Hi,
I can relate to your revelatory experience. I had two Push pull amps that
were switchable between modes.
1) 40 watt UL and 20 watt triode.
2) 100watt UL and 60 watts triode.
In both of these amplifiers I much preferred the triode mode as the sound
was simply better/more natural IMO. It gets even better if you use true
triode tubes ( rather than pentodes strapped as triodes). I'm bias toward
DHT(directly heated triode) tubes which are very linear(and can get by with
little or no NFB added). When used in a SET or push pull configuration (if
good design and implementation) can further what you've described. It
must be emphasized that a proper speaker must
be chosen to extract the full potential sound that SETs are capble of.
I think you're headed in a good direction. The 300b is a very popular DHT (
but there's other good alternatives as well). My amp is SET, Al's VAC
Renaissance 70/70 is an excellent example of 300b push pull amplifier.
Just depends on what you want/need to drive your speakers.
As Gsm18439 alluded to, all SET amplifiers aren't created equal.
Once you find your desired amp-speaker combo I belive you'll be amazed
and very pleased.
Charles,
I can relate to your revelatory experience. I had two Push pull amps that
were switchable between modes.
1) 40 watt UL and 20 watt triode.
2) 100watt UL and 60 watts triode.
In both of these amplifiers I much preferred the triode mode as the sound
was simply better/more natural IMO. It gets even better if you use true
triode tubes ( rather than pentodes strapped as triodes). I'm bias toward
DHT(directly heated triode) tubes which are very linear(and can get by with
little or no NFB added). When used in a SET or push pull configuration (if
good design and implementation) can further what you've described. It
must be emphasized that a proper speaker must
be chosen to extract the full potential sound that SETs are capble of.
I think you're headed in a good direction. The 300b is a very popular DHT (
but there's other good alternatives as well). My amp is SET, Al's VAC
Renaissance 70/70 is an excellent example of 300b push pull amplifier.
Just depends on what you want/need to drive your speakers.
As Gsm18439 alluded to, all SET amplifiers aren't created equal.
Once you find your desired amp-speaker combo I belive you'll be amazed
and very pleased.
Charles,