Nola Viper Owners, Lend Me Your Amps


Hey all, I've been trying to do this on my own without a whole lot of success. I even sent Nola an email about amplification and got no response. I guess Carl didn't want to come off as biased towards one product or another, and that's cool.

I have been going back and forth between tubes and solid state gear for my Nola Viper IIa's. I've heard all the claims that Nola/Alons sound best or are viced with tubes, but I see that they also require a good deal of power to sound their best. As a result, I have been strongly considering the tube preamp, solid state power amp combo.

I'd like to know a couple of things; if I go tube power amp, how much tube power is required for the Nolas. If I go solid state can say, 125 watts do the job? Also, what are you guys using, all tubes, tube/ss combo, all solid state, and why?

For some info, I listen to all types of music, but I am a huge fusion fan where I listen to Jean Luc Ponty, Al Di Meola, Stanley Clarke and the like, so the music is hard driving and dynamic a lot of the time. However, I like my vocals too, both male and female, so the midrange has to be up to snuff as well.

Amps I've considered so far: Rogue, Dehavilland, Primaluna, Musical fidelity, McCormack, McIntosh, Primare and Emotiva. The only one that I have not heard is Primaluna.

Budget? I'm really trying to buy used but I will cough up the new price dough if there is a piece of gear that I decide that I have to have.

Thanks for looking and I look forward to responses.
hawk28
Carl sent me an email and stated that 55 watts or so, should be good for average listening in a medium size room. However, if I want to crank it up, 100 watts are preferred. I would err to the side of having too much than too little.
The many times I heard Alons at my dealer's (years ago, but the same type of designs), they sounded excellent with VTL amplification. I'd suggest you add that brand to your list for auditioning.
Prince, I thanks for the info. I have been looking at VTL as well. I will have to limit my choices, though, as we all know there are so many options out there. It can drive you crazy!
Being a long time Alon/Nola owner including 2 pairs of Alon 1's, 1 pair of Alon Lotus SE mk ll's and Nola Vipers 1X's, I can tell you they all sound their best IE natural with tube amps although a Pass Labs Aleph 3 did very well with the Alon 1's. I am currently using a McIntosh MC 275 mk V with the Nola Vipers with MIT speaker cables and can say it has plenty of headroom for even a die hard rock and roller such as myself and is musically articulate. The Lotus' are being driven by a rebuilt EICO 2050 integrated tube amp with equal aplomb and also use MIT speaker cables which are a killer match... much better than the stock Alon Black Orpheus cables although they are very, very good but lack an organic wholeness and bass slam the MIT's provide.

The best I've ever heard the Alon 1's and the Lotus' sound was with an EL34 output tube based tube amp but this was with a softer bottom end but the harmonic beauty was undeniable. By the way, a 30 WPC tube amp is plenty for both the Alon and Nola speakers but just make sure you experiment with the different output taps to get the best power transfer.
Thanks for your response, Prince. Its been a while since I've been to the site and just saw this. Im a little surprised with 30 watts being sufficient, but based on what you've owned you seem to be well versed with the Alon/Nola sound and what makes them sound their best.