Vienna baby grand

I agree with Dcstep. Consider stepping up to a larger amp that fits your listening needs...whatever that is.

My Haydn Grand (used in HT) is powered by Musical Fidelity A308CR dual mono power amplifier...it is a killer. It's rated at 250 watts per channel, and can deliver blockbusting current, high voltage and, at the same time, it has incredibly low distortion over a very wide bandwidth and loading range.

Great match and synergy. The mid bass, imaging, and sound stage I get out of those speakers are hard to beat.

Ayre V-5xe delivers 150 watts to 8ohms. I audition this amp with totem monitors and vandersteen Quatro. Open and Airy. Very dynamic.

VTL - ST 185 tube amp audition with Totem loudspeakers. Another great amp that is warm, neutral, and transparent.

McIntosh MC252 would also be on the list. The MC252 Stereo Power Amplifier delivers lots of clean power. Auditioned with Focal 1037.

That should get you started.

As I mentioned to Hien Le in a private msg, one attractive solution that should fit the $5K budget, may be to adopt a pair of Rowland 201 (new) or even better 501 (used) monoblocks, then get the new Rowland PC1 Power Factor Corrector unit (new only: $1200). This device fits between the amps and the AC outlet and is said to take the little monos more than 80% up to the magic of the 312. Similar circuitry is already built into the 300 series flagship amps. I am not quite sure if the device can be said to be a line conditioner or a transformer. . . I'll post more info when I find out.

Lot of money to spend on a recommendation. I hope everyone can see by this post why dealers that carry decent equipment
are disappearing. Quite honestly, Sumiko is pretty careful about their dealers and the one in your area that carries these would be able to steer you into an amp that would make those sound simply terrific. Trust your dealer.

Thank you Realhifi. . . I trust my dealer. . . provided he/she agrees with my ears. Regretably, I have this nasty habit of trusting my own ears first. . . odd habit, really.

Or to use the old Reagan adage. . . "trust. . . but verify!"

Last time I agreed with a dealer has been with Soundings ofDenver (Co), who actually recommends wholeheartedly the pairing of Vienna Acoustics speakers with Rowland electronics.