Tenor amp / Coincident Total Victory combo

Welllll, I have had Total Victories for almost a year and I've run a bunch of amps on them. Here's my take.

First off, the speakers are a bit less efficient than Israel claims. I estimate 93 or 94 dB. This doesn't really represent a problem, but it's not a speaker you can run with 45's.

I have a pair of Coincident MP300Bs in boxes in my basement. While Israel designs great speakers, I'm not a fan of either his amps or his wire. I've tried the amps with a couple of different tubes, and never warmed up to the sound all that much.

I have a KR18 BSI integrated running KR 300BXLS tubes that sounds great in comparison - much better resolution, soundstaging and dynamics.

My main amps at this point are Wavelength Tritons - 16 wpc 300B's using the same KR tubes as I use in the KR amp. These amps are very smooth and easy to listen to, but a bit too mellow - not quite enough dynamics, and low gain which I think is causing problems.

I've heard Wyetech's new Sapphire 300B amps on my speakers, and it was a remarkable experience. They had the best bass, dynamics and clarity of any tube amp I've heard - by a country mile. They also have a band of brightness that made violins sound hard, and they don't have as much of the 300B magic as I was expecting. Others who have heard both say they sound much like the Topaz 572's. They were too solid state sounding for my taste.

My favoutite amp so far is the Audion Silver Night PX25. I've auditioned it for the last two weeks, and it has the mojo. No question, this is the best 6 watts I've ever heard - lifelike, relaxing, detailed and very colourful. I'm ordering a pair, with some upgrades that should turn them into teeny weeny little monsters on the Total Victories.

The other amp I'm getting is a pair of deHavilland Aries 845G amps, at 30 wpc. Everything I've read hints to me that they may well be a perfect match for the TVs, so I took a chance even though I haven't heard them.

So, before you decide on high power OTLs or hybrids, think hard about some of the great low power designs out there. I'm convinced you can find the calming effect you're looking for in SETs.

Gliderguider

Wow!!!!.

That's what I was looking for. Someone else who has done the legwork. I do not want to say I am lazy, but this is why I love Audiogon. We can all share our experiences with one another.

I will await your follow up statements.

I too would like to look at other option. 845 tubes, 45's etc.. Thank you.

I'm currently using an Atmasphere S30 with the TV's and its a wonderful combo. The S30 predates the TV's but I did get a chance to compare it to some of the cary set's on my previous speakers, Alon lotus. The S30 was much more transparent and faster and to my ears has a glorious neutral midrange that's as warm or cold as the source that's feeding it.

The S30 has plenty of power for the TV's but if I suspect the M60's would provide a bit more base slam and dynamic headroon and if I was starting with a blank slate that's the direction I would go. Regarding the Tenor,s IMHO, the M60's are their sonic equal and are much less expensive. If you wanted to spend Tenor-like money than the MA1's or even the Lamm M2 would be within you reach.

I just purchased a quad of the new run of KR Audio 300b BXLS's.

This is a stunning tube upon first listen. As much bass as my ProAc Response 2 has ever put out, and highs that I didn't know I could hear. I have only listened to an Annie Lennox CD so this is a very preliminary observation. The Atma-Sphere M60's I heard a while ago with this speaker is still a bit better. Something about being more open and alive. I think this goes back to my observation that I am an OTL kind of guy. Having said that I am still hoping the Total Victory's mate well with the 300b's. This will allow me to keep my SET. I am going to try and keep an open mind.

I have the Tenor 15 WI mono's with the TV's and they are a great combo.