Amplifier suggestion for Dynaudio Sapphire

I spent some time with the Saphires and never really got into them. There wasn't anything to complain about. They just didn't thrill me.

THEN, I hooked them up to a BAT VK-250SE amplifier and WHOA! did they come alive. Completely changed the character of the speaker.

I'm not saying the BAT is the only way to go. Only saying that these speakers are definitely sensitive to what you hook them up to. I would look for something that had lots of current.

Good luck!

I've owned several pairs of Dyns (1.3SEs, C1s) and heard the Sapphires, but don't think Audio Research would be a good match at all. In general, tube preamp and ss amp would be preferred.

BAT and Pass both worked for me---and Krell 400cx was my next step. Krell works very, very well with tube preamps and would be a dynamite combo---you need something that pushes the bass on the Sapphires imo (its weak spot)

I drive my Sapphires with Pass XA60.5, Manley Snappers, and Bel Canto Ref1000M Mk.II.

3 entirely different approaches that work quite well. However, the Snappers do run out of gas with challenging source material and/or higher SPL.

Great speakers but they require quality horsepower.

YMMV

Dealer disclaimer.

I heard C4's w/ Ref 110's and they sounded flat. I think you need more drive than that.

If you're after tubes I'd look at VAC. I have two Phi 200's I'm selling which I used to drive some 83 db electrostats. I tried a lot of amplifiers and they were the only tube amps I ever found that could do it. Your Sapphires are much easier to drive than those were!

The ASR would be a good fit but they are really hard to resell if you ever went in another direction.

I don't know about the EAR but if they're not top notch with some serious cahones you're wasting your time.

In SS you have many good choices as mentioned by others before me.

i heard a sapphire demo at premier acoustic lifestyle in nashville that sounded great. they are great to talk to also. they were using a tube integrated with a capacitor reserve power supply. cant remember the brand. Give them a call.