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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
mozartfan
2,143 posts
 

While researching dif 845 models,,I came across this Stereophile review from June 2021 on the LM 845

 

Seems I’m not the only one that gets **high** listening to a SET,, I was like , **wow, this music is like trippin on LSD..** ,,**Better I not post this comment on Audiogon, as the folks might think I’m crazy....**😜

Then I came across the Stereophile comment

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buoyancy and a high-contrast vividness that some listeners refer to as psychedelic.

 

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The comment can be read in its context page 1 near the bottom

 

mozartfan
2,143 posts
 

Posted wayyyy back in 2009...48,800 views, 187 comments.

 folks just dont GET IT

Very few really understand what high fidelity really truly is

😫😉🙄

SET will always and forever be for a  select,,, aka The Chosen Few...

Reference bible quote. 

And yes we are special

 

david_ten
5,480 posts
 

@mozartfan  Since you are researching...take a look at New Audio Frontiers (mainly parallel options) and Audion UK (single ended and parallel options).

mozartfan
2,143 posts
 

@ david_ten

 

Oh indeed, wow factor off the charts.

Here is a  review of the NAF 845

Note what the reviewer says.

 

I guess most of us appreciate transparent amps. But it comes at a price - you will hear which part of the chain that’s not up to the standards. Meaning new speakers, cables or source components. On the other hand when all things are well-matched music just flows and nothing can stop it. 

 

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Which is my above comment about matching a  SET witha  equal performance speaker.

SET s are magical, Speaker needs be same  level of magic.

PP amps, ahhh just about any old speaker will be acceptable.

SETs is a  whole nother amplifie.

 which  demand super high fidelity speakers, 

= Not even 1 tiny flaw/distortion , nada, same level of purity equal to the SETs purity.

Which goes back to my mantra

**Speakers are everything*

 I can find dozens of excellent  SHF SET amps

But can I find dozens of SHF speakers  which are worthy to be  paired with a  SET?

 

https://www.audioasylum.com/cgi/vt.mpl?f=set&m=64265

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

mozartfan
2,143 posts
 

This OP is all about one Q

SHF (wont be long before my new tag phrase catches on,,watch Stereophile begin to employ SHF in their reviews..)

SET + ?which speaker?

SET amplification is SHF vs PP amplification = HF.

SETs are **set** apart from the pack of PP amps

Its a whole nother amplification. Another level, another league of soundstage.

caveat,

light jazz/blues , classical chamber /solo piano/violin. Lets keep this in the discussion please.

 

 

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