New Joseph Audio Pulsar Graphene 2

djones51
I actually meant to add:  I've also heard the Perspectives a couple of times at the same dealer using the McIntosh Integrated tube amp (100W I believe...so same as yours?).

Sounded great with that amp too.  Though a bit more plumby in the bass.  However, I find the Perspectives sound a bit flabby in that store generally speaking.  Once I got them home and dialed in, powered by my CJ amps they are taught and well controlled.

BTW, just spent a while listening to various excellent speakers at a pal's house (he has PMC, Epsilon, Aurelia, and others).  Each has fine qualities, but none have the open, extended, utterly grain-free and harmonically rich top end and mids of the Joseph speakers, IMO.Listening to other such speakers feels like listening in black and white in timbral terms - the Josephs more like listening "in color."  (Again...to my ears).

Probably the same, MA 252 tubes on the pre section SS on the power, though they have a new integrated out MA 352 200W. Kind of why I was wondering if I needed a little more power it's like the amp doesn't grab hold of them where they bounce along tight with ease in the bass while keeping the mids and highs open and pristine at lower listening levels. I used to have some Paradigms paired with an Anthem I225 I wish I kept that old amp. I see you talk about Thiel's. I live in Louisville they were in Lexington, a little shop here used to get the new model Thiel's pretty quick,  I think the guy who owned it knew him. I loved going there listening to them, never could afford them though, they always paired them with big Class'e mono blocks. 

Yeah, I remember that even in my city Thiels used to be paired with Classe amps.  


I always liked the Thiel sound but found it just a touch dry and a bit hard.And people always said "Thiels are tough to drive, you need tons of current!"

It was when I heard Thiel CS6 speakers powered by VAC tube amps at an audio show that the veil was lifted from my eyes :-).   It was an amazing combination of the Thiel virtues, with an organic liquidity.

I ended up with those Thiels being driven by the CJ Premier 12s and the combo was heaven, combining the type of attributes I heard in the VAC/Thiel combo.

The CJs have gone on to power every speaker, large or small, less or more efficient, in my room with seemingly no problems.   Tube magic, but with punch, grip and control.    That's why I can't see getting rid of them any time soon.

@djones51 When I ran JA Perspective speakers I found the more power I fed them the better they sounded. I never ran them with tubes, only SS.