Best Tube Based Options For B&W 803S Speakers

Thanks appreciate the comments across the board.

I have no problem updating the amp as well and was looking at the Halo A21 if that would be a better tube preamp match, or other suitable suggestions.

Really no interest in replacing the speakers as they are in mint condition. The base and imaging in my application are excellent. I just want to tone down the highs a touch. Also intrigued about experiencing the tube sound.

Tubes will work on your speakers. You just need to make sure you get one with enough power. Here's a few amps that may work well for you.

Quicksilver V4's
ARC VT100
Conrad Johnson Premier 12's
VAC PA 100
Sonic Frontiers Power 3
Rogue Stereo 100
Cary V12

The input impedance of the Halo A21 is spec'd at 33K unbalanced and 66K balanced, which would be a suitable match for most tube preamps. I'd still be hesitant to pair it with the BAT preamp, however, assuming the output impedance of the VK-3i is similar to that of the VK-3ix. Although with recordings which don't have significant content in or near the bottom octave you may not notice any issues.

Regarding use of a tube power amp with your speakers, I couldn't find an impedance vs. frequency curve for the 803S. However, impedance curves for several other B&W models, including some that seem to have a degree of commonality with the design of the 803S, all show a rise to very high impedance values (well above 20 ohms) in the upper midrange/lower treble area, around 2 to 4 kHz or so.

The interaction of that kind of impedance variation with the relatively high output impedance of a tube amp will result in greater emphasis of those particular frequencies, relative to other frequencies, in comparison with the frequency response that would occur with a solid state amp. That would seem to be the opposite of what you are trying to accomplish, namely softening the highs.

As others have indicated above, when it comes to power amplification B&W's tend not to be tube-friendly.

Regards,
-- Al

Zd, tubes will work but not for the specified budget.

I forget exactly what the retail is on the amps I listed, but you should be able to find some of them for around $2500 used. Most likely the ARC, VAC and the Rogue.