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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
ron1264
137 posts
 

@alexberger

AGD are not digital amps as well as the other 90% class D amps. They are analog with the small exception of Technics, Lyndgdorf and maybe a few others

ron1264
137 posts
 

@alexberger 

There is a big difference between an ASIC, and a FET. You should know this being you design ASIC's. You should also know most class D amps are not digital so what's your point of all your mis-information??

mozartfan
2,143 posts
 

well I have not heave your amp, nor any other Class D. 

Only several PP amps. 

EL34, KT88,Kt120, all were excellent in dynamics and musicality.

But have you read anything suxch as **wow this xyz PP amp is magical..**Maybe Jadis' new KT170 has some magic,, but that tube along with the KT150, to me looks just like a  bigger KT88 style tube..and so??? More power? More  bass/highs..?? OK, Big deal.

But how often have we read, **WOW sets are magical, pure lineraity..*

My tech who built his UX250 amp, had 1 cap not soldered, well solder broke off after so many years,,, we reapired it,, brought it  back,, NOW I was hearing SET magic for the 1st time. Once you heard SET sound,, there is no possible way the  audiophile will turn his back ona  SET. Maybe as a 2nd system, which I am sure many of us here have bother PP and SETs.

But once struck with SET magic,  one could never forget the magic (in certain recordings/music styles). 

SRTs the best??

Lets  rephrase.

Which amp design offers the magic  **something SET -like**?

EL34 SET's yes, But not a  El34PP. 

 

alexberger
921 posts
 

Hi @ron1264 ,

I'm not an expertise in Class D amplifiers.

But all of them digital and PWM are very different from SET.

For example, most of SET fans use high sensitive speakers like: horns or full range drivers. And they like these speakers not just because they don't need huge power amplifier - but because dynamics, texture, transparency advantage over mainstream low sensitive speakers.

I can't imagine any benefits from class D for high sensitivity speaker. 

About analogue chips for audio. Any small production parts "for audio" will cost crazy expensive. Look, for example , at prices for AN Kaisei electrolytic capacitors precising vs regular electrolytic capacitors.

mozartfan
2,143 posts
 

amplifier - but because dynamics, texture, transparency advantage over mainstream low sensitive speakers. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Yep Box xover types had their day in the sunshine, Clouds are forming, Ck out the xover box used speaker listings,, likea grave yard,, where in 2 yrs you will see lots on unsold Zu and Tektons just sitting, day after day, week ,,month.... sad, thats suffering. My FMS aint going no where, A 2A3 dual tube amp is on the way. My Dual FMS is going to get a nice match. $550+$350 35 lb speaker.

~~~Wife Friendly~~ as a  huge bonus. 

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