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Tannoy Westminster amp matching question.

Hello again everyone. Its been a while but I'd like your advice if possible.

I'm waiting for a pair of Tannoy Westminster royal SE's to arrive ( end of dec ). And I'm wondering what to amps to match them with. I have very limited funds at the moment(budget of 3k or so), having lashed out on the speakers, and I'm thinking I'd like to go SET power amps again. So looking at second hand bargains. At the moment I'm thinking Sophia Electric 300b or Art Audio symphony II. Alternative suggestions please !!!!

To give you an idea of my tastes. The system I've put together, that I enjoyed the most, was Avantgarde Duo's and Yamamoto A08s. Loved it. I listen to all sorts of music: Rock, choral, opera, jazz. Love well done female vocals :-)

Thanks for your time.
borg7x9
isochronism
2,893 posts
 
Hello Borg,
The late Harvey "Gizmo" Rosenberg of "Triode Guild" had extensive experience with Westminster Royal SE as his speakers of choice.
Consult his site for much interesting insight.
Congrats on your speaker choice!! Please keep us posted on developments.
borg7x9 OP
91 posts
 
Oooo!! I've never heard of him. I'll have a look. Thanks Iso.
borg7x9 OP
91 posts
 
Iso, I've just spent a very amusing couple of hours reading the "triode guild" website. Harvey was not only an amazing audio and social commentator but obviously a very, very funny man. I keep chucking out loud and disturbing my Girlfriend watching "the day the earth stood still" ( the crappy keanu reeves one not the brilliant Michael Rennie one )

Thanks for pointing me in this direction.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
I discovered the Harvey Rosenberg site about 3 1/2 years ago and also Arthur Salvatore`s "High End Audio site. That was my introduction(prior to that it was SS amps then PP pentode type tube amps in my system) to SET amplifiers. Well there`s no going back for me, with the right speakers you can be happy the rest of your music loving life.I believe I could also be happy with a DHT tube class A push-pull of low-moderate power also. I find DHT tubes to be special and doubt if I`d ever return to pentode-tetrode tubes again.To my ears DHT tubes offer the 'breath of life' and presence factor that others don`t quite match IMO.Borg, it does`nt surprise me that you preferred the SET Yamamoto amp over your Audio Research VT-100 amplifier,I understand completely.
Regards,
phaelon
1,052 posts
 
Borg, I like SETs too, but found happiness with a low power (25W/Ch.) 300b push-pull amp. Allowing that all amplifier designs involve some give and take, to my ears, this approach is the best balanced. You might find differently, but based on what I’ve read about the Westminsters, I think it’s an advisable option for an SET enthusiast.
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