Best monoblock tubes amp with Vandersteen 5As

You have heard them with two of the best - might listen to them with the Rogue 150W monoblocks (do not remember the model number).

If you have the opportunity to audition some other tube amps with the 5A's, then I would add the following to your list: Conrad-Johnson (Premier series); Manley Labs Neo-Classic; and VTL.

For sure you must try the ASL Hurricanes or VTL's 450's.

And for a little different sound..VAC 70/70.

As a dedicated Tenor Audio Pusher, and lover of the product, I can tell you that at CES last year, I lent a pair of Tenor OTL's to Richard to use with his 5A's in his room. It was easily the best sound I have heard out of the Vandersteen's. I have a number of customers using this combo and they have never been happier. The speaker is very OTL friendly.

This would be a very interesting question to pose to Richard.

You can get away with a less powerful of a tube amplifier since they use a high pass filter between the amp/preamp. Because of this, the amplifier is almmost entirely freed of supplying power for bass. A few years back I got along just fine with a 100 watt ARC vt100 mark II amplifier. No shortage of power whatsoever.

I've heard that John Rutan at Audio Connection runs the 5's with the Ayre V-1 or the Rogue Zeus. www.audioconnect.com He's been a Vandersteen dealer since the beginning of time and knows them very well. He's helped me with my Vandersteens quite a few times. I've heard Quicksilver V4's are also a great match.

Disclaimer: I am a Rogue dealer.