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Need some Tube and Class A SS Suggestions

I recently purchased a pair of Spendor D7s and am just loving these speakers. I have them paired with a musical fidelity KW 500 integrated. The combo is super fast, tight, and dynamic. However, the Spendors can be a bit too revealing in the high frequencies given a harsh or bright recording. This has me headed down the rabbit hole of tube amplification and possibly Class A SS. If the lowest bass is not as tightly defined I'm ok with. It actually may be too tight and defined at the moment. Added warmth in the upper bass would be fine as well. And if I'm going to upgrade then maybe it's time for separates too!

Here are the power amps I'm considering:
  • Primaluna EVO 400
  • Pass Labs XA25
  • Line Magnetic 805IA
  • Schiit Aegir Monoblocks - the price is just too good.
And on to the preamps:
  • Rogue Audio RP-5 and RP-7
  • PS Audio BHK Preamp
Ideally I would find at least one of the two Pre/Power used. I can probably get about $2200 for the musical fidelity so budget would be about $6k or so assuming I can somehow get both items used.

I'm curious to hear if any thoughts on what I've picked out already and if there are other units worth looking.

Thanks!
shahram
three_easy_payments's avatar
three_easy_payments
2,097 posts
 
@millercarbon is correct here.  The D7's aren't too revealing and that's a fairly nonsensical term I agree since it is an attribute we desire.  In my experience over the past 2 years with these speakers is that the tweeters need some run in to shed some initial grain and edge.  I first heard the D7's at a show and was hugely impressed.  I knew that Spendor didn't bring any D7's to shows with less than 500 hrs on them so I wasn't alarmed by the run in period needed.  They really have one of the most amazing tweeters I've heard...which I'm sure led Stereophile to write this  in its review: 
I noticed especially fine treble dispersion and extension, as well as freedom from any harshness. The treble had a crystalline clarity that put the Spendor D7 among the finest speakers I have heard at any price.
The tweeter clarity is at a level that most speakers don't possess.  They also have a fabulous midrange and bass extension while imaging at a level that I normally associate with nice stand-mounted monitors. In my system I truly enjoy the music that is conveyed through pairing the speakers with Class A SS amplification and a tubed pre that can operate in a fully balanced circuit from input to output. 
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almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
Regarding the EVO 400 possibility, while I couldn't find measurements on it many PrimaLuna power amps have particularly high output impedances, even for tube amps. If that is the case with the EVO 400, given the speaker's rising impedance in the upper treble region (see Figure 1 of Stereophile's measurements here) the result of that pairing may be an over-emphasis of the upper treble region, which sounds like the opposite of what you are looking for.

Regarding the XA25, which I own, I second the comment by three_easy_payments. And especially his suggestion of pairing it with a tube line stage. The XA25 is very transparent, and pairing it with a very transparent solid state line stage may be too much of a good thing, given what you are trying to accomplish.

Good luck. Regards,
-- Al

gregm
3,395 posts
 
Other than the XA25 mentioned above, I recommend you check out the Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista 600. I listened to it recently with Spendor D9s, a very pleasing result. I imagine it would sound just as good with the D7s if not better
stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,250 posts
 
I would pair a Prima Luna tube amp with a Prima Luna tube preamp.  System synergy is key. 
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