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Best amp under 1k for Soliloquy 5.0s

Hello Everyone,

I just purchased a used pair of Soliloquy 5.0s with the matching stands. The recommended amplification of 8 to 200 watts really leaves the door wide open from low watt tubes to higher powered SS amps. If anyone has had experience with these speakers I would love to hear what they found to be the most pleasing combination.

At this point I don't have much of a preference between tubes and SS, simply because the only experience I've had with tubes has been in a Jolida 1501RC i owned a few years back. However, if possible I wouldn't mind trying monos (either tube or SS) simply because I've never owned monoblocks before and I'd like to give them a shot if it makes sense.

Just from looking around it appears that Antique Sound Labs, nOhr, Vincent, and NuForce all have monoblocks that are in this price range used, but I'm sure there are others I've missed. Are any of these options worth looking into?

Almost all of my listening is done streamed from an Apple Macbook Pro. My listening room is 14' b 20'

Thanks in advance,

Joe
jmleonard400
elevick
2,636 posts
 
Soliloquy made a model for low power tube amps. It was more sensitive. The 5.0 is nice but should have at least a 30 watt amp. Stick with EL34, 6550 or KT88 based amps. 300B, 2A3 and EL84/6BQ5s just won't have enough juice.
mechans
3,048 posts
 
Try the Consonance SS amps very well priced and might be just the sound you want. P.S. Vincent is an OEMed - Sheg Ya I think??? maybe Consonance.
jmleonard400 OP
24 posts
 
Thanks for the input guys. The speakers probably won't arrive for at least a week, so I plan on spending some time with them to get impressions in my current system and then making decisions from there.

cheers,

Joe
ssglx
203 posts
 
Great choice in speakers. I've had mine for several years. No real desire to change. I've run them very happily with an Audio Refinement Complete (50 watts/ch). Never clipped the amp, but goes quite loud. I still have the complete, but am currently running them with a Monarchy SM-70 Pro amp. Only 24 watts, but the sound is quite nice.

A little tip about the 5.0's. If you decide they sound a little thin or sterile bolted to the factory stands, lift them off the energy sucking pads and decouple with some vibrapods (what I use), or couple directly with some cones such as made by audiopoints.

Lots of experience here.

Chris
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