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View Full Version : Which valve amp to drive Wilson Benesch ARC's?


The Black Adder
18-03-2010, 20:12
Hello there.

Would anyone be able to suggest a decent valve amp to drive some WB ARC's?

They are nominally 6ohms with 88db 1m - my room is 5m sq. Music I normally listen to is Beatles, Stones, Goldfrapp, Chemical Brothers...and I like to give my music some V on occasion.

I am just a little weary about which amps I should be looking to audition. I'm looking around the £800 price point.

I currently run a set of monoblocks which are 80wpc - these drive the speakers just fine.

One of the amps I'm looking at is a pair of QUAD II's.

Many thanks!
DSJR
18-03-2010, 20:20
I'd look at a WD amp I think. Quad II's are too twee and "nice" with bandwidth limiting. Modern valve amps are rather better IMO.

Another amp I love at your price point is the croft Series 7, which drives 83db/w speakers with no difficulty..
Ali Tait
18-03-2010, 20:57
Seconded.Look for one of the WAD/WD PP amps.All are excellent,and perform way way above their price.Shame,a mate just sold a 6550 to someone here.
The Grand Wazoo
18-03-2010, 22:40
The Quads might be a little underpowered for the speakers if you like to turn it up a bit (depending on your room size of course). You might also be a little disappointed by their performance at the extreme top & bottom.

If you want an old amp, try a Radford, that'd do it!
hifi_dave
19-03-2010, 10:10
A Radford for £800 ??? I'll take two please...:eyebrows:
Ali Tait
19-03-2010, 10:17
Me too!
DSJR
19-03-2010, 12:35
The Quads might be a little underpowered for the speakers if you like to turn it up a bit (depending on your room size of course). You might also be a little disappointed by their performance at the extreme top & bottom.

If you want an old amp, try a Radford, that'd do it!

What I was trying to say about the Quads :)

re-furbished Radfords are going to cost more than this now, aren't they???? Mine were ten years old when I bought them and the supply caps in the STA25 had mountains of leaky crap on them even at that age. I dare say they'd be on their third or fourth re-cap by now...
The Grand Wazoo
19-03-2010, 14:12
Yes, I realise they'd be beyond the quoted budget - didn't spot that bit when I read the original post!

You never know, though, I daresay the odd bargain Radford comes up every now & then - I paid £250 for mine, but that was a good while back now.
Ali Tait
19-03-2010, 15:18
I wish you could still get them for that!