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SET the best?

Is SET amplification where we should all end up? I keep reading posts where people tell of their journeys from plenty power to micro power, and how amazing SET amplification is 45 set 211 set 845 set otl, and usually, ....with the right speaker. I have yet to read of anyone who has gone the other direction from SET, to High watt beast class A amps or others.
If your speakers can be driven by minimal wattage, is this the most realistic, natural sound we can achieve? versus say, 86db sensitive speakers and a 1000w amp?
Is the end result solely based on speaker pairing? circuit? tubes?

I am in the process of changing my direction in my search for realistic sound, just because, and wondering if this really is the best direction to be going.
From what I have been reading I think it may be.

What do we get with SET? What do we give up?

What's you favorite color?
hanaleimike
mglik
902 posts
 
Suggest you look at my thread: “Is there a SS amp that can satisfy a SET guy?”:
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/is-there-a-solid-state-amp-that-can-satisfy-a-set-guy?highlig...
Mostly, the answer is no. With 1 or 2 exceptions.
Bakoon and AGD
I now live with my destination amps-AGD Audion mono blocks.
By far, the best amps I have experienced in 50 years.
They have the magic of great SETs with the detail and impact of great SS. Yes, SETs can be magical, beautiful and musical. But the metaphor from the above thread that I held on to is: “SETs are like a sonic screwdriver loosening the sound.”. The detail and scope of the AGD SQ speaks to the “magic” of a great Class D GaN amp.
Shockingly real. After years of SETs, I do not miss them at all.

grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,464 posts
 
Well one would have to have heard each and every class A, AB, D, GAN, Tube push/pull, OTL, Chip and Hybrid amp produced to say only one or two amps. Right?! Hear them all in the same exact system. Right?! 
We must be careful making sweeping statements that are always based on such little experience relative to all that is out there.
pesky_wabbit's avatar
pesky_wabbit
1,183 posts
 
@atmasphere thanks, I’m lucky enough to have an old dog eared copy of RDH3. You are right, they knew an awful lot back then.

It’s surprising how often I have read that modern designers have discovered that upon further analysis, some ‘antiquated’ circuits have turned out to be far more sophisticated than appeared at first glance. Audio Note made significant improvements to their linestage shunt regulator through this process. Schade feedback was forgotten for decades.
clearthinker's avatar
clearthinker
1,582 posts
 
NO
luisma31
516 posts
 
The destination should be contentment, not perfection.

Well said Markus
kind of energy that makes you want to throw a chair through the window or at least be able to get you excited

@bjesien remind me not ever to be on a listening session with you please

Well one would have to have heard each and every class A, AB, D, GAN, Tube push/pull, OTL, Chip and Hybrid amp produced to say only one or two amps. Right?! Hear them all in the same exact system. Right?!
We must be careful making sweeping statements that are always based on such little experience relative to all that is out there
.
@grannyring that's some good common sense, something scarce here on audiogon

I was about to post the other day but have been busy, I have listened a few SET, SS, PSET, OTL amps. And although some of these amps excel with almost every system there is always an Achilles heel you might say to the best in class amp.



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