Thanks Mike! Since I'm such a slow decider, this topic has been on slow simmer for a while... still chewing on recommendations from last month like Pass, and Spectron.
With my old speakers my current electronics were a good match. As I expected, the Ushers exposed everything and highlights the flaws with no mercy. The bass is insufficient with the Snapper / Minimax combo. I can't find a combination of tubes that brings the pair into synergy. I get either great highs or lows, not at the same time.
The new Transcendent GG pre has great synergy with the Snappers. The positive GG kit experience and its great sound has me thinking about building
THE BEAST. At first it seems like the opposite of what I have said I want, but on closer examination and consulting with owners for the past few months, it turns out to be more appealing than I would have expected. It makes 160W with very low .2ohm Zout, incredible for OTL. Tube life is very good because the tubes are run very easy. Maintenance is minimal, just an occasional tweak of the bias knob to null offset DC. Owners report it's not fussy and tubes last for many years. Even idle dissipation is only ~300W, hot but no more than Pass and a lot less than any other powerful OTL. The value is good because it's a kit. It all adds up well and still gives great tube tone, OTL presence, plenty of power and bass control. I am hoping that the sonic descriptions of it are true and it is all the the Snappers do and more, clear clean spacey, authoritative, good tone.
But I would love to try a spectron, or CIA D500 or something like that to live with for a few months of cool running unlimited power. Honestly I'm a little afraid of any kind of SS. I worry that in the end, only tubes can sound like tubes and I am destined to be tortured with tubes forever. I don't know if this will turn out to be true, but it remains a pessimistic prejudice of mine, so far. The Pass dealer is in SC and his website has not a word about 2 channel audio, nor Pass, iirc.
Retail prices of Pass and Spectron will probably make BEAST next on the list. I'm nervous about Spectron reliability and service. Any opinions about BEAST or its high power tubular ilk?
Thanks!
Rich