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Gave up my SET----looking for moderate to higher power replacement options

I recently sold my JAS Array 2.1, which is a SET using 805 and 300B producing 45w.  With NOS RCA 805 and Sophia Princess 300B's, this amp produced the best sound I've ever had.  I used it to drive the satellite section of a pair of DIY/Legacy Focus clones using Eton drivers.  I've ran several different solid state amps on the bass drivers.  The inner detail and palpability of images were fantastic.  Images were life-sized and, frequently, sounded as if the musicians were in the room with me (not much of an exaggeration--honestly!)  And despite the modest power rating, this amp had startling dynamics.  It was an exciting and very engaging listen but.....well, aside from the amp breaking down on a few occasions, the cost of tubes and the extreme heat the amp put out,  the amp did run out of power when I pushed it too hard.  

I've tried several other amps during my time with the JAS, typically as warm weather substitutes, and a few more since I sold it but I really am mostly disappointed.  Presently I have an Audiozone Amp1 running the satellite section and a Jaton AV5140 on the woofers.  I was biamping with the Jaton but wanted a bit more detail and transparency.  The Audiozone is better than the Jaton in this regard but still falls rather short of the standard set by the JAS  and also runs out of power occasionally and sounds just awful when it clips.  I have an Audio Alchemy DPA 1 and had the Wyred4Sound ST-500 when it first came out and neither are what I'm looking for in my main system.  The AA amp is better but still a far cry from the sonics of the SET JAS.  Do any of the Class D amps truly approach SET sonics?    I'm considering the Gamut D200 mk iii as well though these are hard to find.   Are there any Class D amps I should look in to?  I really need to keep it at $3000 or less and probably around $2000.  Please make recommendations based on actual experience, that is only on amps you've actually heard.  Thanks!
lcherepkai
cal3713's avatar
cal3713
1,421 posts
 
@atmasphere No doubt.  If the human ear hears it different, then there somewhere (at some point in time) exists the ability to measure a difference.  The ASR style measurement folks want to claim that human hearing primarily responds to written words and visual bling.  Certainly these things matter, but not like actual differences in sound. 

It takes people like you to educate them in what to measure, but unfortunately many in that crowd seem to care more about mocking subjective perception than truly understanding sound reproduction and measuring the things that predict these subjective differences.  
cal3713's avatar
cal3713
1,421 posts
 
My dream post-academic career would be getting involved in such an effort, but unfortunately I haven't been able to figure out how to get in the door... "Hey bro, I'm a former top scientist in my field with research on the evolutionary function of music and world-leading expertise in measuring subjective perception" hasn't worked yet.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
@luisma31,
I'm an advocate for high quality SET amplifiers and can relate to @icherepkal and his wonderful listening experiences with his former SET amplifier.  However I have always been clear that proper speaker matching is mandatory to ensure a satisfying outcome. I was able to meet that requirement and as a result experience sonic joy for over 11 years with my 300b SET.

The Atma-Sphere MA-1 is an amplifier that I'm quite familiar with and can thoroughly understand your happiness with it. No question given its 140 watts there's far more flexibility in matching speakers and is simply more universal in application.  I see no reason why you won't enjoy the MA-1 for many years. 
Charles 
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Cal,
Excellent perspective.  The primary issue with those who consider themselves "Objective " is their stubbornness and dismissive attitude toward those who simple trust what they hear. Condescendingly retorts  "It's all in your head" . I firmly believe that humans hear things that at this point in time science is unable to measure.

The belief that if you cannot verify with some "objective" measure then it doesn't exist is very narrow minded. Ironic as science is all about being open minded and exploring uncharted territory. It's about solving the mysterious and incompletely understood phenomena. 
Charles 
luisma31
516 posts
 
I’m an advocate for high quality SET amplifiers
@charles1dad I know you are, I followed all your posts and I know you had / have Coincident? and you tried the Elrog’s in the beginning and every single 300B on earth, I followed your posts because unlike most here in these forums your comments "made sense" and weren’t radical. As a matter of fact your posts partially pushed me to try SET’s just not the "high quality" ones.
And yes I wasn’t trying to detriment SET amps, I just haven’t been able to test / try a proper setup of speakers with these.Thank you for the kind words Charles.



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