Can I jump in here with a question about low-powered amplification? I recently upgraded my makeshift center-channel speaker from a Totem Acoustic Mite to a Von Schweikert VR-1, now I'm thinking of switching monoblocks to drive it. I'm currently using a Marantz MA-500 amp, which kicks 125 watts. Suddenly I've been thinking about a tube mono or something, but that means maybe 45 watts. Will that be enough to push the VR-1? I've read that it is a pretty "efficient" speaker, but maybe I should just stick with higher wattage? I've also thought about going bigger with an Outlaw M2200, though the sale just ended. I do everything on the cheap, so I have to strike when I can catch a deal.

The VR-1s are 89 db efficient. 45 watts ought to drive them pretty hard. I would expect at least 104 db SPL out of the tube amp. For the solid state amps I would stick with what you have. 200 watts is not a lot more than 125 watts as far as SPL. It is less than 3 db increase and will be hard to hear.

Thanx, XenonMan. Great info. Next step, finding a tube monoblock that's audiophile quality, compact and affordable. Here we go again…

Anyone have any experience with Dynaco tube amps? I've come across a couple in my price range, but I'm a bit skeptical, not because they're vintage, but more for things like bass control, which seems to be their weak spot.

I have rebuilt a few ST70's and have been very pleased with them. I've used them with a variety of speakers from Klipsch LaScalas, Polk LSI's, many different NHT's, KEF's, AV123 Encore's, Advents and many more. I love the Dynaco's and bass control has never been a problem, even when using the stock driver circuitry. Try one out, you won't lose money they hold their value.

they can turn a average set of book shelf speakers into a mind-blower!

Thanx, cats. Really helpful to hear about the ST-70 in particular, Keta, because the monoblocks I've been assessing, Mark IVs, are actually the mono versions of that stereo amp. They also fit my space requirements; one Mk IV will easily slip into the space currently occupied by the Marantz MA500. I'll report back if I end up acquiring something. Thanx again.

Just checkin' in to say that I've been living with a Quicksilver Mini-Mono tube monoblock for about three days now, and the 25wpc power seems to be enough. I'll check in again when I've done some critical listening and tube rolling.

Tube update: Think I'm done tube-rolling with this Quicksilver monoblock, because the current configuration sounds positively stunning. I think I said that the Telefunken 12AX7 tube was an instant improvement in the input slot, but it even got a boost when I rolled a matched pair of bottle-looking JJ/Tesla KT88s into the outputs.

JJ/Teslas in particular seem to make this amp sing…before I settled on the KT88s, the other pair that impressed me were JJ/Tesla 6L6GCs. In between, I rolled in some vintage Russian military tubes shipped from Moldova (6P3S-Es; dull-sounding) as well as a pair of extremely hard-to-find EI KT90 v.IIIs from Serbia, which were s'posed to blow everything else away, but sounded a bit shrill to me even though they had hefty bass. (I'll probably sell them soon.) With the KT88s, I suddenly got the same feeling I got when I blundered into mid-fi by bi-wiring my former Totem Mite loudspeaker. Sometimes you're just experimenting, and voila! it feels perfect.

I have a ST70 that needs a little love. Care to recommend any good parts and kit sources?