2. amps-preamps
  3. 157848-11588

Is there a Solid State amp that can satisfy a SET guy?

Have been a SET guy for so long I have forgotten what a good SS amp even sounds like.
Just bought a pair of $33k speakers that will replace my current $16k speakers. Both are from the same designer and both are 92db and a flat 8 ohms. The new ones arrive in 4 days!
My 300B based amps well drive my current speakers even though I do use the system nightly as a 2 channel home theater. Especially considering the HT usage, I think I may enjoy a SS amp with many times the horsepower. The speaker designer suggests using a Leema Hydra II. I have written to Leema telling them of my 300B preference and they assure me that their amp does not have the destructive harmonics that make a SS amp bright. There must be other SS amps that can satisfy?
mglik
tropicaldiver
11 posts
 
@mglik,

I found the best SS amp for you. It is 40 watts in 8 ohm and 70 watts in 4 ohm.  It is a Lejonklou Boazu (integrated) or they have separates. It is my only SS amp, I have about 8 tube amps. I had a First Watt F7 paired with Pass Labs XP12 at it was good, but did not inspire me to keep it. I borrowed this amp from my dealer and was blown away. It literally takes a few minutes to wrap your head around what you are hearing. It is so musical, transparent and not linear or neutral. My dealer has sold about 8 of these integrated amps now. They are only $4K. See if you can borrow one from a dealer near you. You will not be disappointed. 
ghasley
2,497 posts
 
The op is all over the map, which is of course his or her right to do. It seems the only setup he or she isn’t considering is the exact setup the speaker designer recommended. If I ever suffer a catastophic brain injury and voice a desire to get into the high end audio business would someone please stage an intervention?
roberttdid
534 posts
 
ghasley,
I do enjoy the "honesty" of your posts :-)
rafevw
70 posts
 
Full disclosure: I’m not sure I can identify a SET sound. My ears have not been exposed to enough really good audio equipment. However, I have listened to the German Octave 80 extensively at my local dealer recently, and I like it very much, but way out of my price range. The Octave Also had that big external transformer to aid in handling transients. It played through Blades and Dynaudios.  He just got in a Vinnie Rossi L2i, and I think it is the best sound I have ever heard, playing through the new Dynaudio Confidence 20s. So if you can audition the Vinnie Rossi and your budget can handle it, consider it. Good luck in your Holy Quest! Shrubbery!
russmac8
7 posts
 
Was using SET Dehavilland Aires mono blocks with WE845s (30w per channel) and it was driving Wilson Benesch curves beautifully (87db). 
Incredible sound but felt I needed a little more power for the Curves at times.

A need to simplify my system came up and I ended up with the solid state Lejonklou Boazu integration (40w). Not tubey sounding but the the Dehavillands are not overly either, just extremely revealing. 

The Lejonklou is simple amazing. It just gets out of the way and plays the source perfectly. 

Begrudgingly, the Dehavillands are currently for sale.

I see myself having SETs again someday but probably with some more efficient speakers. With the proper system matching you can't do better than good SETs. IMHO.
More to discover