Speaking in broad generalizations, SET (or single-ended amps in general) tend to be more lifelike, transparent and have fantastic mid-range. Push pull amps, on the other hand, tend to be more dynamic, have better high/low extension and way more versatile due to their higher wattage. A person's taste in music will also be a big factor. I tend to be a mid-range guy, so I prefer single ended amps, but I can get down with a good push pull.
Would You Rather Own A Good SET Amp, Or A Great Push Pull Amp?
Throwing this out there because I would appreciate the viewpoints of the many knowledgeable, and experienced audio people here. I'm really torn about a decision I am considering in this regard. And no, sorry, I cannot name the amps involved. I could lose one or both options if I publicized them here. And honestly, only the tiniest fraction of forum members would ever have listened to even one of these options.
The speakers they would be used with can equally accommodate either of these choices per the designer/manufacturer, who I ran it by.
Your thoughts would be appreciated.
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@sns - thank you so much for your thorough replies : ) - kevin |
If you prefer the SET sound, but want to use less sensitive speakers, such as Magnepan, SET amps are so simple to design and build that you do not have to spend tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars to add an 833A triode gain stage. I couple the globe 45 output through a Lundahl 2765 transformer to the grid of the 833A. I use a Hammond 1642 output transformer which is more robust than far more expensive transformers that are built the same way. I put 1000 Volts on the plate of the 833A' and bias the grid at zero Volts. I also use polypropylene capacitors in the power supplies and run the pi-filter chokes on the ground negative side for safety. This gives me a sound that closely matches what I hear in live performances in the opera house, which has good acoustics. |
EL34 certainly has the natural mids, highs can sound a bit rolled but I found various methods to solve this. Bass was the one area I found EL34 a bit wanting, sometimes a bit soft and warm, never could get impact AND tuneful, articulate bass. Sure I could have attained better with more work and finding sympathetic partnering equipment, attempts at this ended with discovery of 845 SET. And then we come to present Frankenstein Khorns, 845 is excess, its like a brute compared to the subtlety and refinement of 300B. The EL84 PP is right up there in refinement, subtlety, natural presentation, also has extended highs, more articulate, forceful bass than EL34. Bass very similar to 300B in my setup, virtually exact same settings on volume/gain, no change in sub settings. And this with REL subs, so high level settings connect to amp binding post and chassis ground, supposedly REL's take on personality of amps to some extent. 300B sometimes gets bad rap on bass, I hear no issues and I'm a stickler for articulate, tuneful bass.
Bottom line, I can very much relate to lowtubes in regard to comparison between SET and PP, in my case this being 300B and EL84. Difference with micro dynamics is present issue, but this early days. |
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