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Is there a Solid State amp that can satisfy a SET guy?

Have been a SET guy for so long I have forgotten what a good SS amp even sounds like.
Just bought a pair of $33k speakers that will replace my current $16k speakers. Both are from the same designer and both are 92db and a flat 8 ohms. The new ones arrive in 4 days!
My 300B based amps well drive my current speakers even though I do use the system nightly as a 2 channel home theater. Especially considering the HT usage, I think I may enjoy a SS amp with many times the horsepower. The speaker designer suggests using a Leema Hydra II. I have written to Leema telling them of my 300B preference and they assure me that their amp does not have the destructive harmonics that make a SS amp bright. There must be other SS amps that can satisfy?
mglik
roberttdid
534 posts
 
I thought the LSA statement, a tube-pre/SS output was the best amp you have ever heard and it fits your budget? Bit strange to spend $33K on speakers, but place a fairly hard and low limit on the matching amp.

mglik78 posts11-06-2008 9:33pmBest amp I have heard is the LSA Statement. The tube preamp section can be bypassed. If you are familiar with Winston Ma at FIM, he uses two in mono with his Avalons Sentinels. I am a dealer-we offer full money back and will pay the return shipping. Before Winston used the LSAs he had the Rowland 301s then the Krell Evolutions. Send him an email...

Michael
www.luckymanmediagroup.com
831-423-5523

thinman2
37 posts
 
Suggest you audition Pass Labs Monoblocks.  I have older Class A monoblocks even though I have been a tube guy since the mid 1970's.
verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio
1,502 posts
 
How much power do you want?  A parallel 300B will get you a bit more power...20w.  A parrallel 520B using EMLs will get you to 28w but these are not cheap.  New, mine are $23K in Stereo but we usually have a used Argento or two floating around that can be had in low teens.  Just a little above your budget.  I would just need to have the power supply swapped for US.  

Right now I have this listed for a customer which is an interesting amp:

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9j5a1-art-audio-adagio-stereo-set-amp-27w-tube

There were only a couple made and it probably the most power you are going to get from a 300B family tube. In the end, I get that you want to get to about 50w of power which I can't do in anything other than a Push Pull design.  

BTW...I understand what you mean about 845 monos.  I run 45w 845s that are push pull and it is definitely more linear than a 300B.  The 845s are going to be about where your warmest SS amps are going to fall.  If you don't like 845 monos I am not sure you will ever be satisfied with a SS amp.  

jorgjean
76 posts
 
I would like to draw your attention to the german AVM Audio brand.
I run an Ovation A6.2 into Dynaudio Sapphires. The craftsmanship of these amps is outstanding. Their class A/AB is amps are very revealing yet very musical. The top of the range amps, AVM Ovation line, combine SState and Tube ouput. These are state of the art/benchmark products that last a lifetime. Very special.

Hope you have the opportunity to auditio.
techno__dude
511 posts
 
You can try Pass Labs. Some rolled off highs and bloated bass, just like a SET amp...
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