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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
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,249 posts
 
Mikirob
The Mullard 378 rectifier is a superb match in the Frankenstein. This is Noteworthy because the sound is excellent with the stock 5U4G tube. The 378 provides across the board improvement without trade offs .
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,249 posts
 
Mikirob,
Your reply to Rebbi is on the mark IMO. It comes to what you want at what cost point. My choice is the same as yours , spend more money to get a 300b amp with quality built and parts. Once this is done match it to the proper speakers and you will have long term joy with no regrets I believe.
mikirob
955 posts
 
Charles1Dad,
Agreed. For giggles down the road, as a wild experiment, since I really will purchase the Franks, perhaps I'll get the Mullard 378 and plop it in the Dynamo to hear what it does in the Dynamo prior to installing it in the Franks...it would be interesting, what an expensive rectifier does, or does not do in the Dynamo? Right now, as currently constituted, I bought this amp for $800, bought NOS RFT Siemens for $200, Shuguang Black Treasure 6CA7-Z for $150. I already had on hand the Sylvania 6SL7 WGT and RCA Red Base, as well as Gold Lion KT 77 and a NOS Phillips rectifier. So, $1,150 for audio nirvana. Now, that is a bargain SET set-up.
mikirob
955 posts
 
Oh, forgot the NOS Mullard 60s rectifier, $90.
rebbi OP
1,326 posts
 
Well, for a variety of reasons the Antique Sound Labs AQ 1005 DT is off the table, as I have reason to believe it may be only a so-so amp, plus it's not clear to me who'd service the thing if it needed warranty service.
I think that if I go with a prebuilt, commercial product, it'll be the Dynamo. (I haven't totally turned away from the Decware but I'm moving in that direction.)
Otherwise, I'll either build the Audio Note 300b kit or the Bottlehead Paramount kit with a Bee Pre preamp, which is also 300b based.
That's all for now...
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