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Amp Recommendation for Vienna Acoustics

I own a pair of Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grand. Currently using a Conrad Johnson CAV 50 Controlled tube amp. I love the warm sound of the CJ and VA , but the bass can be a bit bloated and ill defined at times. I really like a nice clean,extended tight bass.
I was wondering if a different type of amp would help tighten up the bass - More power, solid state with a high damping factor?
I tried moving the speakers away from the wall an extra two to three feet and it helps , but does not solve the problem.
I have heard the Vienna Acoustics in show rooms with high power tube amps, different speaker cables,interconnects and still heard the bass issue.

I was curious if there would be a amp that would help this , or if I just need a different speaker to obtain the nice clean , detailed bass extension.

I have also tried subwoofers to see if it would help. It did help to a point . but did not solve the problem.
timo62
schubert
7,386 posts
 
Add quote says it all. I really like the melodic quality of
upper bass-lower mids.
To me it sounds like a high-end 100 watt tube amp with real NOS Mullard or RCA power tubes.
I've used it with Brtston BP-6, bottlehead, AVA 4si hybrid tube and Eastern Electric Avant preamps.
Avant is far the best, but with 8 tubes expensive NOS tubes add up quick. Bottlehead is very open and pleasant.
Bryston is just an
OK pre, no more ,no less.Be fine if rock was your thing.
Also, AVA has good service and I only live ten miles away.
Odyssey and Belles take forever and a day .
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
I can’t say enough good things about the Bel Canto REF1000 Mk.2 (A.K.A. REF1000M) monoblocks driving the challanging Vienna speakers. I recommend these monos very highly if you are seeking an extremely musical result with just a touch of warmth… They also deliver a great deal of resolution, imaging, and majestic staging. The monos were able to control the twing big 10” side-firing woofers of my full size Vienna Mahler V1.5 towers almost to perfection.

I had BC REF1000 Mk.2 with me for more than one year when I reviewed them for Positive Feedback:
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue43/bel_canto_ref1000.htm

It is very important that if you obtain a used pair (usually approximately $3K), you get an MK.2…. It is both more resolving than the original iteration, and significantly sweeter in the treble…. Yes, I did compare the two iterations side by side in my own system for a spell. Furthermore, the 2nd iteration has much higher input impedance, making compatibility with preamplifier a non issue. If you are in doubt with version, obtain serial numbers, and then check with the factory before purchasing.

Guido
timo62 OP
282 posts
 
Would there be any tube amps that would accomplish this also?
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Timo, on tube amps, you should look for an amp delivering at least 200W into 8 Ohms, increasing to at least 300W into 4 Ohms.

Regards, G.
asa
662 posts
 
Tim, I put a friend into your speakers as a starter system...they are 4 ohm, so, yeah, they could use some drive, but thinking they necessarily need SS or 200W is, um, well...

If you've had tubes 14 yrs, then I would strongly advise that you look there first.

If it were me, I'd look at a Joule Electra LA 100 MkIII linestage - around 1200 used but they go fairly fast at that price - matched with a Prima Luna amp, one with the newer KT120 output tubes already installed by the seller. Get a good IC - maybe a Jade Audio - and you might never look back. In any event, if you didn't like something, all of this would be easy to sell.

Good luck!
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