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Upscaling Speakers, Downscaling Amp...What to Do?

A few months back, I purchased a pair of Joseph Audio Pulsars. I've enjoyed them so much that I've decided to upgrade to the new Perspectives. However, my better half hath decreed that no more money can go into audio, so I've made the extremely difficult decision to sell my amp (VAC Phi Beta 110i) in the near future. Its replacements will obviously be significantly less expensive, yet they must provide a similar listening experience. The preamp is already fixed - a Modwright LS 100 with phono stage. My question for the board is, what amp? Tube or solid state? Cost (used) needs to be around $3000-3500, and a minimum of 100 wpc. The obvious pairing is either the Modwright KWA 150 or KWA 100SE. I would welcome any another other suggestions, but if you do so, please tell me why. Thanks in advance.
curriemt11
goldeneraguy
442 posts
 
I'm sure you realize you are not just enjoying the Pulsars,you are enjoying your complete system.
You might be moving up speaker wise but you may lose the magic.
Keep your system as is until you can buy the new speakers without going backward in amplification.
And DO buy your wife something nice for Valentines Day
agear
1,362 posts
 
Sounds a lot like my better half. Patience is not a heralded virtue in audio but I would exercise it here. There is a real risk of going backwards or sideways at best. Save your pennies, and upgrade the speaks in the future. Buy your wife that nice bag to grease the wheels...
inna
7,669 posts
 
You see, most are in agreement here. Leave your system alone.
Marakanetz, yes, you can buy a very good fake In New York Chinatown but deception is no good in the long run.
Yeah, buy something nice for your wife but original.
rockadanny
1,226 posts
 
I would never allow an amp to keep me from a pair of speakers I want. I say go for the speaker upgrade and then figure out the amp. Of course, at the very least you'll need to buy an appropriately matched (electrically speaking) amp for your system. Eventually, you may then be able to upgrade your amp as well (patience). There are always decent used amps for sale.
bombaywalla's avatar
bombaywalla
1,958 posts
 
Curriemt11,
looks like you are married to the Grinch!!
Anyway, I 3rd, 4th, 5th, Nth the recommendation that you stay put w.r.t. to your speakers. No need to hurry up & buy the next level up speaker - you do NOT always get better sound as you climb up the model level. Climbing up the model level brings other issues such as the bigger speaker needing a totally diff amp to handle it - what works for the smaller speaker does not always work for the next bigger speaker. You could be opening up a larger can of worms w/ the purchase of the next bigger speaker.
Enjoy the music & revel in it rather than directing your energies into 'upgraditis'......
IMHO. FWIW.
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