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Why not more on 845 SETs?

As a brand-new owner of a Bel Canto SETi40 int amp,(bought used) I was intrigued to see very little in the fora on the subject of 845 SET amps an A'gon. It seems that this provides the best of both worlds -adequate power to drive most moderately sensitive speakers- 40 Class A SET WPC with SET sound. What is the downside to this approach and why don't more of the SET groupies have higher powered amps, giving them much more latitude in speaker selection? I drive 4 ohm 87 db sensitivity Totem 1 Signatures quite adequately with this amp. Is it beacuse of transformer issues, difficulty in finding adequate designs, size or the feeling that this is not a true "SET sound"?
I would like to hear SET-owners' reasons, if possible.
springbok10
twl
3,251 posts
 
Octuple, I went a step further and had custom made gear to run on 12vdc power, with separate batteries for each piece.
It's amazing to hear what flat DC battery power can do.

Simplify and enjoy.
zt000
30 posts
 
Amen to DC power. One amp I'm having very hard time getting rid of is N.E.W. DCA66 which is battery powered class A SS amp. Disabled half of the power per Cary's recommendation and it is SWEET. It is a Nelson Pass designed and Cary built amp. I'm a die hard SET guy and this is the only SS amp I enjoy time to time. Amen to "simplify and enjoy" too. I don't use preamp nor x-over speakers. I use digital volume control by Meridian in front of the DAC to SET to x-over less speakers all connected with siler cables. As pure as I am able to get.
gunbei
2,327 posts
 
I took ownership of a Bel Canto SET40 a little less than a week ago, and got in a lot of good listening time this weekend.

With the exception of this new amp, I am running the exact system listed in my virtual system, which consists of a solid state BAT VK200 powering ProAc Response 2.5s.

My impressions agree strongly with Dopogue's experience. The ProAcs sound fantastic driven by the SET40. The thing I am most surprised with is that the 37wpc SET40 nearly matches the dynamics, drive and bass weight of the VK200. All this with the sonic positives the SET brings with it.

A very pleasantly elated.
zt000
30 posts
 
Gunbei, welcome to the King of SET Club. SET40 is a very special amp. First, while other 845 SET produces 25wpc, it produces 37wpc. Second, while other tube amps have dynamic peak power of 150% of rated power (at the most), its got 70+wpc of dynamic peak power (200% of rated power). By commonly accepted rule, it is equal to 200+ ss watts. I don't know what tubes came with it but if they are stock tubes from Bel Canto, you haven't heard the SET40 yet. More elation to come.
711smilin
513 posts
 
I just bought the Cary CAD 211 Anniversary amps. I am hoping they will be great, I have not received them yet, but they have a helluva tube compliment. 4 x 845, 4 x 300b, 2 x el34, 2 x 6sl7, and 2 x cats eye. 70 watts class A, 110 AB. Anybody ever hear these, or compare with any others? I have been told they are suppose to be world class. I bought these over the Dehavillands, and VAC phi's, and Tube Research GT-200's. Did I do it right?
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