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
rebbi OP
1,326 posts
 
Swampwalker, thanks!
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,530 posts
 
Joining the DHT SET amp world next week with a unique 845 amplifier designed by Larry Moore of UltraFi. His Monaco 845 design. The 845 tube is not pushed to its max and thus the amp put outs 10 watts, not the typical 20-28 watts per channel. DHT 45 tube drives the DHT 845. The amp is massive weighting in at just over 80 pounds or so.

Five separate power supplies! Yes, I said 5! I'll report back next week on the sound & synergy.
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,530 posts
 
Correction. 6sn7 feeding 46 feeding 845. The power tranny weights 35 pounds by itself! The design brings the very best qualities out of these 845 tubes by running them at their sweet spot tonally.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Grannyring,
That sounds like a very intriguing and interesting amplifier. I have a question for you, is your speaker efficient enough for a 10 W amplifier to display its beauty or does your speaker require more power? Bill, I am very interested to read your impressions on this amplifier speaker combination. My gut feeling is that this amplifier with this type of circuit and power supply attention should sound marvelous if the speaker load is compatible and benign.
Charles,
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,530 posts
 
My current speakers are rated 90-92db and do not drop below 6 ohms. My prior Coincident Total Victory III speakers were 12 ohm and 95db effecient. Ok, all that is on paper, but my newer speakers seem easier to drive than the prior Coincident speakers.

Remember, I do not listen to loud music. Most of the time I am under 80db on average. My speakers sound great at moderate volumes. I also sit less than 8 feet from the front plane of the speakers with the speakers pointed right at my ears...substantial toe-in.

I will let you know how the combo works out. My expectations are high as the amp is said to play much louder than its rated power.

I currently use a PP tube amp in triode mode putting out about 20-25 watts per channel and I have never come close to using all that power. My main amps are 300 watt SS monoblocks. I will trade between them and one tube amp. So this new SET amp will go up against my highly modified pair of PP tube amps for second position. I like to have both my reference SS amps and a good tube amp. I just love the sound of tubes sometimes. This is especially true for female vocal and jazz.
More to discover