Amp recommendation for Dunlavy SC V

VTL 450 signature the version with infini caps would be a stellar choice at your $ budget. Has plenty of power and control even in triode mode on your Dunlavy's.

Check the archives, there have been a number of threads in the pastfew years on this, with a number of SC V owners chiming in. I seem to recall the Aloia amps being favored by a number of users. My favorites that my dealer used to use were the VTLs mentioned above, the VAC 140 Renaissance monoblocks and the BAT VK60 monoblocks. I always liked the sound of tubes with Dunlavys, even if it meant losing the bass control you'd get from solid state.

the Dunlavy woofers/cabinet enclosures are highly dampened and thus are very easily controlled by tubes or any amplifier.

I use the aforementioned VTL 450 Signature amps. Its a match made in Heaven. Especially after replacing the stock 12AT7 tubes with NOS Mullard M8162 tubes and the stock 6350 tubes with NOS Sylvania black plates. Magical!!!

Mark Levinson 336
Mccormack DNA-2 Rev A mod
Parasound JC1 Monoblock Amplifiers
Ayre V1
SUNFIRE 600 x 2

For great control and full range depth, to stay in your price range, I have to recommend the Pass Labs X250. I had tried many amps, tube and solid state, and the Pass gear fit the bill the best for me. The most pleasing tube amps I had heard with my SC-5s were the Audio Research amps. Enough so that I bought the ARC, and them traded it in to buy the Pass instead. I have no regrets of having the Pass gear, even now (especially now) when I hear other amps. Best Regards.

I know BAT uses Dunlavys to test with...

had bat vk-120 mono blocks into Dunlavy V ate fuses every 5 minutes in the bats not a good match at all. oh the VTL 450 mentioned above does absolutely trounce the bat 120's

I'll second the pass labs. I use an x-350 with my 4a's. It made all the difference im my system.

Classe CAM-350's are a match made in audio heaven, along with tube pre....!!!

I use a Pass X350 with my IVA's and it sounds great.

Dunlavy is efficient the best choice in my opinion will be
XA-100 then Aleph-2 and followed b y X-series.

another chime in for the VTLs. The arc gear (vt 100) is nice, less power, no tetrode/triode option and a little less air on top. The Pass aleph 2 is also nice but i just like the tubes better. tried all three and went with VTL (185's not 450's though i'm tempted to upgrade to 450's)