recommended power tube amplifier for vivid kaya 45 speakers

Hi, nice speakers!
Your amp choices are very solid and my rating for driving those speakers would be:

1. CAT
2. Octave
3. Jadis.

I had Jadis amps and love the sound. However, IMO, the other amps will better match the Kaya 45s dynamcis and speed and FR. Another amp I heard with Vivd speakers is the MF 8000 nuvista -- lovely sound.

I would probably prefer the Jadis 200 -- but they are very expensive.
That said, you will enjoy yourself immensely with any of the amps!

I am listening to a pair of Kaya 45s right now.  They are not as forward as the Giyas but definitely lean a touch forward.  I am a Vivid dealer and they are being driven at the moment by an AVM integrated amp.  

The JA120s would be a good choice.  Maybe not my first choice, but I think they would be a great match. 

I recommend one of the following to my customers:

If you are in a big space and like power: 

The AVM Ovation amps are brilliant.  I have run them with the MA8.3 monos.  You don't need the power they offer but they are AMAZING sounding and IMO, are a bit sweeter sounding and a better match for the Kayas than the Jadis.  I know that sounds bizarre but the distributor for Jadis and AVM is the same company and we have discussed extensively.  The 6.3s lack the tube input stage which reduces the sweetness but delivers a ton of control and will sound closer to the Jadis. 

If you are in a small space or don't need the power:

 Art Audio Opus 4 Monos which are KT88 based and Art Audio Quartets which are 845 based.  Both are 45w in triode and offer plenty of power considering the modest bass response.  The Opus 4s sound like a stereotypical KT88.  A little bit of sweetness with clean midrange and controlled bass.  The Quartets are the stereotypical 845.  Massive soundstage.  Very linear with better than expected bass response because they are push-pull rather than SETs.  

There are tons of other amps that will work but I am 100% sure these will make them shine like the sun.  

@gregm , @verdantaudio  -> Thanks a lot guys . I'm a bit more confused now , but eventually i will decide :)

I would choose CAT for drive, transparency, musicality ...   Jadis warmer and bit too rolled off for my taste.   Not familiar with Octave.

I don’t find the Jadis KT120 stuff anywhere near as rolled off as the older EL34 based gear. Definitely tighter sounding that it used to be and with better high frequency extension.  Those KT120s can only be so rolled off.

IMO, about the best there is is the CAT.

@haimr,
CAT is not bright to my ear but everyone has their preferences. I highly recommend demo CAT before final decision. GL!

@joecasey OK, nice to hear it , thanks it helped me a lot !

OP, what preamp are you using? This would would have a fairly important impact on which of the amps you may want to go for. I use the Jadis JA30Mk2's with a CAT and find that to be a wonderful combo. Depending on room size, you have some great options.

@haimra The Vivid Kaya 45 appears to be a poor match for tube amplifiers. Its impedance is a low 2.8 ohms at about 130Hz; from the Stereophile measurements its clear that this speaker is designed for an amplifier that can behave as a voltage source. A good number of tube amps can do that, but no tube amp is going to strut its stuff into a low impedance where power is demanded.  

Further complicating matters is the low efficiency of this speaker, which is meant for solid state power which is inexpensive. Quality tube power isn't cheap! When you correct for impedance this speaker has an efficiency of only about 85 dB.  That means in most rooms with a tube amp you'll be wanting 400 watts to prevent clipping of the amp at lifelike levels.


Seriously, and this is coming from an amplifier designer, if you want to really see what tubes can do, consider replacing the speakers first.  When looking for a speaker, pay attention to how the woofer or woofer array is set up. You want something that is nominally 8 ohms in the bass region, usually meaning that only a single woofer is employed. You may encounter some speakers that have dual woofers (wired in series) where the impedance is high- like 10-16 ohms instead of 8; such speakers are rare but they will work great with tubes. Avoid any speaker that is 4 ohms or less in the bass (which is what you have).

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but if you invest in some of the higher powered examples suggested earlier in this thread, you won't get the performance out of those amps that their prices suggest!

Atmasphere makes some great points! There are a ton of speakers on the market today that are an absolute bear to drive..even with a ss amp! For example, the recent review by Jason Victor Serinus of the Jadis JA200Mk2 amps exemplifies what atmasphere was talking about. JVS used a pair of Wilson Alexia’s as his speaker of choice with the JA200Mk2’s! This speaker has a impedance drop to nearly zero ohms at lower frequencies, as a result it is known to be severely problematical with any number of amps...and basically tube amps need not apply. JVS in his infinite wisdom had no clue about this... and as such gave the Jadis a luke warm review, complaining of a number of issues that he failed to realize were the direct result of his horrible amp/speaker mismatch!
I have another friend who bought some new speakers at a big price point, basically blowing his budget on them...only to find out that the speakers required a ss amp with tremendous stability into basically a short! His low powered ( well flea powered!) tube amps were not cutting it...and his budget didn’t allow for the monster ss amps required to drive his new speakers...:0(

I am listening to the Kaya 45s at the moment using Art Audio Opus 4s.  The thing to note is that I am in a small space and sit 7' to to 8.5' from the speakers and the wall is right behind me so it takes very little power to hit reference levels.  Can't deny bass sounds muddy compared to the AVM.  

I normally don't turn it up that much and at lower levels it is fine.  Higher levels, undeniably a bit muddy.  

If I wanted to maintain more of a tube sound, I would go with an AVM tube hybrid like the Ovation SA 8.3 or MA 8.3s.  The latter I have a pair of demos available.  

@atmasphere Thanks for the info, not doubt that it is a bad news :), i still didn't payed for those speakers, i promised to the deliver the money for the speakers at Monday. I loved their sound and the TAD micro revolution sound, but probably i will go for the vivid. I'm confused !
Which amp do you recommend for those speakers ?
Thanks a lot for trying to help and have a great weekend !!!

@daveyf  Thanks a lot i will think what do next, i loved the vivid so probably i will change my longing for CAT/Jadis/Octave ... :(
Thanks a lot 

I suggest the OP read my review of the Legacy Audio i.V4 Ultra Amplifier at Dagogo.com before purchasing tube amplification, especially for those speakers.   

@verdantaudio thanks man , i will take it to consideration...

I loved their sound and the TAD micro revolution sound, but probably i will go for the vivid. I'm confused !
Which amp do you recommend for those speakers ?

If you like the speakers you'll need a solid state amp. Some of the more musical I've heard are Pass Labs and a number of class D amps. But I recommend you audition them- a good number of solid state amps are harsh and bright (especially when you push them). Some class D amps are great and others are not...

@atmasphere Thanks a lot !!!! 
Have a great weekend :)

@haimr One of the better amps for the Vivid’s seems to be the ss Luxman line, that is what the previous distributor would demo them with, and they had great synergy. I like Rowland amps as well, although my experience with the Vivid/Rowland match is limited...so that would have to be demoed before committing.

@haimra The Vivid Kaya 45 appears to be a poor match for tube amplifiers. Its impedance is a low 2.8 ohms at about 130Hz; from the Stereophile measurements its clear that this speaker is designed for an amplifier that can behave as a voltage source.  Completely agree.  Stay away from all tube amplifier designs.  We have VAC & VTL which make the sound hard and glass like sounding.  Our hybrid amplifier makes the 45s sing like nothing else we have heard.  Pure magic.  Our listening room in Northern New Jersey is open for a listen.