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In a case like yours I would normally advise

sticking to talking about things of which you have half a clue. However, to judge by this thread anyway, you're obviously the type that seems not the least bothered by making a bit of a fool of yourself.

Regarding the PSB Stratus Gold had you that half a clue about them you'd be well aware that these speakers are known to mate well with high powered SS amplifiers, that such is almost mandatory to provide the current and control to enjoy the full extent of bass performance that the speaker is well known for. The following extracts from Stereophile's review of the original model (the i's are a later revision) is representative of what most expereince, something easy to confirm by searching in the Amp/Pre forum, in fact it won't be hard to find users happy high-powered Bryston Amps / Startus Gold combos ... the extracts:


"During most of my listening, the Stratus Golds were driven with the Threshold SA/12e monoblocks. I also experimented with several other amplifiers. The Krell KSA-250 produced a bit more low-bass energy—though with no better tautness, extension, or control, this did not result in a net plus with the PSBs. It was extremely clean with plenty of detail through the midrange and highs. But ultimately the Threshold's top end struck me as sweeter through the PSBs and, overall, I preferred it. While the remaining three amplifiers couldn't match the SA/12es either, they made a valiant attempt at a far lower price. The new Fortés (the Model 4, 50Wpc class-A, and Model 5, 100Wpc class-AB) sounded very sweet on top, but were considerably less dynamic than the SA/12e. And neither could really do justice to the Stratus Gold's low end, either in drive or control. Still, the higher-powered Model 5 might be a decent match if you're not addicted to pipe organ."

"The PSB seemed to thrive on power (it was a shade less sensitive than the Snell C/IVs). The Sumo Andromeda II had the power, but could not quite equal the subjective bass potency of the big Thresholds. While this was not a total negative (some of that mid- to upper-bass warmth from the PSBs was reduced with the Sumo), the Dorian Pictures lost a trace of its room-shaking power. But not all of it, by a long shot. The Sumo was a bit more laid-back than the Threshold, and somewhat less sweet and more clinical—though very clean—at the top. Some of the Thresholds' spacious three-dimensionality was missed with the Andromeda II. Still, at a tenth the price, it performed gallantly. My point here is that although the SA/12es were the best amplifiers I tried for making the PSBs sing, you can get the Stratus Golds to perform superbly with considerably less ambitious motive power."

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I use a 125 watt/channel (8 ohm rating) SS amp, a powerful amplifier in my book, and am pleased with the result. However, I had to let go my previous amplifier, the conservatively rated 60 watt/channel Bryston 2B-LP, a great amp!, because it didn't have the omph to drive the speakers ... the bass sounded 'wobbly' when pushed.


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