Best valve amp for Tannoy 15" DCs (up to £3k?)

[oktapod]

Any recommendations? Sound preference nimble and detailed rather than warm/heavy sounding, plenty of bass already from these DCs. Listening levels low to moderate (<80db avg). Preferably balanced input, no buzzes or hums or other weirdness. Can be either an integrated or a power amp. Not completely discounting class A s/s options, but prefer something with valve fluidity and texture. Budget ideally under £3k, unless the very best option is just over (some flexibilty). Long term reliability, parts availability and serviceability important too. Thx.

[Ali Tait]

I haven't tried it, maybe someone here has, an OTL would fit the bill for your sound preferences. I just don't know how they sound with Tannoys.

Something from here-

https://www.transcendentsound.com/products-.html

Had and built a few of these and they have all been excellent, and very quiet too.

[Ali Tait]

Would need to be the higher power amps, if it were me id go for these-

https://www.transcendentsound.com/beast-jr.html

Pretty sure would be a great sounding combination.

[AD Audio]

Best valve amp is definitely a Radford sta100 or TT100. There's not many around but worth hanging on for. Meanwhile a Radford sta 25 could be got as a stop gap and might end up there permanently. I haven't heard the OTL Ali mentioned, but in general remain to be convinced by multiple pairs of output tubes.

Other amps that may work well include the so called Copper Amp and a Jean Hiraga

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk

[Hopeful]

Audio Note Oto SE is well worth putting on your list , I used one with my 12" Chatsworths and it was exactly as you described . Your budget my get the better signature version .

[oktapod]

What's different between the STA100 and STA25?

[Barry]

What's different between the STA100 and STA25?

The STA100 uses KT88s for the output pair, producing up to 100W/channel; the STA25 uses EL34 output pentodes, producing 25W/channel.

[williamsgrandad]

I have Transcendent sound t16 monoblocks
40w per channel with spare valves

[Wakefield Turntables]

You can try the SondeX s100 which is a Radford sta100.

[AD Audio]

You can try the SondeX s100 which is a Radford sta100.I thought the Sondex was based on the tt100-solid state front end? Either way it would drive them nicely

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk

[hifinutt]

radford often mentioned but i think there is a LONG waiting list to have one made , over 6 months

[Denzil]

I'm using a Primaluna with my Tannoy MG 15's and love it.

Denzil

[AD Audio]

Tube Distintions, Copper or Soul amp, Croft or Radford would be my choice.

But, I've also found that a very decent digital amp also sounds totally fab with my big tannoys.

Either way, you need something with grip. Around 50wpc minimum.Digital amps can swing both ways. A Nord amp I had sounded sublime with older easier drive Tannoys but fell as flat as a pancake with my 15ins Tannoy Canterbury SEs. It does of course depend on which 15ins DC we are talking about. The SE version is the heaviest and stiffest of all I reckon. Older or newer versions are an easier drive.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk

[oktapod]

Legacy Ardens.

[hifi_dave]

Luxman does it all, literally with knobs on.

[Denzil]

Tube Distintions, Copper or Soul amp, Croft or Radford would be my choice.

But, I've also found that a very decent digital amp also sounds totally fab with my big tannoys.

Either way, you need something with grip. Around 50wpc minimum.

There we go again ! About watts:) I don't mean to deveate or hijack the thread but so many on the forum say big Tannoy's don't need much power. And it's all about the quality and not the number of watts:rolleyes:?!?

Denzil

[fatmarley]

I thought this video that was posted over at pinkfish was very good at explaining how much amplifier power is needed.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2LPcU35r50

[Mr.Ian]

John wood audio?,

[mikeyb]

Primaluna Dialogue Premium HP power amp is what I’m using on my Tannoy Berkeleys and I’m more than happy, we’ll worth looking for a used one as can be bought for around £2000 that leaves plenty for a decent pre amp like the Herron Audio Vtsp-2a that I swapped a Trilogy 907 phono stage for.

The PL Dialogue HP integrated is superb too, an excellent headphone section in it too, I demoed this alongside the pre/power combo and always meant to buy the matching pre to my power amp but only ever saw one for sale secondhand that was collection only too far from me.

Mind you my Tannoys also sounded superb via a WAD KEL84 power amp that I borrowed and it was only 12-15w I think, lovely valve sound, and if I was honest I’d like another one to try again.

[anthonyTD]

Its a good explanation, and i have written a few posts here over the years which cover this subject!
I thought this video that was posted over at pinkfish was very good at explaining how much amplifier power is needed.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2LPcU35r50

[oktapod]

OK, after asking the question here and elsewhere, and accepting that I can't possibly hear all contenders (especially these days) I decided that I'd go on consensus and similarity to what I've currently got, and have ordered a Radford Revival STA25 mark 5. I've heard nothing but good things about these amps, it will be easily able to drive the Tannoys, and it's within budget (and seemingly built to an extremely high standard).

[mikeyb]

OK, after asking the question here and elsewhere, and accepting that I can't possibly hear all contenders (especially these days) I decided that I'd go on consensus and similarity to what I've currently got, and have ordered a Radford Revival STA25 mark 5. I've heard nothing but good things about these amps, it will be easily able to drive the Tannoys, and it's within budget (and seemingly built to an extremely high standard).Wise choice [emoji6]

[AD Audio]

Wise choice [emoji6]+1

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk

[Miller]

PYE HF12's run my bespoke Tannoy 15's... Basically the same as the PF91's and my friend has HF25's on his Windsor's... I will not go into the superlatives....

https://i.postimg.cc/6qQpN9fz/IMG-5381.jpg

[Mike Adams]

Lots of threads on here about this...A Radford would be really nice, as another option I had a Art Audio KT88 which was a nice match-they used to do a mono block version with two pairs of KT88 which would be even better...

[Roy S]

Luxman does it all, literally with knobs on.

Bit late to the party but +1 for a Luxman, I use an L-509X with my Legacy Ardens & it's the most lucid sound I've heard (bit more than your budget though).

[hifinutt]

mmm thats good to know , must bear that in mind for the future

[Andy831]

I have used a few different valve amps on my Tannoys from Flea Power 1.8w Decware which were lovely in the mids and highs but were lacking in the lower regions, Ok if all you played was female singer songwriter type stuff. I used a Glasshouse 300B for quite a few years which was a definite improvement in the lower regions but still not enough. Current amp is a Bel Canto Set 40 using 845 valves and outputting about 38 watts. This amp is by far and away the best sound I have had out of my Tannoys. All these amps are single ended, I have not tried a push pull but would expect further low down improvements but maybe at the loss of the beautiful mids and highs. Its quite clear that the K series version of the Tannoy 15"DC drivers do like a few watts up them.

[Jac Hawk]

Then the PrimaLuna Dialogue Premium HP or the Newer Evo 400 with 70wpc into 8ohms should suit it nicely

[scotty38]

There's a lovely KT90 valve amp in the classifieds that will work well! :)

[WESTLOWER]

Talk to David Coe. He will build you something special
Experienced with Tannoy 15’’ drivers

[oktapod]

Think you guys have missed the fact that I've already placed an order for an STA25 mk5. Sure, there may be better amps available at probably considerably more money, but the Radfords do seem to crop up with regularity as one of the best choices for Tannoys, and that swayed me. It isn't too later to change tack as my amp build hasn't started yet, but it ticks all the boxes. I do wish I could hear one, as buying unheard is always a bit of a gamble, but I am sure it will be very good indeed.

I did consider whether the same amount of money could give me a better sound via solid state, but I'm not convinced. SS amps are very good, but there is something about good valves that just stands out for me. Plus, I like glowy shiny....

[donmarrese]

If you can find one, a Tannoy SR 840 amplifier...
Tannoy decided in the mid eighties that the only amplifier that could drive their DCs properly was a tresham SR 402 ...so much so, they bought the company...rest is history...they rebadged the SR 402 to
SR 840...pretty rare.....I have both ..

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200710/4a3a5c8882bb3c371c7048070e0b73cf.jpg

Sent from my ONE A2003 using Tapatalk

[donmarrese]

Talk to David Coe. He will build you something special
Experienced with Tannoy 15’’ drivers+1

Sent from my ONE A2003 using Tapatalk