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Tannoy Everyone?! with Leben CS600 or Pass XA25/30.5?

Wow. 200 hours and the Stirling are sounding really great!

My Leben cs600 seems to run out of juice though - especially on the digital side. The gain from my phonostage leaves some room, but the 2mV output from my DAC not so much.

I'm thinking Pass Labs w/a tube pre and am curious if an XA25 will drive them? Or an XA30.5 might be better? Any experience would be helpful. Gracias, amigos.

budburma
mesch
3,530 posts
 

@budburma  Yes the Line Magnetic is borderline for power in my room which has only 2/3rds the volume of yours.  This using a DAC having 2V output. 

I am with you on the use of a tube preamp with a SS amp. I run an Aric Audio pre into my XA25. Also have an Aric Audio Transcend tube amp which I rotate in. Both provide more 'juice' than the LM.

ALso like you I am not sure that my Sterlings are fully broken in.

I will say that I like the LM integrated. With the right speaker/room it plays well. My issue with it is that it has a sensitivity of 200mV. Way too high in my book. I am thinking too much gain in the preamp stage, not sure about this however.

mesch
3,530 posts
 

I should add that I auditioned my Sterlings with a Luxman integrated. Believe the model was a 550. Dealer said it produced 20wpc in class A.  If I was looking for a SS integrated Luxman would be high on my list.

audioguy85's avatar
audioguy85
2,033 posts
 

Surprised no one mentions Sugden, the originator of pure Class A solid state (1967). I drive my Tannoy Eaton Legacy's very well with the Sugden A21se signature. It has 30 watts 8 ohm, and 40 watts 4 ohm. Seems like enough power for me and my listening room. If you need more, Sugden has the Masterclass Range and also separates. It seems like a perfect pairing, Tannoy & Sugden. To round it out, I'm looking for a Linn Sondek LP12...

sandthemall
544 posts
 

I have Turnberry GRs. I do hear Luxman, Sugden, Accuphase pair very well with Tannoy. My Primaluna Evo400 has great synergy with my Turnberrys...very lush and dynamic sounding combo for sure.

I was looking to replace the Primaluna with Luxman before getting the Tannoys. Now, not so sure.

budburma OP
345 posts
 

@sandthemall I hear you. My friend has the Stirling with an EVO 200 (44wpc/UL only) and it sounds very nice. Can you run the 400 in triode effectively?

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