Mastersound Amps. Anything similar you'd recommend

Well, made a mistake and just found out that the amp is the Due Venti rather then the 300 model. Still liked tyhe sound a lot and that also explains why the price is around 3000 rather then twice as much. Guess the problem with the amp not exactly matching the speakers might still apply.

The Due Venti is a very nice amp too! I was looking for one when Gjrad turned me on to the VAIC 300BSE. The Due Venti is 20W/channel. Here's a review:

http://6moons.com/audioreviews/mastersound2/duo.html

The issue with SET amps and conventional speakers is that they can only drive them to moderate levels. I could not get the VAIC 300bSE to power the SF Concertinos to more than "entertaining" volume, which was what I mainly did in that room anyway. So, they were fine for that.

But, to fill the room and to get the best out of the amp, I needed a more sensitive speaker. And I wanted one as good on operatic voices as the SF Concertinos were. The Sonist Concerto 3 is that, plus it's fabulous with large-scale orchestral music too.

I highly endorse the Due Venti. For speakers to match it with, you might look into the Sonist Concerto 2--a large monitor rated 95dB/8 ohms. Very affordable and I found it great for blues, rock, jazz, and operatic and jazz voices. Just not the last word in depth and slam for orchestral music. A review:

http://www.ultraaudio.com/equipment/sonist_concerto_2.htm

Krauti--

A question. What is it you don't prefer about the Electrocompaniet AW220 amps? Or, putting it another way--I thought that Electrocompaniet had a reputation of being fairly "soft" and somewhat dark and "tubelike" as far as SS amps were concerned. Why are you selling the AW220s?

As a tube-amp lover, I've admired Electrocompaniet, MBL, and Clayton in terms of their approaches to SS sound.

The main problem is that I find the sound of my current setup to be a bit too bright for my ears. A friend of mine described it as quite detailed and liked it a lot, but he's not into tube amps and finds them too warm sounding.

The main problem might be the speakers and that's why I originally wanted to sell my speakers and by the PMC OB1+'s.

A little later I heard the Due venti and just loved the sound. Just so different to solid state equipment. But then again, I should try different speakers first to give the amps I have a better chance and that's why I'm back to deciding what to sell first.

As there are some Electrocompaniet's here on Agon that haven't sold for a while I might have a better shot at selling the B&W 703's first and get the PMC's and take it from there.

One reason why I did like the integrated is that it needs less space and sounded very good to me.

I could of course get Classe amps, which I auditioned the B&W's with as I really like them with these amps, but the tube sound is different and for my ears just nicer.

A SET amp needs to be matched to loudspeakers since most SETs are low power even the largest are only 40 watts or so sure a few very costly exceptions. SETS have trouble with low ohm loads and if loudspeaker impedance is too low reduced bass and treble is usually the result. If SETs output power is not enough you will be clipping the amp most of the time. SET clipping isn't a square wave like SS amps so not damaging to loudspeakers like clipped ss amplifier. But you will have greater distortion again 2nd order not as bad sounding as distortions in SS amp designs. This is as simple as I can explain it. For loudspeakers consider Audiokeneses, KCS, Carter, Love craft, Omega. I own KCS just so you know;) The old bias to ones product. KCS can build custom if you like. We do have a SEAs exotic monitor that I actually use on my Mastersound 300b. And match's SET near as perfect as you can get in this hobie. KCS designs loudspeakers optimized for SET and using SETs in design and voicing stage We also design for all other amplifier types. Since amp loudspeakers should be carefully matched most manufacturers just design loudspeakers to be used with many types of amplifier thus not optimized for any. With SET many disappointed owners who where doomed from the start do to improper matched system. If you go hi-eff loudspeakers dont cheap out or even consider anything less than a 6in driver. Lots of hi-eff designs sporting cheap 4in drivers with special coating avoid these at all costs or you to will be doomed and back on forum. No 4in drivers is even close to fullrange. And talk about no frequency extremes or dynamic range. These weak little 4in drivers tend to chase away many from fully exploring SET hi-eff. Many - posts about hi-eff fullrange or SET can be traced to improper system match's or over expectations like expecting a wee 4in cone driven by 8 watts or less to move the earth ;) Same with horns many start cheap or use vintage and say colored sound and they are right,but Front horns can be near the best sound with SET you can get but are very large costly and not all are designed for SET use. Hard to get the best sound with SET unless crossovers simple and drivers are over built and mags very powerful this is not cheap to pull off. So to sum look for powerful mags ohm loads not below 4ohms. And with a 300b at least 90db 1 watt 8ohms.