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Recommend a good tube power amp in the 100 wpc range for under $4k

Folks, 

 I am looking to bi-amp my Fyne F702 speakers, with a solid state amp for the low end and a tube amp for the mods and highs.  The Fynes are floor standing 2.5 way units with 93 db sensitivity and 100 wpc rms power handling capacity.  My preamp is a Rogue Audio RP-7, and my current solid state power amp is a Benchmark AHB2 at 100 wpc.  My goal is not so much more power but to put a tube amp on the middle and highs.  The Fynes have two sets of binding posts, one for lower frequencies and one for mids and highs.  I am looking to go active bi-amping with a Sublime Acoustic K231 Stereo 3-Way Active Crossover.

  In addition to an amplifier recommendation, what else do I need to consider?  For example, if I buy an amplifier with wattage output similar to the AHB2, what other factors do I need to consider?  Because I do NOT want to modify the speakers in any way, do I need to consider a gain control to match level differences resulting from other factors, such as impedance differences? Or, can I just hook up the crossover between the preamp and the two power amps and enjoy the music, which is what it is really all about anyhow?

 

Many thanks for any and all comments.

mike4597
carlsbad's avatar
carlsbad
1,551 posts
 

RE: the crossover discussion.

No, you don’t need or want 2 crossovers.

If your speaker is set up for biamping, then the crossover inside the speaker will split the signal at the frequency that the OEM thinks is best.

Then you just need to figure out how to make it work with no external crossover.

 

Notice how people looking to bi-amp are usually folks that a lightbulb goes off in their head and it sounds like a good idea. and it can work. but if I were going to biamp I’d approach it like this: carefully pick the amp I live for mids and highs, try many amps. Let them drive entire speaker. then add a second ss amp to drive the lows only if the other amp was lacking.

Jerry

lloydc's avatar
lloydc
735 posts
 

You don’t need or want such complexity.  A good c. 100 wpc tube amp will be fine; good tube amps (e.g. Quicksilver, Rogue, Mac) can play bass very well, and the superb ones (e.g., VAC, Rogers, VTL) play bass extremely well .  Better to get a subwoofer or two. 

 

russ69's avatar
russ69
3,360 posts
 

Crossover does not equalize gain, just distributes these frequencies to this driver ...

Active crossovers usually have gain controls, as does the one the OP selected. 

russ69's avatar
russ69
3,360 posts
 

BTW: OP, I just wanted to add that your next level upgrade would not be an active crossover but instead would be a pair of mono block amps. 

hilde45's avatar
hilde45
4,796 posts
 

93 db sensitivity? Depending on how much Fyne's impedance curve swings (i.e., is demanding on the amp) you don’t need anywhere near 100 wpc. I have 92 db Ascend Acoustics towers (92db) and my Mono 60 Quicksilvers handle them easily, and with sweet sounding KT77 output tubes.

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