I use a 45 watt/ch tube amp with my SFGH’s...a superb match. However, the answer to your question involves many variables. The size of your room, the particular tube amp you are going to go with...and it’s ability to drive lower impedance loads, the quality of the particular tube amps transformers, the type of music you play, the loudness that you like...and on and on. IME, Elipsa’s will typically respond well to an amp upstream with some good power...so 30watts/ch might not do it for you, but again...many unknowns and variables.Best answer is to borrow/demo the amp you are considering and see for yourself.
Low power tube amp for Sonus Faber?
I'm thinking of buying an Italian tube integrated Mastersound 845 compact for my SF Elipsa SE.
It uses 2 845 Valves, single ended at 30W per Channel. Would really like to try a valve amp on the Elipsa. Is this a mistake? Has anyone tried this? I've listened to Mastersound pf100 which are 120W mono blocks and I was blown away. Unfortunately the price difference is nearly ten fold. Has anyone tried using a low power valve amp with SF?
It uses 2 845 Valves, single ended at 30W per Channel. Would really like to try a valve amp on the Elipsa. Is this a mistake? Has anyone tried this? I've listened to Mastersound pf100 which are 120W mono blocks and I was blown away. Unfortunately the price difference is nearly ten fold. Has anyone tried using a low power valve amp with SF?
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ei001h https://www.stereophile.com/images/archivesart/1207SFEfig01.jpg " the speaker is still a demanding load for the partnering amplifier, with an impedance magnitude that drops to 2.5 ohms throughout the upper bass (fig.1). There is also a punishing combination of 4 ohms magnitude and –50 ° electrical phase angle at 70Hz that will suck gobs of current from the amplifier". No No and No, from 70hz through to 180hz the bass power region you need an amp with current, at 70hz especially it could be lower than 2ohms EPDR as seen by the amp. They will work and sound ok, but the bass will be nothing like it could be. Cheers George |
The Sonus Faber Elipsa can sound beguiling with a tube amp. I own a pair of the Elipsa SE and drive them with an Audio Research Ref 110. They need high quality power to sound their best. A 100 wpc tube amp is about the lowest I would go. Without enough power, the bass will not be as crisp and well defined. Also it may impact the soundstage and they may sound a little closed in. The only way to know for sure is to hear the amp in your system. With the right amp and preamp these speakers sound amazing. Good luck! |
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