Any thoughts on Music Reference RM200

You might want to look at the Wolcott Presence 220 Mono's. (If you must have tubes) If they can drive Sound Lab A-1's, they more than likely can drive your Scintillas. (Yes, I know, different animals but both are extremely difficult loads.)

Or,

If you are not adamant about a tube amp, why not look into the ICE H2O monos? They were designed using Scintillas as the main target speaker. Plenty of discussion about them here and elsewhere.

These two amps are on my short list if/when I get the urge to upgrade (or if I get rich, I might have to look at Behold!

FWIW

Jam,
I have the H2o's on one system and they are very good. I have two pairs of Scintillas and was hoping to try tubes on the second pair just to try something different. I think the Soundlabs need voltage whereas the Scintillas need current and lots of it. Bob

I have used two rm200's with avantgarde speakers and hovland preamo. Good but not as good musically or tonally or with the realistic presence as my audio note P4 mono's now my ref. Also was not as good as my Canary ca339's (now sold), but was comparable to my Jadis JA50 mono's but only with a warm valve preamp.

The sound is transparent, fast, with good soundstaging and tone. Lacked that last bit of 300B tonal warmth and presednce and also lacked audio notes superior musicallity.

I think the Soundlabs need voltage whereas the Scintillas need current and lots of it.

Yes, that is why I stated "different animals". The Soundlabs have an impedence curve of about 40ohms in the bass and around 1(or less)ohms in the highs. The Scintilla's, well you already know.

The Presence monos are rated at 220 watts/ch @ 2ohms. There is a setting for controlling the "infinite damping factor" on the front of the 220's. The high setting for electrostats and the low setting for controlling bass on "normal" speakers. These two things lead me to believe the Wolcotts can put the sizzle in your Scintillas. (Yes, I am aware the Scintilla's impedence drops below 1ohm, but these things are built like tanks!)

Why not email hwolcott@wolcottaudio.com Henry and ask?

"I could be wrong, I could be right" PIL/Rise

rm200 is a really good amp but not for those speakers (though i havent tried that combo)...

imo, relability, tube amps and 1 ohm load is questionable (of the three pick 2)

apogees need a incredible amount of current to do their magic (800 to 1000 watts is not a bad place to start)