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Choosing an Amplifier to go with Spendor D7

Looking for an Amplifier to go with my Spendor D7's. I am leaning toward the Pass Labs XA30.8 or X250.8. Open to any suggestions. Where I live there is not anywhere close to go and demo. The pre-amp is a Mcintosh c2600 and been happy with tube pre-amp going into a SS. I listen at moderate volume and looking for a large sound stage with a since of 3-D imaging. The room I have it in has hardwood floors with a rug and is 14x17. The speakers are on the 17' wall. Currently most of the music is digital playing from Qobuz. Mostly listen to Folk, Americana that focuses on acoustical guitar play. Like warm full sound and bass to be balanced and not the focus.  

reverendofpork
jjss49's avatar
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jjss49
6,612 posts
 
pass should be just fine

as should many many decent ss amps

spendors are not hard to drive and sound good with many ss amps

your mac shd take the edge off even the sharper sounding ss amps

you want even better soundstage and holography with good resolution, go upper tier conrad johnson linestages


georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 

Choosing an Amplifier to go with Spendor D7
Pass Labs XA30.8 or X250.8.


I’d go the Pass XA30.8 or if you can go higher the XA60.8 if you have the bucks

https://www.stereophile.com/images/0415-SD7fig1.jpg
At 90db and higher than 4ohm loading, with no low EPDR loading, anything 40w or more will drive them.

Reviewer love these setups both with passive preamps.
Quicksilver Silver 88 tubed monoblocks—a superb combination with the D7s, as was my solid-state Musical Fidelity M6PRX stereo power amp. Preamp? None, of course. I used my Music First Baby Reference transformer volume control.


Cheers George
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drrsutliff
858 posts
 
Currently I am driving my Spendor D9s with an Ayre VX5/20 amp and VAC Renaissance mkV preamp with excellent results in a 14’ x 16’ room.   Your choice of cables could also play an important roll In the sound you hope to enjoy from your Spendors.  In my system cable with any silver did not have a presentation that I enjoyed for long listening sessions. 
tweak1
3,655 posts
 
The Pass amps are room heaters= electricity hog$. If neither of these bother you, and you are willing to shell out the money...

BUT, Underwood HiFi will be shipping their Voyager GaN amp soon (MSRP $3000), or check TweakAudios Purifi NCore class D amps. I promise you they will compare quite favorably and for a lot less $$$$

hth


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