Tube fever...845 SET w/ Avalon

Not familiar with the Avalons, but I would encourage you to continue down that road, as a properly executed 845 can be MAGICAL! best of luck!

I know nothing about your particular choices--and one may wonder why I'm writing-- :-) --but I too use SETs on relatively insensitive speakers.

I had 86dB-sensitive Quad 989s, bought 50-Watt ASL 805s, and LOVED the combination. I have a largish (3200CF) room, but my peak listening levels rarely exceed 95dBa, so that combination worked well.

Then I got antsy and bought some speakers I could tweak--Eminent Tech. 8s. I LOVE the 8s--they're clean, quick, spacious, and have the EXCELLENT bass the 989s didn't, but they're 2dB LESS sensitive than the 989s. I thought the 805s would have enough gain and power for the 11-Ohm 8s using the 16-Ohm output taps, but the amps still sound a little too hard when driven in the upper half of their power range, and that's rather often. So...I've just ordered ASL Hurricanes.

Whether you'll be satisfied with your prospective combination depends on how loudly you listen, even in a small room. BTW you might consider the ASL 1009 845, a 60-Watt, double-845-based amp. 1.2dB more power isn't much, but it may be enough to satisfy you.

Of course, ultimately only you can determine if your prospective combo will work well, and sometimes even that takes weeks or months...at least it did for me.

Good luck.
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For 845 amp, I've tried many different. IMO, Mastersound Reference 845 is the best. I did compare this amp with Nagra, Cary, Dehavillen, Art Audio quartet.. etc.

Currently own a 845 integrated amp and previous owned a Avalon Radian HC. I don't think a SET at 40W will be a good combination with Avalon speakers. Most SET don't do well into low impedance speakers even with 4 Ohm tap. Dynamic will be severely limited and distortion will be pretty obvious. Any chance to get a dealer loan before purchasing?

Need something much more efficient like Coincident speakers or horn.