I tried everything from Pass X-350 to Rowland 8TiHC, but none of them sounded good with my SF Line 3SE. I know impedance matching is critical when mating tube pre with SS power, but SF Line 3 has very low output impedance and should be easy on amp choices. I was getting thin midrange and flat sound, not very musical at all regardless the speakers I hook them up to. In comparison to ARC LS-15 which I used to own, it always sounded musical regardless what amp I used and ARC had much higher output impedance!
So short of getting a SF power amp which will guarantee matching, what do you guys use? My speakers are Sonus Faber Amati Homage which will need some power to drive, but will sound fine if tube amp is able to handle 4 ohm load. I don't play loud and I listen to mainly classical and jazz, so absolute bass control is not as critical. I will prefer SS over tube because of room arrangement, I also do not want my kids to get burned. Last thing is I much prefer having XLR input so I can continue using my AQ Diamond interconnect.
Gamut D200 is not a bad match; however, bass maybe somehting to be desired. Plinius amps are not a bad match. However, the Gamut will sound a lot better than any Plinius combination.
I have heard the SE version of your preamp matched to McCormack amps: either the DNA-2 DLX LAE or the DNA-225, speakers were Vandersteen 5 or JM Lab Mezzo Utopia. Either setup was superb, natural highs, lush mids and great, fast bass. The combination of tubes in the preamp and SS in the amp gives you the best in both worlds, so keep on searching. I am not any more because I bought the DNA-2 and gave a deposit on the SF Line 3 SE.
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