Fisher KX-100 or 400 and Wharfedale 10.1?

[NaiveMelody]

Hello, I was thinking about making the leap into Tube Amplifiers and I have the option of purchasing a KX-100 or 400 for $600.00. My current speakers are Wharfedale 10.1 with an Onkyo 9050 and I'd prefer not to replace the speakers right now. Would either one of those amplifiers be a decent match for my Wharfedales? I don't have a real use for the tuner so are there any benefits to picking the 400 over the KX-100? Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated. This is my first post so thank you in advance for your help!

 

[rufleruf]

There is a lot to consider with the Fishers. Are they restored? Working original? At $600 they ought to be restored - not sure I've seen a KX100 sell for as much as $600. I'll stop here as this is headed in the dollars and cents direction (there''s a forum for that). There are early and late 400's, with the early ones making more power. From a power perspective, an early 400 and a KX100 are pretty close everything else being equal.

I can't help with the speaker question - I've never had any Wharfdales.

 

[Patrice B]

Sensitivity 86 dB for your speakers. I guess it'll be ok at normal listening levels with the 400 (7868 so around 25-30w/ch) but it won't shake the walls and maybe distort at higher levels...

 

[NaiveMelody]

Thanks for the quick replies. The owner says that they have both been restored. Is there something specific that I should be looking for to ensure that the proper work has been done. Like I said this is all really new to me and I don't have much experience with the tube life. Thanks again for your help!

 

[Dadbar]

The 400 has bigger output transformers....and it uses a better implemented fixed bias scheme. The KX-100 uses that weird cathode bias scheme where the 12AX7 heaters are powered off the 7868 cathodes and that eats up some of your available power.