Intergrated amp for Totem Sttaf

I'd think seriously about a Tube integrated - and while 50-60 w/c would be nice, 30 will do just fine. I had played Sttafs for a short while on a vintage Fisher tube integrated. It was rated at ~20w/ch and it drove the Sttafs very nicely. Unless you want to rock out (which Sttafs don't do in the first place) you can do very nicely with 20-30 w/ch. If you only need one input the TAD 60 would be amazing with the Sttafs. Otherwise there's an abundance of tube integrated in the <$1000 price range (used), and some ~$500 range that would be worth a try IMHO. I no longer have the Sttafs, but I've driven my Mani-2s with my TAD 60 running in triode mode (30 w/c) and it was quite nice. The Manis are much harder to drive than the Staffs.

Sim 1-5 would fit the bill nicely. I think your concern about your son is very valid and feel that the Sim is better ( if you want true to source sound without the bloom of tubes). That being said a good tube amp can be addicting for the price point and money spent.I do know that Sim mates very well with dynamic drivers and would be able to sound very good ( a friend had a set-up very similar to yours) and was happy with an 1-3.If you can afford an Sim 1-7 ,then this would be a killer piece that would last a long time.I am running w-10 monos and must say that authoritative and amazing imaging and soundstaging are very addicting when done well.Enjoy your search and hope this helps Dennis

Rumadian -
You wrote, "I would strongly advise against the Jolida/Sttaf combo. It's flat out a nasty."

Would you mind being more specific?

Lamcam-
This came up in the past...paste this link into your browser window. Good luck.

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?aamps&1132195466&read&keyw&zzjolida+502b+totem

I read through the thread but didn't see a budget. Are you looking to spend $500 or $5,000? I would look at amplification more than source.