2. amps-preamps
  3. 164878-158349

845/211 tube amplifiers with kef reference 5?

Hi, am seeking for advise from those who have the kef reference 5 or have 845 or 211 tube amplifiers.

I personally own a pair of kef reference 5, driving them with primaluna dialogue HP integrated tube amplifiers with EL34 tubes at 70 watts. Am liking the sound but cant help but wonder if playing with the bigger tubes like 845 or 211 will give it even more tube magic, sweetness/softness, musicality and wider soundstage.

However, those amps typically are lower powered around 20-30watts, and would like to ask for advice of those are suitable to power a kef reference 5 which is 90db at 8 ohms and minimal impedance of 3.2ohms? Recommended power is 50w to 400w but i know tube watts can be more powerful than solid state. 

For those of you who have matched a system like that or heard set ups of these forms of amplifiers with the kef ref 5, or have similar experiences, would like to seek some advice/get some experience from you

Thank you!
Regards
Ben
thegreenman
thegreenman OP
44 posts
 
Hi Spencer

Thanks for your reply! Yes indeed thats a genre of amplifiers that I have not explored yet! Have heard tt BAT amps are pretty good! The 6c33 are high current tubes....may sound different from the normal EL34 that I am used to. With high current 50-55w they might be able to drive my speakers without any issues.

The other ones i am considering are the cary 211 FE monoblocks, but those are more pricy. And another 845 tube amp driven by 300b which sounds truly interesting...but those are made in japan hence i wont be able to test them out/demo them myself...which is unfortunate.

Regards
Ben
jasonbourne52's avatar
jasonbourne52
2,863 posts
 
A Crown XLS1502 (525wpc@4ohms) will sound far better than any tube amp driving those current-hungry KEF's! And at $449 it is the cost of a pair of 211/845's!
thegreenman OP
44 posts
 
Hi Jasonbourne52

Thanks for your input. Not sure if you heard that combo before of crown + kef ref 5....
Either way am asking for the 211/845 tube amps for the kefs. Tubes are the way to go for me at least!

Thanks
sbank's avatar
sbank
3,379 posts
 
Ben,
I am not sure if Kara is still making amps, but I have the utmost respect for http://www.dehavillandhifi.com/. They specialized in your wheelhouse and when I had the right speakers, their 845s really sang! They played around with some other tubes GM70 or something like that, trying to keep that magic with higher outputs, but I haven't heard those...I guess they never found much audience, but perhaps others with firsthand experience could chime in about that approach for your needs. 
Yes, the 6C33 are a good option to consider and quite a robust tube. Not the bargain of the 6AS7s used in the Atma-Spheres, would you should also read up on. They have sold a ton of amps for a reason! Cheers,
Spencer
verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio
1,500 posts
 
Those Kefs like power.  I think you would love the sound but hate bass performance.  I had run Art Audio Quartets which are 45w 845 monos for almost 18 months.  I am the importer.  They are  Incredible amps but they would not handle bass at reference levels and I would not recommend them with those speakers.  
Maybe bi-amp.  An 845 for mids and treble and a 200w SS for the bass?

The is probably above budget but mention it anyway.  For an alternate pure tube amp, you would love the sound of the KR Kronzilla.  It is a much more powerful tube but pricing stings a bit.  The list for the Kronzilla DXL monos is $44k but they are truly amazing amps and are 140w. They don’t come up used often but they could be had for $15k to $20k used.  Might be an Interesting option.  


More to discover