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Tube amp for planar speakers and SS pre

I have wanted for some time to move to planar speakers - cannot get what I want from 3-way speakers on classical music. I own the pass labs x-1 pre which I intend to keep. From reading back posts, I can see the logic in mating a ss-pre with a tube amp. However, most tube amps sound loosey-goosey to me in the bass.

I suspect I am probably underexposed. So... What tube amps are likely to work well with my Pass Labs pre and planar speakers, specifically maggies or sound labs? Will I be able to get tight bass, or will there always be a trade-off here? I would love to have a better technical understanding of the differences between the way solid state and tubes provide head room.
judit
czbbcl's avatar
czbbcl
1,752 posts
 
Most people recommend the opposite of what you are doing, tube pre / ss amp, for reasons you suggest ; that being bass control. I use a CJ 16ls II tubed pre-amp and CJ MF2500 ss power amp and find it to be a very good combination. Also tubes in pre-amps tend to last longer and are cheaper to replace than power amps. Just my thoughts.

Chuck
jdombrow
371 posts
 
I just bought a pair of Wright Audio 2A3 monoblocks (3.5 watts), and they have absolutely incredible bass response. Fast, tight, accurate. Of course you need efficient speakers with amps this small, but don't be fooled about bass response in tube amps.

JD
kana813
956 posts
 
Agreed with Czbbcl on the tube preamp/SSamp combo.

The maggies need lots of power.

Before you switch to a planer speaker, you should check
out some quality 2-way speakers, like the Talon Ravens
and the Wilson Benesch Arc.
mejames
986 posts
 
Wolcott period bass every bit as good as any solid state amplifier you care to name.
edesilva
768 posts
 
I'm currently horizontally bi-amping a pair of ML Prodigy speakers with two ARC VT100IIIs. I was originally thinking about using a D400II to vertically bi-amp and drive the bottom end, but the bass I get is pretty tight as it stands...
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