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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
mikirob
955 posts
 
Rebbi,
Really enjoy following the blog, even my wife has joined with great interest. She is now thinking, hey, maybe I can build one also. Michal, my wife has been smitten by AN ever since an audio meeting around 2000 in New Jersey, most of the big names in audio reviewers were there, highlighting the 300B, featuring the Komuro, amongst others.
rebbi OP
1,326 posts
 
Mikirob,
Thanks a bunch for the nice words. The IEC power section is built, as is the hardwired part of the 300 B section. I am just now, at this very moment, sitting here about to embark on populating the PCB for the driver section -- currently scratching my head over reading resistor values (colored stripes... argh!)
Onward! :-)
jetrexpro
506 posts
 
Rebbi, One thing I do before soldering any part be it a resistor or capacitor into the circuit, I measure it with my DMV to make sure it measures what it is supposed. That will give you added peace of mind. Some parts will not measure correctly once they are installed. This will also sus out any parts that are defective before they are installed.
rebbi OP
1,326 posts
 
Jetrexpro,
I haven't taken it to that level but I have been very, very careful to read the instructions several times before making anything permanent.
In some ways, this is - so far, anyway - an easier kit to build than my Bottlehead Seduction phono preamp, which I built 4 or 5 years ago. I seem to remember having to solder teeny little components on to the leads of valve bases in a rather cramped space that was very challenging. So far, the nice, clean layout of the 300 B driver PCB, which is what I'm currently working on, is making this an easier process.
The only thing that's been at all frustrating is that there have been a few design changes to this 2014 edition and I'm working with a combination of the 2010 edition of the manual and a beta of the 2014 manual. Sometimes it's been a little confusing but Brian is very accessible to his customers so I've never gotten stuck for too terribly long.
rebbi OP
1,326 posts
 
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