, a good thing with loudspeakers (such as your Thiel's) having a varying impedance. The original version of the RM-200 goes for around $2000 used, the Mk.2 for around $3000. Reviews of both (by Michael Fremer) available on the Stereophile website.
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