2. amps-preamps
  3. 1221604868

Powerful Tube Amp for SF Strads?

I am looking for recommendations for a powerful tube amp for my Strads. A powerful tube amp which truly excels at palpability, musicality but also has very good bass control (though bass control is not as 'mission critical' to me as palpability).

My current amp (see below) sounds great to my ears!...but runs out of steam much too soon.

My system today:

Zanden 5000S DAC
CJ Act 2
CJ MV60 (EL 34 tube)
SF Strads (4ohms, 92db sensitivity though impedence does dip to 2.5ohms)
Velodyne DD-18 (run in parallel)
Transparent Ref/Ref XL cabling throughout
Purist Audio Dominus PC

In addition to recommendations, any thoughts are welcome on Wavac, Audio Note, Zanden, VTL, CJ LP275...or monoblocking MV60 (EL34)? Thanks!

Lloydelee21
lloydelee21
lloydelee21 OP
1,202 posts
 
Downunder,

That is a great call...take the legendary 8's and upgrade them with CJ's latest Teflon capacitors. 275 watts of CJ power. Fantastic! Enjoy!

Lloyd
kops's avatar
kops
478 posts
 
Emre,

I like very much Soulution products and think are among the very best.

But when combining different brands pre-power better test it first in your system.
lloydelee21 OP
1,202 posts
 
I am now breaking in a PAD Ann Contego for the Gryphon Antileon and PAD Dom Ferox for the CJ Act 2. So far, the sound is clearly breaking in still...40 hours so far. Soundstage is bigger, images are more solid, more dynamics. I want to wait til it breaks 100 hrs before I weigh in completely. The PAD Dom Ferox for my zanden has been great.
lloydelee21 OP
1,202 posts
 
PAD Contego is fully burned in...immediate improvements. Soundstage is much bigger, more powerful, yet with a detailing and presence that remain organic...more organic than the stock cable. But perhaps the best change is the lower noise floor...allows the sound coming forth to be music.
lloydelee21 OP
1,202 posts
 
Update:
- Changed my equipment rack. A 300 lb custom rack, 3" Birch ply sides
- African black sapele veneer in high piano gloss finish
- all on top of a 1.5" thick slab of slate...but decoupled
- the sound is tighter, more controlled, the soundstage much deeper.
- nice one!!!
- also added HRS damping feet under my Zanden DAC.
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