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Best Tube Amp For Sonus Faber? Or Pass XA-100.5? $6-7,500 Budget, Purchasing Used.

As the title says, I have a pair of Sonus Faber Olympica III's that I am more than pleased with, for which I am trying to determine the best available amplifier, preferably tube. Of course, there are always budget limitations and my budget for this amp would be $6-7,500, and I would be buying used to maximize purchasing power.

Based on a lot of research, and quite a few auditions at brick and mortar stores, various home systems, Axpona, etc. I'm honestly not sure if there are any truly exceptional tube amplifiers available within that budget that meet my needs. These speakers need 100wpc tubed, or 200 wpc solid state, into 4 ohms to really open up and perform. 

If, in the end, there are no really great tubed options, I've always heard that the Pass Labs XA-100.5's were probably the optimal choice in solid state for former tube lovers. I would also appreciate any thoughts on that option from owners. 
nightfall

Showing 4 responses by georgehifi

georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
djfst
georgehifi,

I noticed the bass improvement the most when going from the primaluna to the VAC.  that would coincide with what you were saying.  The best bass on a tube amp I've heard was with the VAC.

It could be the the VAC has a lower output impedance because of two things either it's transformer has a lower impedance winding or the it has a lot more global feedback than the PL creating a lower impedance.

Cheers George 
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
They only dip into the 2ohm territory very briefly
Yeah but this dip spans between 70hz to 150hz, the power region for bass, if the amp can't deliver current into it, you'll get a big dip in power in that region, especially from an 8ohm tap.
https://ibb.co/hoYNyF

Cheers George  
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
They only dip into the 2ohm territory very briefly 
Yeah but it spans between 70hz and 150hz right in the power region for bass, and you'll get a big dip in power there if the amp can't give the current into it. especially from an 8ohm tap.
This is a more telling graph.
https://ibb.co/hoYNyF

Cheers George

georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
I would go with the Pass, as the  Olympica III in the power region is around 2ohms at 100hz, a tube amp would be a gamble.
https://ibb.co/hoYNyF

Cheers George
 
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