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Amp s to drive JM Lab Diva Utopia Be

Hi Folks:
I'm enjoying a newly acquired pair of Diva Utopia Be speakers. I'm wondering what are some good amp choices for these speakers? I'm currently using a pair of KR tube amps that provide about 28wpc. I like the sound a lot but am wondering if I need to take the plunge and get some serious solid state power, or whether I have what it takes with my KR amps. Contenders I've considered include YBA 1 (or maybe YBA 2?), Pass Labs 350.5 or Parasound JC1 monos, Bryston 4bsst, or stick with tubes but get some more serious push-pull power from Canary Audio, BAT, Cary or some other..

Anyway, I'd welcome advice. I'm used a few other speakers but main set of speakers I've used for the last few years were AP Virgo II. I found the upgrade from the Virgo to the Diva to be surprisingly small, but I do hear it. The Divas certainly have more bottem-end extension, a wider sweet-spot, and overall have more weight and presence, but the Virgos did have pinpoint imaging that really did make them disappear - I sort of miss that strange effect.

Thanks in advance or amp recommendations.
128x128outlier
aball
2,018 posts
 
Plato - HiFi+ magazine, issue 42, Reference 9 monoblocks. But maybe the 9SEs are completely different.
talk2me's avatar
talk2me
325 posts
 
I have the JM Labs Ato Be.I drive them with Chapter Audio gear and also a Hegel 300 watter.And I have heard them with solid state amps and tube pre.Now that was also glorious.
outlier's avatar
outlier OP
381 posts
 
Just to update, I ended up trying a pair of the Nuforce Ref 9.02 amps. They were fun to try, but ultimately my Kr Audio 6000 monoblocks proved the more compelling set of amps, in my system, to my ear. Hence, I sold the Nuforce.

I found the Nuforce quite authoratative, which I found was of most benefit with some techno/danse music. I also found the bass deeper. However, in that area, while there was more bass, I found the addition unwelcome and less natural than what my KR amps provided. In the end the real clincher for me was when I did an a/b comparison of a really touching piece of vinyl by Jacintha. The song sounded great on the Nuforce, but the KRs literally provided me that ellusive shiver down my spine. Overall, the KRs presented a more subtle, refined, delicate experience which was more palatable - again - in my system, and to my ear.

Hence, I think I'll be holding onto my KRs and my amp-changing whims are in the past, for now anyway. Next week is another matter ;-)
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