Re; Dynamics, Class D vs tubes…

mark200mph, very nice preamp!  I’ve been a fan of VTL for a long time. Thank you for the advice.  As for me this is just an experiment to see if I can better match up my recently purchased speakers to a better option, more powerful amp and still have my “tube cake” and if it too?  These newest X series monos from Peachtree use NCore X 500.  With the impedance of 100k they should at least be able to mate well but as for a better tube alternative to my Qsilver v4 monos, we will have to see or actually hear it.  I know they will sound more dynamic but at what musical cost?  Thanks for the alternatives you suggest. 
 

d/s

OP's question ... 

Class D amplification vs tube amplification, which is likely to be more dynamic at lower volume playback? 

And here I am thinking that enjoyment relative to lower volume playback is speaker dependent.  What do I know? 

I don't have any experience with the KEFs Reference 1 Meta.  Do they sound to your liking when played low?  The one review I read (What HiFi) was addressing their sound when played loud(er).

Even so, none of that prepares us for the scale and authority of the KEFs’ presentation. On the end of our reference system, they sound much larger than they are, delivering the kind of chunky bass more often heard from floorstanding alternatives. Certainly, rivals such as the Bowers & Wilkins 805 D4sound nowhere near as large-scale, muscular or punchy.

I have had tube amps (Prima Luna), Class D (Class D Audio), Class D hybrid (Rogue, Heaven 11) and Class A/B SS (Rega, Adcom) amps in my systems for the last 20 plus years.  My systems are not in the same league as your equipment is,  that's for the certain.  While the Class D amps have performed well, I have been the most engaged by the tube amps.  I love my Prima Luna/ Musical Fidelity/ Zu Audio set-up and would be reluctant to replace it.  Dynamics are not an issue with tubes.  I find I have to up the volume to get the Class D hybrid set-up to sing (Heaven 11, Golden Ear BRX).

Be well, 

Rich 

I have the KEF Reference 1’s, non-meta, and my gut tells me that a solid state power amp is a better choice. Do they seem lacking with your current tube mono’s? Also, any reason you are not considering A, A/B amps? FWIW, I have had good low volume results with Coda and Audionet so far.

4 ohms, 85db speakers are probably not the best match for tubes.  With that said I hear little difference in low level listening dynamics using either my Atma-Sphere 30w tube amp or 100w Class D amps with my QLN 8 ohm, 87.5db easy to drive speakers. 

@zlone

I drive my KEF Reference 1 speakers with an old Krell KSA-80 class A amp, rated at 80-Watts into 8-Ohms, 160 into 4 and 320 into 2.  The results are stunning, but I have not really compared amplifiers.  The speakers were demonstrated with McIntosh but unfortunately I took little notice of the power source - the speakers were the best I have heard at any price.  The KEF specs say 50 to 200 Watts.  I would err on the high side!

I really don't understand why the amplifier should affect low level dynamics, unless the amplifier compresses the output which surely would be at high volume?  A "straight wire with gain" would leave dynamics unchanged?