High Current SS amps with input impedance = 200K

Newbee, I stand by my statement that I'd wager you'd hear a difference in bass performance between a SP16/10k ohm amp combo and a SP16/20k Ohm amp combo.

Beyond that, no it'd be impossible to compare identical amps except for differing input impedances, as no such device exists to my knowledge.

No, I have not heard an SP16 connected to a 10k Ohm amp and a 20K ohm amp...or any amp for that matter. However, I would take your bet that I could hear a difference in bass response.

It does make sense to me optimize the electronic interface between components in a system to whatever extent possible, all other factors aside, to maximize inherent performance.

The input impedance of my current Musical Fidelity A3CR amp is ~31K.

I've seen ARC SS power amps with 150K ohm input impedance. I'm thinking that it might make sense to go with an SS amp like this from a company that has tube pre-amps as a specialty.

Other options I know of to consider are Bel Canto Ref 100m (150K ohm unbalanced input impedance, 300K ohm balanced)and Wyred 4 Sound (~60K ohm input impedance).

Stock ICE power class D amps appear to have only about 20K input impedance which would seem to make them a less desired match with many tube pre-amps.

Any other SS amps with high input impedance to consider? I doubt I would seriously consider a tube power amp for my application at this point with the big current hungry OHM 5s in my system.

Tvad, I'm sure I could hear the difference. That part would be a walk in the park. But I'm not so sure that I could connect the difference to the difference in impedence values as opposed to the amps design or how it interfaces with the speakers.

For Mapman, whose post follows. FWIW IMHO, the differences which may occur between the small differences, or deviation from optimum values, between amp and pre-amp that we are talking about (I'm NOT talking about gross mismatches, or even medium mis-matches) are absolutely dwarfed by the output capabilities as well as the tonal signature of the amp and the impedence curve of the speakers. But you have probably already figured out that that is my opinion. :-)

BTW, if you are looking for high power, high quality power ss amps, I'd recommend that you look at some vintage stuff, especially stuff made by Nelson Pass when he ran Threshold, especially the SA or S series stuff. Even if you had to have some recapped because of age they would still be a hell of a deal. If I ever went back to SS that is the first place I would go.

Newbee, your viewpoint on the impedance matching issue that you illustrate in this thread is just flat out wrong.

The possibility that you may not be able to connect what you hear to an impedance matching issue does not mean the issue does not exist, or that is of little importance.

The difference between an amplifier's input impedance of 10k Ohms and an amplifier's input impedance of 20k Ohms is not small. It's significant, and it'll be magnified by a preamp that has high output impedance somewhere along the frequency spectrum (which is typical of many tube preamps).

Spend just an hour reading John Atkinson's comments in his test measurements of a few tube preamps and a couple amps and you will discover the significance of the preamp/amp impedance matching issue.

My strategy will be to play it safe and go with a high current SS amp that doubles output into 4 and eve 2 ohms as much as possible and has a higher input impedance, along the lines of those I mention above. That will optimize electronic interfaces both in from pre-amp and out to speakers.

From there, whatever amp used will be in an optimal position to synergize with pre-amp and speakers and deliver its best performance as a result, whatever that may be, I would say.