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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
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,837 posts
 
Am curious, how about push-pull 845 amplifiers in monoblock configuration? Eg 50w class A, each channel driven by 2 845 or 211 tubes? Would those be sufficient to drive the kef reference 5?
If the amp uses feedback you'd probably be alright. The feedback is to allow the amp to behave as a voltage source.
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rauliruegas
13,084 posts
 
Dear @thegreenman : I know that you ask for tubes that is where you are sticked.

I know very well all the deficiencies tube alternative has that can’t in true gives us the kind of sound that puts us nearer to the recording ( to what the recording microphones pick-up. ) and with out doubt SS is the way to go.

J.Atkinson ( Editor in chief of ST. ) not only is a trusty professional reviewer but even a recording engeneering and he makes the audio product professional measurements in that magazyne.
Well he made very good review to your Kef 5 and did it using SS MBL amp ( Ayre preamp. ) and he did it for very good reasons. Atkinson was in the old times a tube lover till he learned.

You own very good speakers so it’s up to you and if you want to stay nearer to the recording and to achieve that we need to stay away from tubes, no matters what.

Btw, like you I was a tube lover for 10+ years till I learned by my self because the corrupted AHEE just does not permit it. Pity.

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,
R.
verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio
1,500 posts
 
You going to have limited output with a 50w PP 845 even with feedback.  Again, the issue is going to bass distortion during peak dynamic moments at low frequencies when you push above 100dB.  Most of the time it will be just fine.  
thegreenman OP
44 posts
 
Hi Atmasphere,

Thanks so much for your input! really appreciate them! sorry may be slightly laggy at some times as some days are really bogged down by work.

All the best and stay safe! :)
thegreenman OP
44 posts
 
Hi Rauliruegas

Thanks for your opinion! Haha somehow or other have heard many solid state systems, and ultimately I think it depends on what you are looking for/chasing in your system. To me, I think I am truly in love with tube sound, and ultimately am chasing after that as my end goal! Good tube sound just makes you want to close your eyes, savour the sound and smile :)

Stay safe and enjoy your music! :)


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