Thoughts? - First Watt F8 / Vandersteen Treo's

You really do need to find good experts ; hard to drive is not just a simple efficiency evaluation…The Vandy is an easy load relative to impedance and phase angle w no bizare dips. it also has pistonic drivers and a very inert cabinet. Pistonic drivers don’t include out of phase trash in the output. The waterfall and your listening at friends should tell you that. I run a set of Treo CT with either a 40 wpc tube or SS amp ( MC-240 or NAIM Atom )  Personally, i would haul the amp to friends Treo and see for yourself… if anything Nelson designs amps w grunt, headroom and drive….

Of course, room size and SPL requirements might mitigate all that….

Having said that, i’ve heard a Razz… plenty of virtues for sure…. enjoy the music and the journey 

@tomic601 

 Personally, i would haul the amp to friends Treo and see for yourself… 

If this is a possibility I'd definitely heed this suggestion. You'll know for sure. I also believe that the Volti Razz seems a potentially excellent option with your F8 amplifier.

Charles

@tomic601 is correct.  They are not hard to drive at all for great sound.

Comments like these are simply not correct:

That amp will not cope well with very hard to drive Vandersteen speakers.   I would echo Soix's POV exactly.  Those speakers need a bit more oomph.

I drove my pair of Vanderteen model Sevens with an Art Audio 28wpc stereo amp that was simply amazing sounding. We use our own 40wpc class A tube amps that make them really sing also.

Zero feedback amps make Vandersteen speakers really sound their best also.

Happy Listening.

@bigkidz 

I drove my pair of Vanderteen model Sevens with an Art Audio 28wpc stereo amp that was simply amazing sounding. We use our own 40wpc class A tube amps that make them  really  sing also.

Art Audio has some wonderful amplifies. Did you have their Carissa 845 SET?

Charles

The difference between 25W and 40 W is roughly 2dB, between 25 W and 100W is 6dB. Unless you're a head banger in a big room, you'll be fine. Just understand the limits, and maybe think of it as 'qui-fi' - as in quiet fidelity. You'll be surprised what a good 25 W amp is capable of.