2. amps-preamps
  3. 157848-11588

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
mozartfan
2,143 posts
 
Oh yeah you will find all kinds of opinions such as , *SS brand X sounds really close toa  tube amp,,** and such ideas,. There has never been, nor ever will be a  a ss amp having tube qualities, 
That goes for hybrids as well, a  hybrid is a ss amp, trying to mimic a  tube sound. 
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,342 posts
 
Class D amps Can  have some attributes of tube amps but not SET.  
keithr
1,306 posts
 
The Spec Audio class D amp was designed by a 300b tube amp designer and sounds great. 
Bakoon, FirstWatt, and Valvet are the traditional SS alternatives but will come up short on 92db speakers.

Luxman SS doesn’t sound SET from my experience. 
audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,197 posts
 
What tube amps are SET amps ? If it more then 8 wpc it is not a true SET 300 b have great mids but are for sure rolled off on top and cannot compete in the bottom octaves with SS amps 
there are trade off on SS vs valve thst is why personally myself and many use a very good SS amp and a vacuum tube preamp.
i use newer  Krell And they are high bias in pure class A which gives a lot f tube characteristics to the sound  a good hybrid like Esthetics ,it not spelled correct but  close.make a very nice hybrid amp.
roxy54's avatar
roxy54
8,037 posts
 
Wow...slow down! You're typing way too fast.
More to discover