SET Shootout China VS The USA

because your tech can fix something or tell you how it works doesnt mean he has earned the right to hear for you too ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well although he is a savant in all things electronics/amps/TV’s etc, does not mean his opinions are not *un-biased*, Pun intended. At times he is spot on but can lean a bit to his strong opinions. You know a better OP title could have been KT Series circuits (includes the EL’s) vs Single Ended Triode ///DHT single tube vs DHT PP AS of a few weeks ago, i had no idea DHT PP circuit even existed, to my surprise and de-light. In my very limited exp of these 3 designs, I tend to favor DHT/PP as 1st choice. What we see offered on the market by heaps and gobs are the KT PP series. (KT in a SET design is rarely offered and not of my concern) KT88’s are by far the most offered, most popular, most purchased. Now why is this? Answer:: Speakers. Low sens/xover types require a KT PP circuit that delivers some solid 30++ watts of power.

The USA audiophiles are  so devoted if not  blind eyed, about their xover type speakers, including ZU’s, Tannoys, and such, 

they cant see the forest for the trees,

Whereas the asian, especially the china audiophile almost to the last man, chooses high efficient/higher sens FR type speakers, Thus SET ’s are no doubt purchased more frequently. As I see (hear ) it, seems to me the asian SET/DHT/ with Full range speakers are more advanced in acheiving higher fidelity vs the USA audiophile determined to stay firmly and may i say, stubbornly, planted with both feet , and may I say, rock solid cemented in his stance, to hold on to his dear life , the big PP power amplifiers and the partnered speakers that pairs well with his KT amp, the xover.low sens (aka low efficient read IN-Efficient read IN-effective in midrange) speakers.

So Be IT. each his own I guess. .

I’ll follow the asians on the path to high-er fidelity.

@mozartfan 

I'd say more specifically give credit to the Japanese audiophile/music lover community for reviving the interest and admiration for SET/low power tube amplifiers driving horns-high efficiency speakers. They bought a ton of discarded and ignored old Western Electric old movie theater audio equipment. 

Once transistor power became common in the 1960s (More power than tubes for far less money). Tube components were viewed as archaic and useless. It was Jean Hiraga who brought the low power SET/High efficiency speakers movement from Japan to Western society in the 1970s.

The rest as they say is history. Dennis Had (Founder of Cary Audio) was an early American SET manufacturer. Don Garber (Fi Audio) was another early American convert who built SET amplifiers. 

Charles 

I’m glad I stocked up on 307A’s when they were relatively inexpensive. It was inevitable that they were going to be ’discovered’’ at some time. When used correctly they sound particularly fine into special edition Magnequest FS-030’s using the 4 ohm tap. The bottom end is quite authoritative for a SET.

Once transistor power became common in the 1960s (More power than tubes for far less money). Tube components were viewed as archaic and useless. It was Jean Hiraga who brought the low power SET/High efficiency speakers movement from Japan to Western society in the 1970s. The rest as they say is history. Dennis Had (Founder of Cary Audio) was an early American SET manufacturer. Don Garber (Fi Audio) was another early American convert who built SET amplifiers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hey Charles Thanks for this facinating history of how SETs became part of this hobby. Now I know why the ~~Legendary~~~~ Coral Beta 8 speaker had its birth place in Japan. WE , ESPECIALLY ME of all FR fans in the world,,,, owe our fine high fidelity speakers to this savant in Japan who developed the CB8, Yes I know the original genius was in Berlin, Chicago 1920;s, then we owe alot to Jensen and EV others,, But it is the CB8 where the technology found a new voice in purity, fidelity. I realize the davidLouis VX8, VX6 are direct heirs to this masterful speaker. The Yaqin MS2A3 DHT PP is NOT, NOT new, its been around for perhaps a decade,, as per some comments i see on the Inet. A real hidden gem among a massive pile of KT PP amplifiers. I am not holding my breath on a massive movement away from KT series amplifiers into SET/DHTPP amplifiers , not anytime soon. Most folks are leary about FR speakers, not to mention they can be ,,no in fact are very pricey, Single drivers $5K-$10K a pair, and w cabinets,,, one needs to be close to a millionaire to afford a pair. I remember the days back in early 2000’s the SETs were mentioned ona topic here, speaker shootout, Back then the SETs were pricey, and few offered. Now with chinese tech, machine made, we can all now have access to these highly musical amplifiers. KT series amplifiers hold on interest for me any longer.

There are nuances in the DHT tubes which are missing in the voice of the KT series tubes, 34,88,120, 150, 170. Its just not there,,,nice,,but as they say, no cigar. Folks can argue all they want,, **design, trans quality, etc etc** fact of this matter,~~ truth~~ of this shootout,

is the DHT have some magic that KT series are not privy to.

If its not there, ITS NOT THERE,,

why lie about it, why pretend otherwise???

The End of The Story

Lights out.