I've got the Baby Grands. I've heard them with Primare, but I didn't pay attention to the model. Anyway that combination was very good.
I started with a 100-watt per channel (into 4 ohms) Bryston 2B and moved up to 300 watts from a Conrad Johnson CA200, now using Analysis Plus Solo Crystal Oval 8 cables. Over in Reviews you can see both my review of CJ amp and the AP cables. I purchased the CJ here on A'gon for a price well within your budget. I bought my cables new, but I'd have no reservation buying used cables.
If you'll consider other intergrateds (I think it's the way to go in your price range) then look for a Rowland Concerto. However, his little mono-blocks are incredible with the VA speakers.
VAs like a relatively high damping factor, which I think all the amps we've discussed so far deliver.
While your new speakers are still breaking in, it's a good time to line up the rest of the components and get them broken in also. The speakers start getting real nice after 50 hours but benefit from a few hundred, as does everything else.
Did you buy from a Sumiko dealer? If so, then insist on the Sumiko Master Set in your room. (See Review also). It's the single most important factor in maximizing your system enjoyment, IMHO.
Dave
I started with a 100-watt per channel (into 4 ohms) Bryston 2B and moved up to 300 watts from a Conrad Johnson CA200, now using Analysis Plus Solo Crystal Oval 8 cables. Over in Reviews you can see both my review of CJ amp and the AP cables. I purchased the CJ here on A'gon for a price well within your budget. I bought my cables new, but I'd have no reservation buying used cables.
If you'll consider other intergrateds (I think it's the way to go in your price range) then look for a Rowland Concerto. However, his little mono-blocks are incredible with the VA speakers.
VAs like a relatively high damping factor, which I think all the amps we've discussed so far deliver.
While your new speakers are still breaking in, it's a good time to line up the rest of the components and get them broken in also. The speakers start getting real nice after 50 hours but benefit from a few hundred, as does everything else.
Did you buy from a Sumiko dealer? If so, then insist on the Sumiko Master Set in your room. (See Review also). It's the single most important factor in maximizing your system enjoyment, IMHO.
Dave