Tube amp to go with B&W DM604s2's ?

[Iguana Man]

Can anyone suggest a tube amp(s) for my two 604's? I use them as fronts in a HT, and want to really make them shine by hooking up some tubes for those "music only" times. I like it loud on occasion and the speakers are 90db so I imagine 50watts of tube power should be enough ?




Iguana Man

[Lexman]

hey I-man, sounds like a good plan. WB too.

Are you looking for straight tube amp, or a combined solid state pre-processor/tube amp like the Pathos?

I am not the tube amp guru that's for sure. Michael should be able to assist though. Now, when it comes to cables from an external DAC, or from analog sources, I gotcha covered there. www.catcables.com.

Lex

[MichaelW]

Iguana Man,

Your speakers are fairly sensitive but have a pretty steep impedance curve (4.3 ohms min). A push-pull tube amp is probably going to be your best bet. 50 watts might be the ticket in your small room but less power, say 25-30 watts, might work as well. My suggestion would be to try out several tubes amps, with various wattages, and buy the one that sounds best with your speakers. I would suggest looking at the Antique Electronic Supply and Antique Sound Labs for their amps. Both offer very reasonably priced tube gear that might work well for you.

[Iguana Man]

Michael, when you say "steep impedance curve", what exactly does that mean? Are they harder to push than the 90db suggests ?




Iguana Man

[migliore]

I've seen some good kit tube amps for about $600-800.

Rob




Reviews and System

[John Kotches]

If you're looking to blow some serious $$$ on the tube amplification, take a look at Manley Labs @ http://www.manleylabs.com

If you're trying to be a bit more modestly priced, check out Rogue Audio, at http://www.rogueaudio.com

Regards,




---
Editor, PC/Home Theater
Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity
My Home Theater
NEC LT-150 specific page.

[Bing Fung]

What is meant by the "Steep Impedance Curve?"

I had spoken with B&W tech support, and he had told me that the 600 series are very flat impedance wise, 40hz - 20Khz @ 8ohms. I think he may have sent me numbers of the impedance curve, if I can find them, I'll pass them along.

Looking at the B&W site, the 604's have a nominal impedance of 8ohm and minimum of 3ohm (freq. not stated), that is different from my 603's he was responding to.




Bing