2. amps-preamps
  3. 148613-11916

Thoughts on a new tube amp for high end rig? The last piece!

Welcoming any thoughts/suggestions on monobloc amp recommendations for the last piece of my second system- BTW doesn't necessarily need to be tube!
Been at this for 35 years or so, had a slew of high end gear through the mill but always interested in others experiences.
I have a VAC Master Pre with phono, TW Raven AC with Raven 10.5 arm (likely to mount either a Air Tight PC1 or ZYX Universe II, tbd), EMM Labs XDS1 v3 through a just fully broken in pair of Wilson Yvette's (which will likely be upgraded to Sasha DAW's later this year). Shunyata Anaconda PC's and Crystal Clear Magnum Opus IC's, WW Plat 6 speak wires. 18x13 room with good sweet spot set up.
Although the PrimaLuna Dialogue Premium mono's/Pre have worked really well as hold overs, I need a pair of mono amps to fill out the frame here.
Been down the ARC road many times over, maybe 160m's would fit the bill but I'm tired of the ARC constant upgrade treadmill, thinking Pass 160.8 may also work if my room were an igloo. VTL MB 450's? VAC 200iq's?
Thanx in advance for any opinions.
Jackaroe


128x128jackaroe
audioconnection
1,271 posts
 
(((some pretty healthy impedance dips are to be expected.))
All three of these can handle it
Aesthetix
 Quicksilver
  Audio Research
 All spoken here
 JohnnyR
 Audio Connection
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,765 posts
 
Wilsons have always been easy to drive; apparently the phase angles are not bad on their current lineup. A set of MA-2s will be fine with this speaker.
tubegroover
2,320 posts
 
I can’t imagine anything close to or above their price significantly bettering Quicksilver, I certainly haven't heard it. Superb value and top shelf performance, it has to be in the transformer design. As to which model would be better in your specific application, check with Mike Sanders. The M120s have a lower output impedance than the V4s but less power.
jackaroe's avatar
jackaroe OP
19 posts
 
Thanx to all for the input. Looks like Quicksilver is getting alot of love, a brand I hardly knew and never would've considered if not for this post.
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