Goldenear Triton One.R - can it be driven with low power tube amp?

Sandy Gross, the former designer/owner of Golden Ear uses a 8wpc SET amp on his GE Triton Reference speakers and used that amp to help voice the speakers.  I drive mine with a 300wpc SS amp.  I find that the extra horsepower gives a more fuller and impactful sound. 

@georgehifi,

When I was at the 2017 RMAF, in the Golden Ear Room, I talked at length to Sandy Gross and I mentioned tubes and the Triton References. He told me he uses an 8 watt SET in his home with the References. They have a 93.5 dB efficiency. He said he voiced the speakers with both the SET and an Airtight Tube Amp. He also used a SS amp but he never got into the specifics.


Sandy told me he likes to kick back in the evenings with a good bottle of wine and listen to music via the SET and the T Refs. If you read through the forums on the Golden Ear web site, the moderator in one of the conversations discusses Sandys preferences. I use a Mac MC302 on mine and 90% of the time, the meters hover between .3 watts and 3 watts and in my room, gives me a 88db spl.

For the record, I stated Sandy Gross uses an 8 watt SET amp driving his Triton References.  The Triton One R was not invented yet in 2017 when I talked to Sandy at RMAF. I have no idea how a SET would drive the Triton One R speaker.