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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
 
Charles1dad,
Yes, I'd love to see a head to head comparison of the Dynamo and either the Decware Zen Torii (25 watt PP) or the "Rachael" (6 watt SE). I considered both of those amps until I decided to shoot for 300b and went for the Audio Note Kit 1.
As for the quality of the "iron" of the output transformers, the ad copy for the "Rachael" says:

"OUTPUT TRANSFORMER COUPLING
The Zen is a very stable amplifier capable of driving all high efficiency loudspeakers because of it's transformer-coupled output stage. This creates a hand-shake between the amplifier and the loudspeaker and protects the speaker from DC voltages should a tube ever fail. Of course most tube amplifiers use output transformers, which tend to be the most expensive single components in the amp. This is where most amplifiers fall short by trying to impress you with big heavy transformers of average or low quality. The more power the amp has, the more likely it is to use moderate quality transformers - at best."

Interesting, eh?
rebbi OP
1,326 posts
 
Brownsfan,
Thanks for the kind words. I totally agree that the proof is in the listening And yes, you are correct: after all this investigation as well as the effort to build this amp, I may find that the Audio Note Kit 1 sounds like a total pile of poop in my humble listening room. I mean, I certainly hope not, but listening with my gear and my music in my room will be the only meaningful way to evaluate this whole process.
As for my patience, well, a lot of that had to do with a tight budget; not a lot of room for costly mistakes!
rebbi OP
1,326 posts
 
Okay:

My Audio Note Kit 1 build blog is live; not much content, yet, obviously, but it's right here.
isochronism
2,893 posts
 
Hi Rebbi,
I hadn't commented in this thread, but I also use 300B amplifiers. (And 45)
I really enjoyed "The Lessons from Baby Elephants" at the bottom of your blog.
Best of luck with your build.
rebbi OP
1,326 posts
 
Isochronism,
Thanks. "Lessons from the Baby Elephants" is probably, unfortunately, an ad that Wordpress slaps on the sites of people who don't upgrade to the premium membership. Oh, well...
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