New Amps to match up with PSB T3 speakers


Hi All,I'm looking to upgrade my Bel Canto Ref 1000 MK2 monos and wonder what amps you think would match up with the T3's? The current amps OK but sometimes on the sharp sounding side for me. Any advice?Joe
Ag insider logo xs@2xdonpepe
The T3’s are very neutral so if you can pair them with something more musical they scale up extremely well. I had a NAD M27 and when I sold that and went to a BAT VK-6200, my T3’s didn’t even sound like the same speakers anymore.

What is your budget?
It's possible you don't like the sonics of an ICE power amplifier, or it doesn't have good synergy with PSB's. The T3's are listed as 8 ohm speakers but their impedance curve is closer to 4 ohms across the frequency range. You should probably stay with a relatively high power amp. Class A/AB or some high power tube monoblocks.
 
I've heard them with Pass XA100.5 monoblocks and they sounded amazing. If your budget doesn't allow, I suspect a lower power Pass stereo amp will be fine as well. Just make sure your preamp matches well with the lower than normal input impedance of the Pass amps.
Thanks guys,My budget is around 6K. My preamps are Ayre K-1xe with phono section and a Belles 21A which was just serviced and upgraded by David Belles. My CD player is a Cambridge audio Azur 851C. My TT is a Sota Nova with a Jelco 750 arm. Frankly you are shooting over my head, in discussing impedance. While I have a masters level education, I am in this regard technically ignorant. I have been in and out of this addiction a few times.  In the past I lived in NYC in the height of the Brick and mortar era and was able to visit my dealers and listen to equipment and decide by what sounded great to me. I now live in South Carolina and shops are scarce, so I come to you for assistance. In the past I've had and liked, Quad, ProAc, Vandersteen 5A and Monitor audio speakers. EAR 501Mk2 monos, Threshold and JC1 Mono amps, all good. Pre amps included Conrad Johnson, Audible Allusions and JC2, all were nice. VPI TNT and scout master were TT i liked. I am now retired and I suspect this may be my last system. Thank you for your assistance, I appreciate your courtesy and consideration.Joe
donpepe, you obviously have musically trained ears based on your ownership history and currently own a very respectable preamp. A matching Ayre amp(s) like an MX-R would be a no brainer and could definitely drive those speakers with no problem. Ayre doesn’t show the output impedance for your preamp but whatever other amplifier you select it would be good to make sure that the ratio between the amp input impedance and your Ayre preamp output impedance is greater than 20, as a general rule. Ayre amps pose no issues since their input impedance is astronomically high.