Tube amp for "difficult" speakers,,,

I heard the Dynaudio Consequence Ultimate at a demo in Oslo recently, powered by Macintosh monoblocs, no less than 3 huge boxes behind each speaker. Since it was an amp setup in the extreme price range I didn't investigate further. Sure, the CU's rocked, and I could hear improvements from my own mk2 (standard) C's. But I was also thinking that some of the sound reflected the amps and that standard C's, too, would have played more lively with greater unconstrained presence, if hooked up. Obviously Dynaudio hasn't changed the basic power hungry character of the speaker (complex design kept + improved, better drivers + x-overs). I asked the D representative "what kind of amp do they need", and he claimed that they would play well on smaller amps also. I don't believe it.

Just for your information, Atmasphere MA1-s cannot drive Dynaudio Consequence speakers (i have mk2). This is no big surprise but I wanted to mention it so you don't mis-invest your money. Using autoformers helps a bit but not enough. Both are great products. They just were not made for each other. MA2-s might be another story, and perhaps MA3-s would sound great with these speakers. They demand lots of power, as many others have written.

CAT JL-2. Not clear if you are still in the market and I would not want to spring for any tube amp of the size you will need without auditioning it with your speakers. Having said that, I've not seen any tube amp (or most SS) that handle difficult speakers like a CAT JL2. You are looking at a big, heavy, hot amp but it handily outclasses anything I've heard on my Apogee Diva's (and before them, Infinity Beta's). At one point I used it to drive some older speakers I built with Strathearn ribbons (1.1 ohm load). Have never heard it sound less than wonderful.

mbhintz

100% agree on the CAT JL2, which I owned for several years before switching to Atma-sphere M-60s which drive my "easy" speakers to perfection.

Update: I ended up selling my speakers and amp. I now use tube monoblocs with less demanding speakers, and enjoy it.