recommendation for stereo tube amplifier for Marten Bird 2 speakers other than EAR....

I know the vac 200IQ does not get a lot of praise on the forum but its sounds great with my Marten Speakers.   I would be curious to hear it as mono blocks but the cost and the heat makes it unlikely that I will pull that trigger.  

 

The marten with the VAC just sound so musical and sure not thunderous bass slam or set amp warmth but just sounds real so natural.....It works better in my system that the Pass 260.8 monoblocks which have more slam but ultimately was not right with the Marten.  

Wavac 833

Gonna try the VAC 200IQ as local one avail used

was considering the VAC 200IQ but not sure if it would be much warmer sounding than the pass x260.8

You never said you were looking for warmer sound than the Pass.  We’re we just supposed to ESP that?

Look for a used Music Reference RM-200. Great sounding amp that is  built like a tank and sounds great.

Carver Monos ?

Thanks for the ideas I don't have room for monoblocks but was considering the VAC 200IQ but not sure if it would be much warmer sounding than the pass x260.8 and seems the 200IQ is frequent resold...

At a show the Marten Jango’s driven by all Zesto/Cardas and their Eros 150W mono’s. From the few I’ve listend to Maten’s are in the real deal bunch IMO.

My history: two Marantz 8B’s, MFA D75 and the exceptionally cool running Carver Tube 180’s drive my 87dB, 3.6 ohm three ways since there introduction just fine from the 4 ohm tap with no problems. They also have a 2 ohm tap.

Lots to chose from, have fun.

Jadis would be my first choice but not an inexpensive solution.  The Rogue Stereo 100 at a modest price would be excellent.  You could also look at VTL and Angstrom.  Both are brilliant sounding.  

Not certain if he still makes it, but Don Sachs offered a custom KT88 based PP stereo power amp that may be of interest.

Think it was around $4K, so half the price of the EAR.

DeKay

The review of these speak is really excellent. What other equipment do you own? Given their description,  I can’t imagine Audio Research Reference 160 s or m would not sound fantastic. My speakers have 4ohm impedance and are a great match.

Vitus
Gryphon
Personally I use Luxman L-590AXII on the Marten Duke 2.

The Martens are wonderful loudspeakers (I've heard them), and the M-60 a great amp (I've owned them), but with a nominal impedance of 6 ohms (dropping to below 5 at some frequencies) I’m not sure that is a good pairing (unless you add the AntiCables Autoformer between the two). I would look for a Music Reference RM-200 MK.2, the only tube amp I know of that was designed to work into low impedances.

A pair of Atma-sphere M-60 monos would likely do the trick nicely.

Ayon Audio

VAC.