Toddmore, I also feel that your speakers need and 'deserve' MUCH-higher-quality amps. I have a pair of Vandersteen 5As, also rather power hungry, and I would have never believed the overall improvements in SQ by going with a higher-quality, much-higher-power amp. In my case I bought McCormack DNA-750 monoamps rated at 650 into 8 and 900 into 4.
[IMG]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/jeffreybehr/McCormack/19March2012_amps_1280w.jpg[/IMG]
My experiences with these amps are detailed here...
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=104073.0
Here...
http://www.iar-80.com/page5.html
...is a review of the predecessor DNA-500 stereo amp.
These are available (new) for $4995/pr. delivered in the US. Buy a pair; you won't be sorry. I'm so pleased with mine, I just bought a McC DNA-HT5, a 125Watts-times-5-channel amp to replace a bunch of Marantz MA500s driving center and surround channels.
.
[IMG]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/jeffreybehr/McCormack/19March2012_amps_1280w.jpg[/IMG]
My experiences with these amps are detailed here...
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=104073.0
Here...
http://www.iar-80.com/page5.html
...is a review of the predecessor DNA-500 stereo amp.
These are available (new) for $4995/pr. delivered in the US. Buy a pair; you won't be sorry. I'm so pleased with mine, I just bought a McC DNA-HT5, a 125Watts-times-5-channel amp to replace a bunch of Marantz MA500s driving center and surround channels.
.