Calling all SET fans

Al, if I'm reading you right it would seem one should go right to a 3-4 K 300B amp or just forget about it ?

best,
Len

Len, no, I was not implying that. My mention of the fact that the Almarro amp and the Dynamo are not SET (Single Ended Triode) amplifiers was to make the point that for them to perform at their sonic best, whatever that best may be, it **might** be LESS necessary to run them at a small fraction of their rated power than in the case of a true SET.

Best regards,
-- Al

Al, then what makes a SET amp sound better that my neat 8 watt Eastern Electric 6BM8 integrated ?

The 6BM8 combines a triode section and a pentode section in a single tube. The triode section is much more limited in power capability than the pentode section, so the triode section is normally used to drive the pentode section, which in turn provides the amp's output power. But the pentode section is itself very limited in power capability, such that to achieve 8 watts I believe the EE integrated must be using two of them in push-pull.

So as might be expected there are many variables that distinguish the EE integrated from a 300B or other comparably powered SET. One being single-ended operation of the power tube vs. what is probably push-pull operation in the EE. Single-ended operation avoids "crossover distortion," which affects the zero-crossing of the signal and therefore becomes increasingly significant at low power levels. Another being use of a triode power stage in a 300B amp vs. a pentode power stage in the EE, with good triodes generally being considered to be more linear (at least when not pushed in terms of power delivery). Another being that the 300B, as well as the lower powered 2A3 and 45 tubes, being especially well regarded for their sonics in comparison to most other triodes. Another being that since the 300B, 2A3, and 45 tubes are relatively expensive, they tend to be used in amp designs that are less constrained by cost considerations than amps that would be designed around less expensive tubes.

So as might be expected many factors are involved, undoubtedly including others that I haven't thought of.

Best regards,
-- Al

Al, you know the EE uses 4 6BM8, 2 a side ?
Thanks for the lesson , I really appreciate it .