Apogeee/Bryston Advice needed

For the Slant, I have never heard better sound than powered by a fine push pull tube amp. Ella Fitzgerald was standing right there in front of me. It was kind of a Princess Lea's image, where the princess sends a holograph message to the good guys. You don't need gobs of power to control your speaker.

Muralman, I know that tubes is probably the best match but...I'm an SS guy and had beeen looking to Mcintosh also, but I know know how good the Bryston could be. Am I looking wrong direction (as I'm staying with SS)? Should I be instead, thinking of just a cable change instead to slove the direction I want to go? The Classe/ARC/Apogee will out live me the way I treat them but I'm looking to get that "best" combo I can do and not change any more. Maybe I already am "netural" as set up and I'm looking too expensive with my change intention or am I wrong? The Bryston would kick the bottom again like the Aragon 2002 did that I had before, just don't know the sound, but help is what I need.

Well, as you probably know, I am not a fan of solid state, especially for a supremely articulating ribbon speaker. What is your source?

using strictly my ARC CD 3 as my front end, I think that the Bryston might be too revealing with ARC CD 3 and I'd be caught with an over anilitical or etched sound, it would be a boost in the bottom end again but, I think I have to look tword maybe a Mcintosh (MA6300 or MA6500)instead that might be a better fit, just can't find 'em locally at all to listen!

Well, I'm going to agree and disagree with Muralman1. You don't need a lot of power for your Apogee hybrids - unless you want anywhere near decent bass response.

If you were open to tubes, you could have a great sounding system with something like a CJ Premier 11A, maybe an MV-60 or better yet a BAT VK-60. This setup might be a little bass shy for rock music, but the mids and highs will be so sweet it will make you cry. The classic SS pairing for the Apogee hybrids is a McCormack DNA 125 or better. I use a Songraphe SA-400 with my Cepheus 6s and it kicks ass. The SA-250 or a CJ SS amp would also work well.

IMHO, is you want to use a SS amp you should consider a tube preamp. If done right, you can get both some bass slam and still retain tube liquidity. You have a lot of choices here: ARC LS-16/26, CJ PV-10/11/12 (L versions if you are a digital guy) or any Premier product. My favorite is any Audio Note preamp, but especially the M3 and above. (careful matching to a SS amp is required) I've also had good results with the McCormack RLD and TLC line stages. Lots of other good choices here.

Finally, I would try other CD players as well. I had an ARC CD2, and it didn't do it for me with the Apogee speakers. Too analytical and cold for my taste. I am much happier with my old standby, the Meridian 508.24, but I would trade it for a G08 in a second, or an Audio Note digital transport/DAC.