The ’experiment’ with Scott Sheaffer’s Found-Music 2A3 amp driving the Tekton SEs has blown all of my pre-expectations to smithereens!
I want to THANK Charles @charles1dad for being steadfast in his encouragement and support as I considered SET tube amplification options a few months ago. There are others who have also been helping me through my recent audio journeys, and I will thank them personally and more directly, once I pull together a mini-review of sorts.
There has been discussion of low watt SET amps (perhaps) ’not’ being the ’best’ choice --- on TJ’s, now very active and insightful, Perfect SET speaker thread. I beg to differ, respectfully.
I am getting (read, fantastic) full range, high volume, superb sound quality results with a 3.5~4 Watt amp that was custom built for an 8 Ohm speaker, with an optimal impedance pairing range of 6 to 9 Ohms...
AND THIS ON the Tekton SEs which are a 4 way 4 Ohm speaker with 7 array tweeters, 2 mid-range drivers and 2 bass woofers, per speaker.
I’d also like to remind everyone that I am also driving the SEs with the T+A PA 3100 HV integrated amp which is designed as a near zero negative feedback high voltage amplifier.
The T+A PA 3100 HV outputs 500 Watts into 4 Ohms RMS (per channel) AND has a peak output of 700 Watts into 4 Ohms (as provided by T+A’s specs).
Two very, very different amplification chains. Both with supremely satisfying results.
[Note: I am using the fully balanced Grandinote Genesi Preamplifier ahead of the Found-Music 2A3, with custom Cardas XLR adaptors, to allow for SE IC connection]