Which Mono block amps for ML Summit Speakers?

Two points, if you really need to be cost effective, then you should rethink your decision to buy such an expensive speaker. Also, 50 feet of cable will degrade the performance of all but the stoutest high current amps into the load the Summit's present. You can do it, but you'll never be able to optimize the speaker's performance. Why get such a nice speaker if you not going to optimize?

I sold my JC-1s (downsizing, I'm still crying over it) to a guy who's now running them with ML Prodigies. He absolutely loves it. My experience with the JC-1s was solid as well, so that'd be my recommendation.

Is there any chance to get a pair of mono blocks to put behind the MLs that could not be seen? If this is the case, I think you'd be ok to run 50' interconnect like the MIT 350 series. I gotta think something like the Wolcott monos would fit perfectly behind the speakers.

I know very little about tube equipment. My last system was all SS. This time I would like to experience a combination Tube & SS. Either I will use a Tube preamp with SS monoblocks or SS preamp and Tube Monoblocks. What do you think?

Electrostaticman: When it comes to purchasing an amplifier, it has everything to do with the speaker being driven. The amp/speaker link requires careful match much like the tonearm/cartridge.

Do a search for threads that cover the topic of amplifiers that work well with ML speakers. There seems to be a lot of owners that have had great success with tube and ss amps. Maybe they can give you some ideas on pros/cons, why they changed from one to the other, etc.

As for tube preamps, I have yet to hear a music system with a ss preamp match the 3-dimensionality, decay of notes, and harmonic richness like many of the great tube preamps. Of course, just because a preamp or line stage has tubes does not mean anything either. But I find this link in the chain to be crucial to convey the above qualities. I can be content with changing amps, speakers, cables, etc., but take such a preamp out of the system, and so much is immediately lost. It just makes no sense but time and time again, for me at least, the line stage is THE critical link. And the most critical cable link has been from the line stage to the amp so don't short change yourself here either.

John