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What is the characteristic of diff. Triode Tubes?

I am a bit confused about the sound characteristic (and maybe design concept as well) of these tubes for Triode design: KT-88, 2A3, 300B.

SET amp with 300B seems to be the most expensive one then 2A3 and KT-88. Is the price different just due to the cost of tube itself? Also does it mean that the 300B sounds better than 2A3 and KT-88 (which is not as stated by decware)

So if I would like to get into the SET amp, which tube should I be looking for?

For example, decware (zen amp) use SVETLANA SV83 or EL84/6BQ5 tube while ASE have option of KT88 and 2A3, and 300B tubes (which is more expensive respectively) while Cary uses 300B tube.

I am interested in ASL product (MGSi15 DT INTEGRATED(KT88) and ORCHID integrated (2A3))

If I decide to get the 15DT, does it mean that it sound will be inferior than the ORCHID model?

I know there are lots of variation and factors that effect the overal sound quality, but assuming other parameter were the same, what is the order of tube in term of sound quality?

Thanks,

Ake

PS Any 15DT user around here? Could you share some thoughts if you like it or not?
ake
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ake OP
48 posts
 
Let's see if I get it correct:

So only real triode tubes are 2A3 and 300B, correct? And the rest are just a power tubes that can be operated in a triode mode or other mode?

Then for triode tube, it can be design to operate as single ended or push-pull.

Then the only truely SET amp are those using only 2A3 and 300B tubes? The rest is a psudo SET that is operated in triode mode (single ended) for other power tubes? The mauafacturers use the word "SET" just for their advertising purpose.

Please correct me if I am wrong,

Thanks a lot for all great explanation.

Ake
dekay's avatar
dekay
5,721 posts
 
Ake: There are triode "power" tubes other than the 2A3 amd 300B such as 45's and 50's (quite a few more as well).

Yes, triodes can be configured as either (SE or push/pull).

For more info on tubes and their applications read the article @ this web address:

http://www.svetlana.com/docs/tubeworks.html

The manufacturer's that I am aware of only use the term "SET" for their true "single ended triode" designs and you may be thinking of "SE" (single ended) in this context for amps with one power tube per channel using EL34's, KT88's, et cetera.

As mentioned above 2A3 & 300B are not the only triode power tubes in use. There are various designs which are not true SET and/or push/pull, but the importance of any design is its reliability and how it sounds. IMO, there is nothing that sounds quite like a "good" SET design, but there are also many good SET designs that sound quite different from one another which would imply that much of a specific tube type's "characteristics" are dependent on the design of the circuit that they are used in (system matching aside). The only way to really experience/understand this is to audition and/or own them.
ake OP
48 posts
 
So you would you call an amp that uses Single Ended design in triode mode but using power tube (i.e. KT-88) rather than a true triode tube, for example ASL MGSi15 or decware zen amp
a "SET" amp or not?

I think maybe I am still a bit confused about terminologies the manufacturers use.

ake
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