SET Shootout China VS The USA

it’s their simplicity that makes them so special. 

@mikem, Agree 100%

these “shouty” type sensitive speakers can often be too bright and harsh ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I can easily understand what you are saying about a SET witha FR/horn speaker that might have some **issues** = such as Fostex with their characteristic *shout**.

This Yaquin 2A3, is not forgiving.

That is to say if there is any **weakness* in the FR speaker,, this 2A3 will **accentuate** that **flaw**

This tiny bit of resonances (how much due to the tube typical character of a 2A3, and how much is due to this lower priced Psvane,,can’t say) ``` is  definitely there in the sound...

But I gain in resolution, instrument separation, female vocals with passion. 

The dual DavidLouis pick it up.

So a FR/horn that might have some resonances, spikes in certain fq’s,. whatever,,, might find this 2A3 amp not to their taste. One really needs a neutral speaker to make this amp work. So far I;’m happy with any **weakness* of this combination. Its all acceptable, nothing grating on my nerves, Nothing at all fatiguing.

~~Is it a sound comparable to a

Kronzilla 4 tube mono block, with AER’s top driver,

,,not

It is a budget system, nothing more, but certainly nothing less. How it compares to new EHKT88’s, 6 months we will find out. Afterwards in say 8 months from now, Mesh 2A3 vs EHKT88’s. More to come.....

@ghasley 

😊

Your Merason DAC is a flies under the radar intriguing component.

Charles

@charles1dad the Merason is VERY good. Very good. Worth a listen as I can’t promise it isn’t system dependent but I have listened extensively to the Merason through an Audio Note OTO SE Signature, a Leben, two Shindo systems and it just slays…it has displaced a MSB Discrete, an AQUA La Scala Optologic and I couldn’t recommend it more highly for others to audition.

Now @mozartfan let things settle in. As long as your speakers are suitable, a proper kt88 based push-pull amp should not be smoother than a proper 2a3 amp, push-pull or set. Whao can say though as you have a whole lot going on there. What does your tech say?

What does your tech say?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Just ran by what I said here,, &&a 2A3 has superior mids than the KT series tube..** well tech wants to know **exactly which KT are you refering to...** hummm, tell ya what,,, humm, lets say this 2A3 took me by surprised, Better? well hard to say now , as its been 4 months since I heard the KT88’s, and those had 4k+ hours and ran the KT88’s via a Thor speaker and a single FR speaker and or a 8 FR + a W4 FR, THe W8+ W6 is a whole nother ball game. So all is not even .

You mentioned, **KT88’s as smoother vs a PP 2A3,,** Might have to agree, **Might** as in 1st off have to hear the new EHKT88’s, mid summer 2) have to0 hear a 2A3 mesh. Late summer So **The Jury is still out..** ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What I will say is this Bottom line *IF** The 2A3 mesh plates do perform as 6 Moons says the Sophia 300B mesh perform,, well then we have a solid vote for 2A3 PP vs a KT88 PP. There does not exist a meshed KT88, only solid plates. This may give the advantage to the 2A3, Follow?? As you know these discussiions around tubes can get slippery. Not justa few weeks ago,,**SET, yeah #1..**

Now, cant say that. I actually by mistake or by lucky chance,,hit on this 2A3 PP circuit. Will the mesh elimiante some of the ever so slight harshness/in some mids fq’s??? Late summer we will know..