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Considering A 20-40 Watt Stereo SET Amp

I just got over a 16 day illness (not Covid) where it was touch and go for a few days. I am thinking of rewarding myself with a 20-40 watt stereo SET amp. The speakers I will use are a pair of the new JBL L100 Classic speakers that I bought at the end of 2020. The speakers are rated at 4 ohms @90db sensitivity.

Presently, I am using a McIntosh integrated and I do not listen loud. The meters on the Mac usually sit between .20 and 2 watts at its loudest. I have not started looking yet but I do know I want something with 1 pair of outputs so I can use my SVS powered subwoofer with it. I would also need 3 high level inputs. I don’t want to break the bank as this would be a secondary amp to put into rotation as the mood strikes me.

I do not want a flea powered amp so it has to be 20-40 watts and under 4 grand new. Used would be even better. I am hoping I can be steered in the right direction so I can start my research. I do not want to have to buy other components to accommodate the amp. Source components are a McIntosh SACD player, McIntosh FM tuner and a Sony HAP-Z1ES music player. Nordost interconnects and Canare speaker cables, Shunyata power cords and a Furutech power conditioner round out the system. The amp must be stereo, no monoblocks please. 99% of my listening will be through my Mac FM tuner. The system is also on its own dedicated 20-amp circuit.

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ghdprentice
7,027 posts
 

If you want to seriously check out SET amps… consider a SET headphone amp. You do not need the power you need for your speakers. You can check out the sound and decide if this is the direction you want to go. There are other ways of getting more power and midrange bloom in a main system if you decide this is the way you want to go.

 

Typically you can put together an equivalent system at 1/10th the cost on a headphone system to test the concept. I assembled an incredible 300B headphone system for $15K while my equivalent sounding main system cost about $150K.

speedthrills
160 posts
 

As others have said, the SET option at your power and price requirements doesn't exist (Aric will come in much higher in price by the time they create a customized integrated for you more than likely), why not a Prima Luna and call it a day? 

lcherepkai
280 posts
 

The JAS Array is a 45w SET that can be ran as an integrated with 4 inputs and a passive preamp section or, with the flick of a switch, can be ran as a stereo amplifier using your choice of separate preamps.  With premium tubes, it's one of the best amps I've had.  That being said, those tubes will cost you a fair amount and it does put out a huge amount of heat.  It's also enormous and very heavy.  I sold mine to simplify and now have an itty bitty Class D amp.  The JAS sounded better but the Red Dragon S500 is much easier to live with.   Check out the 6 Moons Review of the JAS Array 2.1.  

arcticdeth's avatar
arcticdeth
1,572 posts
 

250 W rms strereo amp. MIN
sure it will play softly, if you want@,little juice, 40W will clip. Don’t have the headroom for full on orchestra, rock music,  blues.

May sound ok, get some sack, then your all set when-speaker upgrade time comes

 

check the Gon every couple days, something will pop up

 

 

low volume mostly,..

 

 

 

your,golden,with a 40W amp  

those speakers need some current to sound best!

just sayin

 

shkong78's avatar
shkong78
1,485 posts
 

Line Magnetic 805 SET will have enough power to drrve your speaker.

Even with just 45 Watts spec, it had better control of bass than 100 watts ogue Cronunus Magnum II.

I had been using earlier version 508 for five years.

Thomas

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