Tube or SS for Vocals/Strings

Given your room size, which is relatively small, and sticking with your Arro speakers, I'd look for a tube amp putting out about 35wpc, prefereably Triode. The choices then will be up to your budget. If you are not technically inclined, or don't want to hassle with adjustments, look for a self-biasing amp.

As far as "silly answers" and "knee-jerk reactions": I assumed, like most people asking questions here, that Baroque_lover was asking for OPINIONS from others who've had experience with both types of amplification. I would not assume that they, or anyone one else, would take the response to be anything more or less than that. By all means, use your own ears and choose your own tools. As far as distortion goes, as you can see by the overwhelming response here, and on many other similar threads, there are a huge number of Audiophiles and music lovers who overwhelmingly prefer the "distortion" of various modes of tube amplification (if you must isolate the qualities of the amp to that particular distinction). There are also those who prefer the qualities of SS. I've listened to and owned both in over 24 years in this hobby and it is my silly opinion that, for vocals and strings, there is no more rewarding form of amplification to give those sounds a more life-like presence than a well-selected tube system, especially a well assembled SET system. I currently own an SET rig as my main rig, and a SS rig as my secondary rig. I like both very much for their own qualities, but if you ask which I prefer to listen to vocals and strings on, well, you know what my answer would be. Whoops, there goes that damn knee again!

Marco

Those arro speakers have similar characteristcs to my thiels and I can tell you that a flee power SET amp is not going to drive them. I had a cj premier 11a (70wpc) driving my thiels for a short time and while it did an admirable job it simply did not have the juice necessary to really make them sing. Therfore I still think a premier 140 (140wpc) would do a wonderful job driving your arros.

Chuck

Thanks Grant. I hear you had a good time with Howard and the Green Man at the VTV show, although both Howard and Dean said the show was a bit disappointing other than the Edgarhorn room(?).

Baroque_lover - Do a search on the forums here under "arro" and you will find two or three threads where Arro owners recommend the amps they prefer. My bet is that you'd be very happy with one of the Prima Luna's, Cayin or Jolida selections which are all very affordable, and all are mentioned in those threads as being a good combination (I added the Prima Luna as it'd be a good bet too). Again, if you don't like tinkering choose an auto-biased option (the Jolida's are all manual-bias). A good observation that I missed from Avguygeorge - indeed there are compromises with SET....it does not do everything well, and does, as I said, require a very careful matching of components (good call). If you stray occasionally from vocals and strings, and want some 'impact' and mastery of more complex, layered music at a slight sacarafice in holography, I'd recommend a KT88 based amp. If you really hate any kind of hands-on with your components, and prefer to set-it and forget it, then I'd suggest you stick to an SS option and look for one that excels at vocals and strings (which would probably be touted here and elsewhere as a "tube-like" SS amp....hey, go figure!). In this case I'd push the Aleph 3/30 someone recommended already, or my own SS selection, a Portal Panache. Though they will bring some tube-like qualities to your listening experience, in my experience, silly as it may be, they do not posess the strengths of tubes in an undistilled form. On the other hand, they do bring to the table some SS strengths (very detailed, muscle to the low-end to write home about, as well as mastery of more complex, layered music), which you may appreciate in listening to orchestral and opera selections. IMO they won't do vocals and strings as well as a good tube amp. Damn, I practically jabbed my eye out with my knee that time. I'd better go get some ice to put on it!

Marco

Interesting in that I was not going to join this thread until it became evident that the room size and speaker efficiency of Baroque_lover's set-up is very close to mine. I have been using a 50 watt triode push-pull amp with my 88db speakers for some time now with very good results. I have also been pretty biased to tube systems for some time and agree with those who recommmend tubes based on the type of music Baroque_lover enjoys. However, in looking for a new amp I have listened to some flea powered SETs, as well as higher powered push-pull designs. I have to say that I do not believe a SET amp is a good choice here based on the speaker efficiency rating, unless you can get one upwards of 45 watts or so, and that could be difficult and/or expensive. The higher powered push-pull designs I believe would work well and there are many choices at different price points.

As for me. I'm going to give a solid state amp a try with my Spendor 1/2e speakers and compare it to my triode. I anticipate that there will be differences in sound but since I will be keeping tubes at the preamp and phono stage levels, I may succeed in maintaining warmth while tightening up the low end and driving my speakers to take full advantage of their dynamics. Only way to find out is to listen.