Amps for Vandersteen 3A Signature SS or Tube?

I think Programmergeek means the detail is there, but without the harsh upper end.
There is a thing as too much "detail" to the point of driving you out of the room! My paradigm Signature S8s did that. The 2K cheaper Vandersteens simply sound better. Besides, I didn't care for the Chinese built cabinets! (they had a disclaimer about maintaining 40% humidity in your house or the warranty is void when the cabinet cracks!)

Personally, I have the 3a Sigs powered by a McIntosh MC275, 4 ohm taps. Pre-amp is a C22. Not only do they go very low, they also go up all the way in a natural, not overly aggressive presentation. I can listen for hours without fatigue.

I never had SS hooked up to them because I consider SS a step backwards. The MC275 DOES control the bass, goes l-o-w, has plenty of detail, extended highs. My MC240 did a good job, but the 275 a much better one.

As an extra note I have a pair of 1C speakers driven by a MAC1500 tube receiver. What an excellant combination for a smaller room!!

I don't think you can go wrong with a bulletproof Mc275.

Try a pair of Rogue M-150 Magnums, I've had a pair of the smaller M-120 Magnums driving my Apogee Duetta Signatures for around a week now...musical, musical, musical

I should mention...these amps can pump bass with the best of them...I replaced a Krell Kav-500 with these, (biggest difference?)...this bass is musical.

Dave

All Vandersteen speakers sound great with both tubes and solid state. I have hooked up my 2Ce Sigs to my cheapo Jolida 302B and to my Krell 400cx and they sound simply great driven by either amp. And laid back and detailed are not mutually exclusive but best experienced first hand.

Narrod
I am getting very good results with the DNA 225 and ARC SP-16L SS and tubes.

"Laid back and detailed" does seem superficially contradictory but well describes the sound I get from my 3A Sigs driven by Rogue M-150's in a well-treated listening room. All the detail is there but is placed naturally in the soundstage which is not thrust forward but instead pulls you into the music. It is not a gimmicky or splashy presentation; it invites contemplative, concentrated listening and is particlarly realistic for opera (my favorite) and operatic venues. I use a separate Blue Circle Music Ring 1200 for each amp which has improved the sense of precision and rhythmic accuracy of the sound. Finally, the addition of a REL Stadium III rolling off at 23hz has further enhanced the presentation, particularly on live recordings. I had previously used a Levinson 27 (admittedly not the latest and the greatest ss, but not shabby) with the 3A Sigs and I could not capture the emotion within the notes to the extent I do now -- that seems to be the gift of tubes.