2. amps-preamps
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Looking for 50-100 watts of Tube Power (give or take) for my JBL 4349s

I’ve been looking at new and used 50-100 wpc power amps in the $5000 range to drive my JBL 4349s. I don’t have any experience in this price or power bracket when it comes to tubes, and could use some reccomendations.

Here are the amps I’ve been researching (the usual suspects I assume):

Rogue Stereo 100

Cary CAD-120s Mk2

Audio Research Reference 150SE

Audio Research VT80SE

Carver Crimson 275

Various vintage Corad Johnson amps

I’d love to hear why people would choose one of the amps from this list, or what else I should consider that isn’t on the list. I don’t have a preamp yet but will probably try a Benchmark la4 first.

For context, my main amp right now is a Torii Jr, but I also use the 4349s with a Muzishare X7 and a Denon PMA-1700NE. I love the Torii Jr and will continue to use it, but would occasionally like more power. The Muzishare is fine, but I want something of better quality.

My musical tastes are all over the place: rock, pop, jazz, world, electronic, classical. I listen to a lot of symphonic/orchestral music and would like more power to handle the dynamics, but prefer the soundstaging of tubes.

Thanks in advance for the recommendations!

 

 

rischa
Post removed 
12many
218 posts
 

@rischa   Have you considered SS amp with a tube pre?  

For anyone to comment to the OP, would that give a similar tube sound, but with better speaker control / dynamics?  Or does the sound change when comparing tube amp with SS pre verses SS amp with tube pre?   

 

knotscott's avatar
knotscott
802 posts
 

I've been extremely pleased with the sound of the VTA mods on my Dyna 70s.  They offer a few other models including monoblocks rated at 125 wpc.  From $2100 in kit form (+ S/H and tubes)  or $3k assembled (+ S/H and tubes).

https://www.tubes4hifi.com/home.html

 

rischa OP
62 posts
 

@yogiboy, those look great! I will take a closer look.

@12many, I’m open to the idea, but I use to run a Decware CSP2+ in front of an Odyssey Khartago, and I don’t remember this combo having the soundstaging of a good tube amp. It was only one experience though, so I’m sure there are better examples to be heard.

fthompson251's avatar
fthompson251
291 posts
 

FWIW - my Vac Renaissance 70/70 Signature will be listed on TMR (The Music Room) for around $5500. I am shipping it to them tomorrow so it will take 2 weeks before they inspect and list it. This is a $22,000 amp that is factory fresh from VAC and has new tubes with about 100 hours on them. It has been updated to everything they know to do to it at this time, I just picked it up from VAC 1 week ago. I has 65 WPC of 300 B bliss. It would make those JBL’s sing. I have made the switch to SS after 25 years! 

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