What's the greatest bargain in SET these days?

Hello Charles1Dad,

First, thank you for all the helpful comments. I believe I will likely go Coincident speakers, or one of the following: Dadaedlus, Devore Orangutan O96/93, Line Magnetic 755 Field Coil or something else like these. I currently own Tekton 4.5, Tekton M-Lore, Tekton Lore plus Infinity Prelude Composition. The Infinity is actually a good speaker from around the year 2000, at a cost of about $3,495. It is 96db efficient, 6 Ohm, with a built-in amp that drives the 12 inch solidly to 25 Hz. This speaker sounds really nice with the Cary 300SEI, even better with the Cary V12 SET, run at 50 watts Triode. The tubes I have run in the V12 include KT66, El34s, as well as NOS Reflector 6n3ces.

I am listening to the Dynamo 34SE hooked up to the Tekton M-Lore, 95db, 8 Ohm, clean 38Hz. Transport is a Sony SACD S9000ES connected to a Eastern Electric MiniMax DAC with Shuguang Black Treasure 12au7 tube, older Custom Power Cords, MIT digital cable, Silnote interconnect and PS Audio Statement speaker cables. Somehow, it all meshes; and my 16x14 office is a great listening room, never a problem, easy set-up.

Brownsfan, I'm looking at Brent Jesse tubes as I write this, listening intently to the little Dynamo, the music just flows, neither too Yin or Yang, just right to my ears. The stage is wall-to-wall (14 feet) and deep as the recording allows. Timbre is right on the mark. This unit gas never been bright, save right out of box. Took about 30 minutes to settle down, then, Magic! Please keep me posted, I'll pm you as I make further notes and receive other tubes, likely order today. Best.

Was, not gas, Heaven forbid...

Thanks Mikirob, Yes, please keep me posted on your tube rolling exploits with the dynamo.

As for me, I just got the Mullard CV378s from Coincident and stuck them in the Franks. Very nice tubes right out of the box. Definitely an improvement over the GE5U4GBs that came with the Franks. I noticed right off that the CV378s "rectified" a bit of a persistent problem with harshness at some frequencies in French Horns. I was beginning to think this was a room problem.

I know exactly what you mean about the timbre being on the mark. I am hyper sensitive to anything being slightly off in that area, which is one of the things that draws me to Coincident gear. The coincident stuff just gets out of the way and lets the music happen.

I'm engrossed in the Bach Cello suites now. My brothers, this is why we work so hard! What profound music, so well played, so well reproduced, right there in my own living room.

I am sorely tempted to ask Israel if he has a stray single to give a whirl in the dynamo after I get moved. Clearly, the amp deserves better than the stock tubes.

As I think you have discovered, the dynamo is just stupid good for the money. But you haven't lived until you have heard the Franks.

Bill,
I nodded my head in agreement and smiled while reading your comments about true timbre reproduction. Tone,timbre,harmonics and overtones are exactly my litmus test for the truly excellent components. Coincident does nail this crucial area.The Frankenstein MK II on my very first listen exceeded all previous amplifiers I'd heard up to that point. It's interesting when you listen in rooms at CES that many highly touted components don't get this right IMO.There's is a real difference between naturalness, realism and pure musicality vs the ultra detailed hifi "accurate" sound.I have no desire for the latter approach.They really are two different worlds.
Charles,