2. amps-preamps
  3. 1408839785

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
1,508 posts
 
Mikirob, very interesting. Perhaps it was that early exposure to tubes and shellack that started us down this road.

Music, like beer, is best served in glass.
topoxforddoc's avatar
topoxforddoc
353 posts
 
Another option might be a TRON Atlantic, if you are considering buying new. 8W 300B with great build quality. Having heard it, it is every bit as good as Graham Tricker's other valve power amps.

A friend of mine in the UK has just bought one to go with his PMC twenty.24 speakers (90dB/W); he's delighted. It sounds wonderful, almost as good as the TRON top end Discovery 300B, but at a third of the price.

http://www.tron-electric.co.uk/products/view/atlantic
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
I don't doubt the quality of this Tron amplifier but 1/3 the cost of the Discovery amp still could be relatively high price. Isn't the Discovery 300b amp pretty expensive compared to the amplifiers discussed on this thread? I've heard the Tron 211 tube SET amplifier at RMAF and CES and it's was very good driving the Cessaro horn speakers. I haven't heard their 300b SETs. The beauty of the Coincident Dynamo (and Frankenstein) is the very high performance/cost ratio. This isn't an easy accomplishment.
Charles,
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
The Tron Atlantic lists for 6750 british pounds, this=10850.00 USD. I imagine this is a fine 300b SET, it uses C core transformers (Israel insists on these in the Frankenstein and CSL). I'd like to hear this amplifier one day.
Charles,
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,458 posts
 
That one should be so good you don't even know its there to a bargain at that price.

No doubt it must be good and built well, but so would the $1200 Coincident amp it seems.

I've heard much more expensive Audio note SET amps on large very high efficiency horns. The sound was outstanding. But I find I can do as well in most rooms for a lot less. i can also understand how some might only be satisfied with teh biggest and best available at any price, but unfortunately my budget is not likely to enable that in my case.
More to discover