Dynaudio C1 + Mcintosh 275 amp, do they match?

Well, Chip Stern, who wrote a frothing-at-the-mouth rave review of the C1, used Rogue tube monoblocks with them.

I was at my local Dynaudio dealer (Pearl Audio, Portland OR) and was told the 275 would be a great match for the C1. They are also a McIntosh dealer and seemed very knowledgeable. He advised running two in mono if I go with the C2. My bet is you could even run the C4's in a medium sized room. Incidentally, I fell in love with the Confidence C4 ... man, what a sound. My long term plan is two MC-275's and a pair of C2's. The C4 is just a bit out of my sanity range.

I heard C1s with a Mac 275 at a dealer. My Clayton S-40 (all of 50 watts) did a much better job. Just as musical with more strength, power, speed, and control, particularly from the mids on down. My room is 15' x 20' x 8'. The pre I was using was a A.I. L2. I've also heard these speakers with a VTL 150. IMO it did not cut it either.

I'm driving my C1's beautifully with a "50 Watt" EL34-based Lectron tube amp.

Prior to owning my Lectron, I was driving the C1's with a Simaudio I-7 Solid State (150 Watt) Integrated Amp.

I've had no problems driving the C1's with either or these amps. Somehow I think it's more complicated than saying "they're not made for tube amps".

Chris

I've lived with a Mcintosh 275 and C1 for the better part of a year, I would say the 275 drove the Dynaudio adequately in terms of dynamics and bass but ideally I think the c1 really does need double that, around 150 watts> to really start cooking, I replaced the c1's lately with larger more sensitive speakers and you can really hear the difference in the dynamics, loudness.

Soundwise, tonality and timbre were pretty wonderful, imaging was great too, I think ideal would be two in monoblock configuration to drive the c1.