[robert1325]

Hello,

I'm considering an amplifier upgrade,  and still have to decide to go for tubes or SS.   I'm very pleased with my speakers ( B&W  dm 603 s3)  (90db/8ohms) but am not sure what kind of tube amp would be suitable for these speakers...      I was thinking of a chinese tube amplifier, for around 500 dollars...    It will replace my cambridge 640A SS amplifier .      I would use it for music and movies (60/40) .  I like all kinds of music.

Can anyone give me some advice?

[TONEPUB]

Not sure if you will be able to find something that inexpensive.  Up around a thousand dollars there are a few good choices from Onix, Prima Luna and a couple of others.

[robert1325]

Thanks , how much power would I need for these speakers?

[lcrim]

My speakers, the Vandersteen 1C's are rated @90dB @ 6 ohms and I have Eastern Electric Minimax separates, the power amp and preamp.   The EE MM power amp is rated @ 8 watts per side but that is somewhat deceiving in that it drove my 88 dB Sonus Faber Concertino Home speakers and I know of others using less efficient speakers with it and not encountering problems. 
I noticed that Carlman had his EE power amp for sale not long ago, maybe its still available.  You would still need a volume control because its strictly a power amp.  I think it is a quality piece of gear for reasonable cost.  The signal to noise ratio precludes using it with true high efficiency speakers, like 100 dB or there abouts but @ 90 it should be fine.  It sounds terrific and in my experience reveals whatever is upstream for better or worse. 

[Mathew_M]

Hi Robert,

I've been using a Jolida 302b with my VMPS 626r's.  The VMPS are rated the same as your B&W's.  The catch with the Jolida is that for it to sound its best it needs an active pre-amp driving it (thanks to Bill at Response Audio for pointing this out).  The music sounded congested, constricted, closed in when using just the Jolida's built in passive-pre.  At first I paired it with the pre-out on a HT receiver--this yielded a much more dynamic and transparent sound, yet was too thin for my tastes.  I currently have the Jolida paired with an AMC tubed pre and the music these two pump out is beautiful and rich.  Ok, so niether components are exactly 'hi-fi' and there is noticeable tube rush from the AMC but it's definitely 'musical'.

[trianglezerius]

As an ex B&W owner I highly reccommemd you stsy away from tubes. There complex crossover design makes for a difficult load. Unless you can swing a reall high powered tube amp. I would think a hybrid would work with B&W. Maybe a a tubed pre and SS amp would be a good place to start for running power hungry B&W's.

[Duke]

In my opinion, trianglezerius is correct.  I would not recommend a tube amp to a B&W owner.   

If you go with tubes anyway, you want a push-pull tube amp that has a high damping factor (low output impedance).   Do not go with an SET or OTL tube amp.

Duke

[robert1325]

Thank you  for the advice,   I'll go for an integrated SS amp...   

[trianglezerius]

The integrated I found to work well with B&W are: Naim, Sim, Roksan, Musical Fidelity,Plinus. I would stay away from brands like Rotel (or anything low-fi), to me the combo is harsh and hard. Any SS amp that is to bright is really a tough listen through there metal dome tweeters.

[SET Man]

Hey!

   Another option would be tubed pre-amp with SS amp combo like triangle said

Take care,
Buddy

[robert1325]

at the moment I own the cambridge audio 640A ( Lo-fi?  )    sounds fine with the B&W's,   but I would like some more refinement and bass control.    I ordered a chinese amp wich is suposed to be better than the dussun ds99 ...  http://www.ornec.com/product/US/G&W_TW-2006X_integrated_amplifier/    ,  I'll give a report sometime.

[dado5]

my .02

As Duke has said, PP is the best option for tubes. The impedance variation for the B&W is pretty wide so a SET amp will have some problems handling the lower frequencies, resulting in a bottom heavy, round type of sound most likely.

 90 db should give you decent headroom with 10 watts, so you don’t have to go with high power necessarily and, as the speakers are small, you can move them about to get the best volume level at your seat.  Now if you listen to metal at high volumes or you really like the 1812 cannons, it might be best to seek a speaker change before an amp upgrade

Production choices would be limited to Chinese imports and of these Jolida has the longest and most stable track record.  IMO, the 102b EL84 is the best sounding of the line, but the 302b is a good choice if more power is needed (you will get a slightly more opaque sound with softer bass though).

If you can DIY, I will say up front that the Audio Note Kit 4 is the best deal going. An absolutely wonderful sounding amp and an easy build.  IMO it sounds better than their SET offerings.  For higher power, I would pursue one of the Dynaco st70 rebuilds out there.  Either of these routes will better most commercial PP amps out there and not just the ones under a grand.


http://www.audionotekits.com/kit4.htm

http://www.diytube.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=773

http://www.triodeelectronics.com/st70boards.html

http://www.dynaco-doctor.com/#DYNACO%20STEREO%2070%20POWER%20AMPLIFIER