Tube amp to pair with Focal 1038 BEs

[Lukester]

Hi if anyone can help I am looking for inexpensive tube amp recommendations to pair with Focal 1038 BEs. Thanks.

 

[hifinutt]

Wonderful speakers ...not a valve amp but gato 150 is superb with focal .friend uses with 1028 .any reason you want valves ? The gato is class ab i think

 

[Lawrence001]

What's inexpensive as they are good speakers?

 

[It Cost How Much!?!]

A mate had these speakers and the Trilogy VTi sounded really good, tamed the top end a bit. Punchy and detailed. You should find one for less than £1k, but not many about.

 

[Lukester]

What's inexpensive as they are good speakers?

Hi I was hoping for something under £1k

 

[Lukester]

Wonderful speakers ...not a valve amp but gato 150 is superb with focal .friend uses with 1028 .any reason you want valves ? The gato is class ab i think

Thanks I will look into that.

 

[Lukester]

A mate had these speakers and the Trilogy VTi sounded really good, tamed the top end a bit. Punchy and detailed. You should find one for less than £1k, but not many about.

Sounds good. I will look into that.

 

[trumpetman]

I use a ss Hegel with mine, lovely combination for my system

 

[unclepuncle]

Wonderful speakers ...not a valve amp but gato 150 is superb with focal .friend uses with 1028 .any reason you want valves ? The gato is class ab i think

I found the Gato 150 way too bright even with my ‘dark’ sounding speaker so dread to think how ear shredding it would be with Focals.

The Gato 250 is much smoother, just a bit bland imo, but might be a decent match.

 

[antonio66]

Just seen this, hybrid design and Rogue Audio have a good rep. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/325530471928?hash=item4bcb20cdf8:g:z0YAAOSwxNtjmvk

I use a Yaqin amp and very pleased with it, here's an all tube amp. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/27575997...hCIhOYHiBrKCmjWZ7+2TxrAFg=|tkp:Bk9SR9TN1NDnYQ

 

[hifinutt]

I found the Gato 150 way too bright even with my ‘dark’ sounding speaker so dread to think how ear shredding it would be with Focals.

The Gato 250 is much smoother, just a bit bland imo, but might be a decent match.

Guess we are all different as at least 2 people i know use it with focal

 

[audio_PHIL_e]

Trilogy VTi

^ Good amplifier ^

 

[Tarzan]

Puresound amplifiers are supposed to work well with Focals......

 

[rabski]

Puresound amplifiers are supposed to work well with Focals......

Puresound work well with most things, but you'd need to be careful about choosing one with enough grunt. The 2a3 is lovely, but would not have enough current to run Focals sensibly.

 

[Jazid]

I dont buy the ear shredding thing as a necessary characteristic of Focal beryllium domes, I'm more inclined to look at other aspects, not least that people seem to love cranking them up on demo's which, maybe, challenges some amps. I've heard 1038 sounding fine with several amps, and suggest good class D power, then drive that with a good valve pre (a low output impedance is essential) to add a bit of tubey loveliness.

 

[hifinutt]

i had 1028 with belles amps if i recall . beautiful . loved them . also heard the 1038 sounded mighty fine at audio affarir when they first started many years ago in the custard factory