SET Shootout China VS The USA

@ Atmasphere

 

Yes my tech Richard, just wrote  to say 5% as vol gain goes up more distortion,, that 5% goes down as vol gain goes down.

I listen at ridiculously low SPL levels, so for me this 5% is no big deal.

well yes at full blast evena KT88 will show distortion.

My tech and Charles among others wish  that I retarct some of my strong opinions, as if to say 

**the 2A3 PP  is just 1 of many options, 1 circuit is not superior to any other..**

BALONEY. Just a simple one  size fits all platitude.

The 2A3 PP is superior to any and all KT circuits.

I would bet outshoots Jadis' new super KT170  Crown Jewel.

 

Yes I understand as a  FR sens goes up, better response froma  low powered SET or low powered PP *SET type tube* 300B/2A3.

But as you know the higher in sens you go up ina  FR, lower the bass response, = too forward a  midrange.

 

95db sens ina FR is my very limit.

I would not buy a  96db sesn driver, as there is no way I can intergrate a  W6 FR.

Just 1 db makes all the difference. I got very lucky on the davidLouis

VX8 95db

VX6 93db sens

made it by 1 db on both

If the VX6 was 94db, it  might cause trouble.

Finally everything is falling into place. 

Hundreds of hours research.

Lots of  cash, mistakes, errors.

Luck has finally tured in my favor.

About to upload yet another Yaqin vid/

Might stir up the honets nest, so let me put my protective gear on....

 

 

@MF... What's "dispication"? Can't seem to find that one in my audiophile thesaurus 😵

**the 2A3 PP  is just 1 of many options, 1 circuit is not superior to any other..**

BALONEY. Just a simple one  size fits all platitude.

The 2A3 PP is superior to any and all KT circuits.

@mozartfan 

If you run a KT88 UltraLinear, using an output transformer with the UL taps set up properly, you can get the same or better linearity out of that circuit that you get from a 2A3. If the taps aren't right neither will be the linearity so I am stressing that point. If the driver and voltage amplifier are then fully differential, the distortion without feedback will be dramatically lower than the 2A3 amp at nearly any power level.

You'll wind up with a more transparent, more musical distortion signature and therefore a more transparent, more musical amp with a lot more power.

Although I don't know of such an amp there may well be one out there (most I know of use textbook circuits from the 1950s); having been a manufacturer for over 47 years I'm really hesitant to make a blanket statement such as yours in the quote above- in a nutshell, its blatantly false.

 

Hi @mozartfan ,

You can’t compare amplifiers and make conclusions just by output tube type and transformer! There are so many factors like schematics and quality and quantity (capacitor value) of parts.

I have DIY 300B SET for many years.

During 15 years I made dozens of modifications to this amplifier.
1. I tried different types of 300Bs, 6F6s (driver), 6sn7s (input) .
2. I tested 5 different kinds of coupling capacitors.
3. I upgraded the power supply including choke, capacitor types, value, schematics.
4. I changed the bias current of all tubes.
5. I changed cathode resistors and capacitors.
6. I changed output transformers.
Each of these changes can make a dramatic influence on sound!
If you don’t try, you don’t have any idea how all these things are important.
For example, in my case, upgrading of cathode resistors and capacitors made more difference vs upgrading output transformers (from James Audio to Hashimoto)!
Bias current of the driver and input tubes made a huge difference!
Coupling capacitor quality is supercritical too!

I also think, using two fullrange drivers in parallel and tweeter (without properly designed filter) works against basic idea of fullrange (a point source of sound.) It makes sound congested and messy and destroys soundstage and focus.

Regards,

Alex

really hesitant to make a blanket statement such as yours in the quote above- in a nutshell, its blatantly false. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OK grant it, I have not heard a KT type linear SET, nor a EL34 Triode. Perhaps they offer same , even superior sonics vs this 2A3. Quite possible true, But as you say, there are so few Ultra Linera KT88 and Triode EL34 avaliable. I had the Cayin EL34 Triode/Ultra, but sold it off, bessides the trans were a bit too small for my preferences. I am speaking of a PP KT series amplifier, such as the Jadis Defy7 one of the finest sounding PP amplifiers ever made. Can not match what i am hearing in the 2A3. In some passages, both very close, in other cds, the 2A3 is more evoloving, **REVEALING***