What amp for Q5's? Spectral, Solution, Gryphon

Congratulations on a great pair of speakers.

I don't think Magico recommends tubes or even class A Solid State with their speakers, but I would trust my own ears. I don't own the Q series, but do own the old Mini II. It's a difficult load, but I use Pass XA160.5 and think they sound great together. I know of a guy who owns the V2 and he uses the Pass XA100.5. I haven't heard his system, but he has a lot of exposure to Magico speakers and thinks they work well with Pass amps.

The Q5 is so transparent that you will hear the characteristics of the amp very clearly. Auditioning would be essential, IMO.

V2, Are you going to post over on the WBF?

Husk,
I don't follow.

Hello Vav: You can try a Sanders Sound Systems Magtech amplifier at no cost to you. Check out their website for complete details. Do you have the Magico speakers? Regardless of what speakers you have you should at least listen to the Magtech with your own ears and not rely on the Hi Fi magazine Guru's. Trust your own ears. I am not saying this about you, but many "super audiophiles" wouldn't consider an amplifier that will deliver 500 WPC at 8 ohms and 900 WPC if it doesn,t cost at least $20.000 and weigh 150 lbs. Again if you are seriously considering an outstanding amp that will drive any speaker and has a lifetime warranty and is American made, you should at least consider this amp and hear it for yourself and not let someone else's ears make the decision for you. Good luck in whatever decision you make. Enjoy the music.

Thanks all... Peterayer - Husk01 was referring to a posting on What's Best Forum as well.

Yes, I own the Q5's. No time for the pre/amp selection. Seems Alon Wolf has paired them with Soulution, Spectral, Boulder and VAC, so that's kind of how I'm trying to home in on the short list.

I've heard them at my friend Husk01's home with a Gryphone Collosseum/VAC MK2a and they sounded great, but I didn't have enough time to make a judgement.

I heard them with the ARC REF 250/VAC MK2a and didn't care for that at all. Then I heard them with the Soulution 710/VAC MK2a and that was much more to my liking, but I still felt something was missing - maybe they need more power...

Interestingly, the VAC pre was common in all auditions - I do think the Q5's benefit from some softening/warmth in the pre section. Other than the REF 250's, I haven't heard them with tube amps... I ended up steering away from tubes after that audition.

I've been told the Spectral offers a more "full" and "special" sound with a bit more extension in the low end than than the Soulution.

I'd be keenly interested in feedback if anyone has conducted an A/B comparison in the same room with the Q5's between the Soulution 710 and Spectral 360SII - or - between the Boulder and Spectral.

Thanks again all - good feedback.