I need help describing the sound of a SET to a friend in English.

Three words come to mind.

"Presence" and "air" = not only the enhanced sense that the performer(s) are there right in front of you, but also a sense of the space around them.

"Bloom" = getting the timbre and the harmonics especially right, making more a richness to the sound.

This is based on ownership of Dennis Had-era Cary 300B.

- not only the enhanced sense that the performer(s) are there right in front of you, but also a sense of the space around them.

- getting the timbre and the harmonics especially right, making more a richness to the sound.

All of the above is not "unique" to SET amps.

And this is coming from someone who has embraced tubes as well as SETs.

I once used Mr. Dudley's review below to explain to a friend what I hear in my SET amp.

Listening #35 | Stereophile.com

Thanks!!

@jasonbourne52 Hi Jason, how do you like the Golden Tube SE40? I have one too... although it needs a complete rebuild - it's essentially transformers and chassis only.

So far I have heard one account of this interesting SE amplifier: someone brought one to an Audio note dealership, thinking about exchanging it to an AN 300B amp. They plugged it into the full-AN system and it just floored the AN SET! Worked out the other way than expected, even the dealer was speechless.... it made me curious because of the power tube choice  - the 6L6, my favorite family of tubes. Vastly underrated, especially as a choice for single ended.

Cheers, Janos