Thoughts on Tube vs SS amplification for Sony SS AR1s

George, 
Again from a pure technical analysis you are absolutely right in referring to the Sony speaker as a "pig of a speaker" given its extremely demanding need for current delivery.  How in the world does the low watt tube Luxman produce wonderful sound paired with this very difficult speaker load?  Can it be explained by the assumption that the Luxman has superb quality output transformers and power supply section or is it more complex than that? Really intriguing how this is pulled off.
Charles 

I think the OP is getting good advice from everyone.  If it sounds good to him, then why change anything.  At the same time, he really doesn't know what he has not heard.  If he tried the Sony with a high current solid state amp who's to say he wouldn't say his system is positively transformed?  Both of these lines of thought can be right at the same time.

Hi all - again, I cant tell everyone how much i appreciate the advice (extremely helpful).

As Charles pointed out, this is indeed a head scratcher - either the luxman has qualities that the spec sheet alone doesn’t account for, or I am in for a revelation if i can get my hands on a good SS amp (because this is already the best my setup has ever sounded, and the first thing my wife said was ‘everything sounds so balanced and full’ from the lows to the highs - this seems to go against what the measurements would predict when using the luxman). I’ll definitely keep people posted.

 I had had my eye on a few options (in keeping with the Japanese hi-fi theme of the speakers - i have a soft spot for these brands)
- accuphase e650
- marantz ma9s2
- Yamaha a s3000

Aesthetically, i have to admit I’m a fan of the Yamaha, but i know on paper it’s probably not the best of the three. The marantz monoblocks and preamp seem very highly regarded, but going from the single box LX380, those giant champagne boxes are going to look a bit ostentatious. I had a chance to pick up a rare sony TA-DR1a , but could find very little info on it. I’ll see if i can find someone local who perhaps has something that would fit and be willing to try it out here~

(if anyone has any strong opinion about the Yamaha, would be glad to hear your thoughts~)

thanks!

How in the world does the low watt tube Luxman produce wonderful sound paired with this very difficult speaker load?

It may sound good to him, I guarantee he has "not" yet heard these speakers at their best though.

If it sounds good to him, then why change anything.

He started this thread for a reason because he has doubts.

I had had my eye on a few options (in keeping with the Japanese hi-fi theme of the speakers - i have a soft spot for these brands)
- accuphase e650
- marantz ma9s2
- Yamaha a s3000

Don’t draw conclusions with these amps, they are good integrated amps for normal loading speakers, but not for the nasty loads the Sony’s present


Cheers George

Hey George
Thanks for the thoughts - even the mono block ma9s2 you think would be a poor fit?  I could go the route of separates if there are more options there that are likely to get the best out of these SS AR1s (I’ve only even had integrateds, so separates would be new for me)