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Which tube int. amp to pair with Spendor S3/5

I've been using my S3/5's with a little Creek 4330R for a while now, but I think it's time to go with tubes. I've been thinking about these 2:

PrimaLuna Prologue One
Jolida 302B

I've had my eye on the Jolida for a while now, but just recently heard about the PrimaLuna. They both are EL-34 based giving the midrange that I crave. It seems the Prima may have better build quality, and assembly....but I am not sure the Prima's 35W can equal the 302B's 50W. The spendors are very inefficient at 84dB, but I heard their load is quite favorable with tube amps.

I don't know, if 35W is enough for the S3/5 then I might just have to go for the PrimaLuna, or should I stick with the tried-and-true 302B's? What are your thoughts on these amps?
alan2990

Showing 1 response by larryi

larryi
3,719 posts
 
I would be a bit wary of the Jolida. I know a dealer that gets a lot of them back for repairs. He said that in the past the repairs were pretty minor, but in the last year and a half or so, he has had a lot of problems with expensive parts, like the output transformers.

I have heard several different Spendors, including the S3/5, driven by amps made by an Italian firm, Synthesis, that do a very good job of bringing these speakers to life. I believe their website is synthesis.co.it.

The two reasonably priced tube amps that impressed me the most at CES this year were the integrated amps made by Rogue (@$1800) and an integrated by a Chinese firm, Consonance. Both sounded great in their respective systems, the Consonance also looks pretty good to boot.

Is there any reason that it has to be a tube amp? I've heard the S3/5 sound very good with Naim electronics and I bet they would sound good with other good solid state stuff like Lavardin.

Good luck in your search.
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