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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
rebbi OP
1,326 posts
 
Mikirob,
I see lots of Shuguang Black Treasure tubes there but no 300b's.
The whole tube rolling thing still confuses me. How do you know what will sound best without trial and error?
smctigue1
53 posts
 
After an unsuccessful experiment with a Decware Torii MkIII I picked up a pair of Audio Mirror 45 SET monoblocks to pair with my De Capo's. They are based on a parallel pair of 6c33 power tubes. 45 watts per channel.

Dynamic, fast, liquid, transparent, extended/sweet highs, excellent bass, detailed. Frankly, I'm shocked at how good they are for the price.

I'm curious to see how you make out with the AN. I have seen comments regarding the DeCapo and SET's claiming success with 4 watt units but also read about people who claimed they couldn't get above 70db at the listening position without clipping with an 8 watt SET.

Best of luck with it, hope it works out for you.
rebbi OP
1,326 posts
 
smctigue1,
Thanks for the post.
I'm really surprised that your experiment with the Decware Torii was unsuccessful. How so? I actually looked hard and long at Decware and nearly bought the SE34I.4 or "Rachael," but thought that with those small transformers and at 6 watts it would lack the oomph to drive the De Capo's.
Now Brian Smith of Audionote was confident that the Kit 1 would drive the De Capo's with authority, so, we'll see! My room is fairly small and closed in and I sit around 8.5 feet from my speakers, so I think I'll be okay...
rebbi OP
1,326 posts
 
By the way as noted much earlier in this thread, Steve Deckert said that the " "Rachael" would drive the De Capo's well with some limitations on the ability to "crank it," but it would sound so great that I wouldn't care. ;-)
tubegroover
2,320 posts
 
Hi Smctiguel

I too am looking at the Audio Mirror. What I find interesting is the fact that it uses the 6c33 tube, has some serious power and the reasonable price. Unfortunately I couldn't find any details or reviews beyond what is on their website. I was also a bit concerned about the heat output using those tubes. Could you kindly provide a bit more detail? The build quality and heft appear to be quite substantial as well. Thanks for your input.

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