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Harbeths and Tube Amps

I have C7s and know they require a good amount of current. As someone who's been a tube amp owner for 20 yrs, I'd like something that will properly get hold of and drive Harbeths. Anyone have suggestions that they use or have had experience with? My Air Tight 300B (at 10wts) seemed to 'give up the ghost' with the C7s. By the way, my room is small, 11 x 13.5 x 8, so I don't need crushing volume, just good control and drive. I've bought a Plinius SA50III which actually sounds superb, surprisingly enough to me but maybe I just haven't checked out good S/S amps in too long a time. I think I just miss the 'cache' of tubes and trannies.
tomryan
c123666
871 posts
 
We can build you a tube amplifier optimized for your speakers. If you would like to learn more please contact me at my email
gropinfuhrer@yahoo.com

We can provide quality tube amps at reasonable prices; they are good values although not inexpensive. I am listening to one of our SET 300b amps right now and it is as good as any Kondo amp I've ever auditioned (Kassai, Shinri, Ongaku).

Carl
jax2
3,031 posts
 
I recently listened at length to my friends Harbeth C7's using a modified Cary
SLM70 (50 watts in triode and 70 watts in pentode). In his moderately sized
rooms with high ceilings this seemed enough tube power to me (in either
mode). They are of the most laid back speakers I've ever listened to, but
really have a nice, detailed midrange that seems very revealing. I liked them
very much overall, but they are a bit too laid back for my preferences. He
also had a Odyssey Stratos (180 watts of SS power). I have heard them with
this amp, but did not do any comparisions this time. Peter claims the sound
excellent with that amp. I've heard it in another (less optimized) room and it
did sound quite good with the extra power, but I have to say the tubes
sounded great in his treated room. I'll refer him to the thread and perhaps he
can chime in with more thorough input as he's had them a while now and has
tried them with several different systems.

Marco
realhifi
159 posts
 
Ten watts is ten watts....no matter what people say about it.
In your case, with the Harbeths, it simply is not enough power. The Plinius is 5X's the power of the tube amp. Harbeth
recommends a decent 100 watts for best results with that speaker. I'm not surprised they sound better with the Plinius as I wouldn't be surpried with any number of real good 50 to 100 watt amps with those. It's pretty simple....go listen to a few 50 to 100 watt tube amps and then some good solid state amps in the same power range; see which flavor you prefer, then buy the one you like the best! Happy hunting.
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