Power amp for Silverline Sonata III


Newbie from Australia here....

I'm looking for a power amp partner for my new Silverline Sonata III's.
Pre-amp is a Supratek Chardonnay.

I'm thinking 25 watts is enough (93db efficiency) but more is always nice.

I'm trying to keep the price under control here.
I play all sorts of music from chamber to jazz to trance and most stops in between, no country music though....

Would be interested in suggestions.
sonicnirvana

Showing 6 responses by sonicnirvana

Thanks Lissnr (and other contributors)

Being on the other side of the world from where it is all happening makes it hard to try all the possibilities, so I just have to "wing it" with as much good input as I can get, and working from a lot of experience too I guess.

In the meantime, the Sonatas sound superb with my zero-feedback SS amp, and I can't wait to get the amplification they deserve.
Thanks for your helpful reponses.

Yohjo, what kind of improvement did bi-amping make? I gather this is through the bi-wire terminals......do you know where across the crossover this takes place? ie woofers / top 3 drivers or bass-mid-bass / mids-tweets?

I have the opportunity to pick up a Quicksilver V4, anyone with experience about whether they think this would be a good match? More than enough power....and can roll through EL34s, KT88, 6550 and 6L6s to adjust the sound. Thoughts?
Thanks especially to Yohjo and Lissner.
My ex is gone too!

4 times V4 monoblocks would be a bit much......for the price I think simply a higher-end power amp may be a better investment......I like the look of the V4s though as a versatile choice.

I was really looking for something "so nice" in a 40-50 watt but it seems there is this gap between SETs and big push-pulls. The bigger Audio Arts look nice but well out of my price range.
The atma-spheres look interesting but I see the match with OTLs a bit of a risk withoout trying first and there is no local dealer.....
Mike says you can't get the Triodes in 240v/ 50Hz though.
I was interested in those, very much so....
This is an interesting suggestion.
Have heard a bit of the "lore" that surrounds these amps, there is a bit of that with the older McIntosh things as well.

Not a lot of CJs on the ground here in Australia. VERY few!
IF they are switchable at the transformer to 240v/50Hz I would look at grabbing one of these if a seller was interested in going to the trouble for an "exotic" buyer....
Thanks.
I had a look at the CJ site and the MV55 is still the "old-style" chassis, the last of those before the angled "buttress" style I think ??

I was actually in "Plinius town" last month :) I worked for the company that introduced Plinius to Australia....waaaay back when (early 80s)......a lot different range now though.

The Supratek pre's well known around here, they are tube pieces made in Western Australia. Mine emerges off the waiting list this week I'm told.

As for power amps, I think I've got the short list down to Quicksilver V4 or Atma-sphere M60 MkII. The OTL thing intrigues me, looks the way to go.
The multi-voicing I can do with the V4 is compelling though.