What's the greatest bargain in SET these days?


Hi, Gang,
I response to my recent review of the Reference 3A De Capo BE speaker, someone wrote that if you really want to hear them sing, you should try them with a SET amp, or words to that effect.
That got me thinking. The De Capo's are 92 db efficient, which (correct me if I'm wrong) seems kind of borderline for low-power SET amps.
In any event, right now I'm running mine with a pair of Manley Mahi mono-blocks. They are switchable from triode (20 watts) to "ultra linear" (40 watts). I run them in triode all the time, and in my room, the volume knob almost never goes past 9 o'clock; more would just be too loud.
All that said, what do you guys think of running the De Capo's with a SET amp? And if I did, what's the best bargain in SET's these days?
Thanks!
rebbi
Brownsfan,
Thanks for the kind words. I totally agree that the proof is in the listening And yes, you are correct: after all this investigation as well as the effort to build this amp, I may find that the Audio Note Kit 1 sounds like a total pile of poop in my humble listening room. I mean, I certainly hope not, but listening with my gear and my music in my room will be the only meaningful way to evaluate this whole process.
As for my patience, well, a lot of that had to do with a tight budget; not a lot of room for costly mistakes!
Okay:

My Audio Note Kit 1 build blog is live; not much content, yet, obviously, but it's right here.
Hi Rebbi,
I hadn't commented in this thread, but I also use 300B amplifiers. (And 45)
I really enjoyed "The Lessons from Baby Elephants" at the bottom of your blog.
Best of luck with your build.
Isochronism,
Thanks. "Lessons from the Baby Elephants" is probably, unfortunately, an ad that Wordpress slaps on the sites of people who don't upgrade to the premium membership. Oh, well...