Best tube amp choice for Focal Electra 1038 Be


Hi,
I spent quite some time reading recommendation on what is the best amplifier for the Focal Electra 1038 Be speakers. Looks like that the first choice of most, who own these speakers or listened to them is Pass Lab. What about tube amplifiers, separates or integrated? I understand that to buy used/mint power and pre Pass amp I have to spent here on Audiogon about 7K (XA 30.5 + XP-10). I have to spent about the same amount for highly recommended INT-30A. So if this is my budget for tubes, what would you recommend?
My listening room is 15 by 12. My current amp is integrated LFD and the reason why I want to switch to something else is slightly fuzzy highs. I want them to be a little bit more forward and detailed. I listen mostly to acoustic jazz, blues and chamber music.
Recommendations on speaker cables will be appreciated also.
Thanks in advance for sharing your experience.
vad58
What a great advice to visit Audio Connection in Verona! I live in Brooklyn,NY, so it's about 1 hour drive. I will definitely go there in mid September. One more thing. Obviously I did one BIG mistake after I brought my Focals home. I changed my speakers and my speaker cables at the same time. So it's not only speakers are breaking in but the cable also. I had to factor them in too. Now after about 150 hours of usage sound changed dramatically and I started to recognize my old LFD. As Ayre, it's also Stereophile class A integrated amp. Still, after so many great reviews of Ayre I have to listen to it. HiFi bug never dies! Thanks again!
The Accuphase can be a little pricey. I believe the E550/E560 is a very capable integrated. Luxman has 2 class A integrated's. The L550A and the L590AX. If you can stretch it, the L590AX is a really good amp. All these integrated amps sound very tube like.
I can PROMISE you that you'll love the Ayre. John has all the Ayre stuff set up. Mostly with VAndy's, but he has the Proacs AND BMW so you can see how it sounds with three totally different speakers. Tell John that Pete sent you. He'll take great care of you. He often posts over here too.
If you call ahead and tell him what you want to hear, he can try and put things together for you.