Speakers and vacuum tube gear

Rsasso,

With 75 watts/ch, you can drive most of the speakers available. It would help for you to describe the type of music you listen to, then others can make better suggestions.

As offered above, tubes are happier when the impedance curve is pretty flat, so you might read some reviews that offer those measurements. For example:

http://www.soundstagemagazine.com/measurements/silverline_panatella_ii/

Good luck.

I went to a B&W dealer to hear the 803D. They had them hooked up to a 75 watt Mac tube integrated. I didn't know the speaker, but it was obviously struggling to produce low bass and a coherent sound. This threw off the soundstage and made a quality three way design sound like a poorly designed three way speaker.

Next, I heard them with the Ayre MX-R amps, and the reality in the room completely changed. The speakers came to life and I was able experience the music instead of just hearing a random account of sounds.

The employee at the dealer preferred the tube amp. I liked the SS on this speaker. I say get out and listen to different combinations and make a good decision based on your own conclusions.

In response to your question I've heard great results with tubes with wilson, verity, magico, vs. better SS with b&w, rockport,avalon, dynaudio.

My favorites (All out) to listen to are Verity, Rockport and Magico. All are sligtly different and very special. I personally will climb the Verity ladder some day.
Happy trails.

I agree completely with the comments from Bjesien that reflect how tube electronics work quite well with Verity speakers. I started out driving my Verity Fidelio Encores with a Mark Levinson 334. Although the results were quite good, I was not hearing everything that I knew the speakers were capable of. When I switched from the Levinson to my Accuphase P-3000 (from my secondary system), although the Accuphase is still SS, I feel it has some "tube-like" qualities, and it certainly made the FE's sound more musical. Ultimately I went all tubes with my primary system - ARC REF 3, ARC CD7, and Luxman MQ-88, and the result is stunningly musical. The same combination of electronics also works very well with my Sonus Faber speakers in my secondary system.

And also like Bjesien suggests, taking the time to audition different combinations, preferably in your own listening room, will tell you everything you need to know about compatibility!

To 4musica44107

Do many of you have that option of "auditioning different combinations, preferably in your own listening area"? Man, I know I don't. There is probably only one High End dealer here in NH, with essentially all SS gear, and of course no Verity, Rockport or Magico.
I suspect there are many of us putting together systems based on reviews and tech specs. Less than optimal for sure.
Do you ever lug in an 80 pound tube amp and say to the dealer....hook this up to those speakers?

To Rsasso & Others:

I have been a customer of Don Better (Don Better Audio, Cleveland, OH) for the past year. Don is a fabulous person to work with. He has allowed me to audition various combinations of gear (mine and/or his) at my home and his home. Although it wasn't necessary for the auditions that involved my hopefully soon to be sold ML 334, I did have the option of bringing the amp to his home for auditions. Glad it wasn't necessary as it weighs ~ 100 lbs. and is not easy to grip for lifting.

I realize I am fortunate to have these audition options that Don allows. I suppose he is the exception in this regard for High End gear in Northeast Ohio. I hope that I did not offend you or any others WRT my comment about home auditioning when possible.

Happy listening!