SETs vs. Push/Pull

CAT JL2 is the only amp that will give you back the virtues of PP amps and still retain all of your SET virtue - and then improve on both!

Tomryan,

Bless your heart , all these people with their ideas. Sets are the way period! Don't let anybody fool you. You may try another route, but in the end you will go back to SETs. Nothing images or sounds realistic as SET. Just SETs are very picky in what they like in front of them and behind them. Find another speaker to demo first. You have one of the best 300B amps available. The Proacs are great too but, they tend to be a little boring. Try some Deware HDTs and depending on the music you listen to you may have to use a sub. But, the speakers are so tight for a single driver that a sub. is very easy to use with them.

Philefreak,

I am using an REL but running main speakers full range as the sub is designed for this. I may try conventional set-up and relieve the ProAcs of some burden. But what is a Deware HDT? I know what a Direct Heated Triode is and I know what Decware is (tried the Sig. mono amps about 3-4 years ago) but have no idea what Deware HDT may be.

I listened to some Classic Audio speakers ($10,000.00 pr) and only heard powerful Chinese percussion and they sounded, well, powerful. They are way too big a speaker to audition at home. Have you had any experience with Cain & Cain Abbeys? I heard them in an all Almarro tube set up and the music was quite soft and uninvolving.

Im getting the consensus that Air Tight makes a hell of a piece of hi-fi gear. I'm going to keep my 300B and maybe talk my wife into letting me get another amp. (That's one component she just can't understand the need for more than one. I have two DACs, two transports, and did have two and even three pairs of speakers at one time but this will have to get approval. However, she is one damn wonderful woman because she bought the Air Tight for my 50th birthday.)

Look at the Decware site for the HDT towers. These are so much better than C & C Abbeys or the Bens for that matter.A back loaded horn will never get the bass right. I don't care who it is and how much it cost. These speakers (HDTs) sell for $1800.00 direct and have 30 day return policy. You can't go wrong. The only speaker that I've found that beats them and are all in one package ( no sub.) is the Horning Hybrids. I have a pair of Horning Agathon Ultimates on order. The Hornings retail for $15,000.00 so they should be great. I've been in audio long enough to know that high price doesn't mean squat. But, the Hornings are really special. On the other hand the the Decware HDTs are my second best speaker and they retail for $1800.00. They will need a sub. Really is something when a $1800.00 speaker knocks on the door of a $15000.00 speaker. The Hornings are more relaxed and not as strained at high volumes and they don't require a sub. Hornings are a combo of the best single driver (HDT) speaker having plenty of presence and a more neutral multi-driver speaker(ie, Green Mountain C-3) all in one package. Up until now (because of the Horning lineup) audiophiles had to pick there poison(meaning music they listen to, and preferences, taste, etc.)for a speaker that suits them. I've always kept a single driver speaker around for that vocal and string reproduction that just couldn't be touched. On the other hand if I put on classic rock or full scale classical on the single drivers systems lacked the strength to hold it together. Although the HDTs w/ sub do very well(the best I've heard) at doing it all, they still don't quite acomplish what a do everything speaker should do. Thus the need for the Hornings. A push pull will never image or give the room and reproduce the event like a SET. And don't be fooled by higher power SETs either,they're OK but they aint a 2A3 or 300B! If you need more power than what a 300B can give, then something is wrong!

Raining on the parade;

Classe CA200, undefeated versus any tubes on proacs especially 2.5's which are the worst speakers to use tubes on. I know so many here will disagree. Little drivers require big amps not little amps.

The Classe advice I am giving you is 13-0, and I have to think for what your willing to spend on an amplifier; sidetracking to get a CA200, 300 in your system would not be a problem. Please note...a 201 is ok but its not the 200.

Not my opinion remember these 13 guys were tube guys with that "wasting my time dumbass salesman" smirk going out the door and that "can't believe what I was missing out on" smile coming back in. (they never did apologize for doubting me) 13 Home trials...13 "killed my tube amp" Whupped up a couple of Air tights too. They are pretty even in defeat.

Final tally... 7 CA200 or CA300 new amp sales with tube trade in.

The other 4 guys made the mistake of listening to Dynaudios and well they no longer had Proacs to worry about. 1 guy bought the CA200 used on Audiogon, a more recent challenge taker. So I know it still works. Couple of Cary amps got shelved, my favorite brand to send to the trash.

I'm not pulling your chain, this combo works and note how specific i'm being, not just any Classe will work, just the 200,300,400...01' are a drop off, but still decent.

If its convenient give it a try.