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SET Shootout China VS The USA

2A3 SET from china arrives any day now.

The tech who loaned me his UX250 (aka 50 Tube) amp, with a  12AU7 in front + a  6BH7 (??) , has incredible pure Cobalt out trans. ($1k+ each back in 2000, now no longer in production). . he will help me set up the  2A3. 

Has a  AX+AU my 2 fav front tubes anda   quad of 2A3's. 

My speakers are pure neutrality, no coloration, no distortion,. 

So whatever amp/ source you plug in, will register the nuances inherent in the circuit.

Will be very interesting. 

USA has pure cobalt out trans which gives the edge in power, but the china 2A3 has a 2 tubes per channel.

Gonna be interesting and will post a  YT upload with comments,

AFTER TESTING IS COMPLETEED.

Hand on to your horses at the OK Corral. 

Grab a  beer at the saloon, 

sundown shootout at the edge of town. 

 

mozartfan
rocray's avatar
rocray
1,448 posts
 

Well said @ghasley. There are absolutely no absolutes in this hobby.  

Post removed 
larryi
4,355 posts
 

Charles1dad,

Thank you for pointing out the Manley PSET-PP amp that can operate both topologies,.  I do wonder, however, if it can really deliver optimal performance for both types, particularly because of the specific demands for a good SET transformer.  Because the full DC current drawn by the output tube must flow through the primary of the output transformer, the transformer must be designed to handle this current without core saturation.  This requirement is usually met by an air gap in the magnetic circuit, which results in reduced inductance which can be compensated for with more iron and more turns in the primary.  These compensatory measures would not be as desirable for PP operation.  

I do wonder if this type of convertible amp is somewhat like an amphibious car--it can be both a car and a boat, but it does neither very well.

charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 

@larryi 

You make salient points.  The amphibious vehicle is a good analogy.  However as I noted above, that amplifier was a good sounding unit. So I must give Manley Labs credit for this unique  achievement. 

Charles 

mikem
260 posts
 

I had a pair of Cary PP 2A3 monos back in the mid 90’s that were great sounding and fairly energetic..  Too bad the reliability/quality wasn’t a priority with them. 
I found Cary had some real gems in their product lineup..  but I had problems with almost everything I owned by them.. They rushed one design out the door and started on another.. Just the opposite of what a fine company like Pass would do..  

I went through 3 Cary 306 SACD players before I found one that was half way reliable.. even that one skipped and stopped loading properly a year later..  They’re just up the street from me, but I got tired of their lack of quality control and never looked back.. 

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