Thanks a whole bunch so far everyone…
The insights are super, the sound of it is key… and the words on how numbers apply & translate were outstanding.
Guido, I liked the review on the VA speakers.
Well, keeping booze and boozed up friends away from the remote control, and gear is not a consideration… and I learned a few years ago about handing the remote to the ‘girl friend of the month’ while I’m otherwise occupied.
I seldom if ever really crank up the vol. My hearing is sensitive, the room is not cavernous, and my preffs aren’t towards paint peeling these days… Once in a very great while I’ll zip things up for some Def Lep, ZZ or Gordon Goodwin, Illinois Jacquette, etc… but only temporarily… a song or two.
I doubt I exceed 95 - 96db +/-, on avg during those few minutes.
…and who want s to hear K D Lang 7 tony B at 98db, anyways?
I may have not been 100% clear as to my fears/worries regarding the power similarities or diffs from ICE to SS… I merely wish to get a feel for about which gate I’d best be in when deciding. Current levels.. eg., 150 +/-; 250 +/-: 500 +/-; etc.
True enough, the voice of the power plant is a larger concern. I sincerely loved the big ol’ chunky VK500 w/BAT Pk. On 88-89db speakers.
I love the sound of the 120 wpc MK II Dodd mono’s on the 91-93db speaks I have now… with the Thor pre of course.
The Odyssey SE 150 +/- either with the Onkyo receiver or Thor ain’t bad either, just not even close to the all tubes setup… but quite liveable.. Especially if no repetitive A/B’ing is going on… and it doesn’t.
So given the speed of recovery ICE’s have, I’m getting the imp here a 250 into 8, 500 into 4, should be easily enough ICE.
Now, as usuall the preponderance regards ICE’s tenor… it’s sound. I get the imp too, they are image happy little boxes, dynamic, and possess very good headroom.
But are they in general, dryer or cooler sounding than SS?
A predominate amount of the time this new pair of monos or stereo amp will serve purely as main ch’s for HT.
Now and then, I’d use them with the Thor for pure audio.
Short list needs are rain free mids, easy yet revealing top ends and good low req response.
The Wyred 4 sound units look attractive, the reviews sound awesome, and the price is right for a ST500. IMO.