Tannoy Westminster amp matching question.


Hello again everyone. Its been a while but I'd like your advice if possible.

I'm waiting for a pair of Tannoy Westminster royal SE's to arrive ( end of dec ). And I'm wondering what to amps to match them with. I have very limited funds at the moment(budget of 3k or so), having lashed out on the speakers, and I'm thinking I'd like to go SET power amps again. So looking at second hand bargains. At the moment I'm thinking Sophia Electric 300b or Art Audio symphony II. Alternative suggestions please !!!!

To give you an idea of my tastes. The system I've put together, that I enjoyed the most, was Avantgarde Duo's and Yamamoto A08s. Loved it. I listen to all sorts of music: Rock, choral, opera, jazz. Love well done female vocals :-)

Thanks for your time.
borg7x9
I use the Art Audio Jota HC monoblocks with my Tannoys. Bi-amping with a quad of Jotas is ideal, but expensive. Also, it took a long time for my Tannoys to break in. Didn't sound good for several months. Now all is glorious.
Art80342, I've heard that the BAT and the Tannoys are not the best combination. Overall though the speaker is very tube-friendly.
Gentlemen,

I was wrong about previous judgement on BAT / Tannoy Westminister compatibility!

Changed the Nordost Flatwyre - biwire version out , replacing with normal audio shack grade wires and the sound substantially opened up.

BAT can complement Tannoy!
Art80342, I have Tannoy Canterbury SE'S and was driving them with an older LFD Mistral, which I still use for my TV setup.It's a nice little integrated. I recently hooked up a pair of de Havilland Aries 845 monos and the difference is shocking.I'm now getting thunderous bass along with a rich midrange and even a more detailed treble than with the LFD.The dynamics are in another league altogether. You should try to get a listen to one of the deHavilland's and see for yourself.Of course, the price differential makes this an unfair comparison.
To agree with Atma-Sphere, a high damping factor amp is not necessarily the way to go with the Westminster Royal SE.

If you want to get the full bass potential of this speaker you do need the right amp. And with such a glorious, detailed, natural, open bass it is worth getting it right, believe me. I'm not a rocker or a blaster but I won't give up the great bass this speaker is capable of.

I wish the Atma-Sphere MA1 got it all but it does not in the bass. The speaker sounds light with it, and does not go down with realism in the deepest bass. I love Atma-Sphere and Ralph's dedication so this is no slam on either.

I would focus on what works for Westminster owners as that rear loaded folded horn bass presents a different load to the amp than other Tannoys. It's just a different beast.

There's a manufacturer who won't want to be quoted by name but his Westminsters sound powerful, seductive, rich, natural, dynamic, with deep bass, using a CAT amp. I heard classical, drum demo reoords, organ, rock, vocal, jazz and contrary to what an above poster says, you can get it all with one amp on the Westminsters. I am an SET triode guy with extremely efficient speakers but I would try the Westminsters after what I have heard many times at his place but I don't have the room for the Westminsters.

And, I am considering a CAT to replace my SETs. Do a search on the CAT JL2 and you will see other guys who say it sounds like the good parts of SETs but with power and bass drive.