300B SET Amp driving Wilson Sabrinas

The surprise, not only did the Elekit drive the Sabrinas very well (improved clarity and tonality), but at the same volume with the same input level as the Modwright! Using a passive preamp, when I set the volume knob on the preamp to the same point for both the Modwright and the Elekit it results in essentially the same volume from the speakers.

@gareents There is more to this than just power. The reason the SET seems to keep up with the more powerful Modwright is due to the distortion it makes. As you push it harder, higher ordered harmonics show up (the amp lacks feedback so this is normal) which convince your ear that the sound is louder than it really is. A sound level pressure meter (which is available as an app for most phones) will reveal the truth of the matter.

Put another way, the mark of a good system is that it doesn't sound loud, even when it is. This is because it makes less of the artifacts that the ear uses to sense sound pressure, so sounds more relaxed.

@atmasphere - actually I did measure the dBA with a sound level app. The measurements between the two amps were essentially equal at the same volume setting. However, I also understand what you are saying because the SET amp "sounds" louder at the same setting. Interesting. Thanks.

I have a Korneff 45 SET w/EML Meshplates (3.5 w/ch) that are driving 40 year old Snell Type K bookshelf speakers. I’m amazed at how engaging the music is, although it’s by no means concert level SPL. The speakers are only rated at 90db efficiency and 6 ohm nominal impedance with frequency response of 70 - 20kHz. Of course I need a sub to fill in the low end, but this is the most fulfilling system I’ve had in 40 years of home audio. I have a pair of Coincident Invictus bookshelf speakers ordered. It will be interesting to see how they compare to the Snells.

mijostyn ignoring your sexist comment for the moment since when does loud = good? I have that Elekit amp and can say for certain there is a magic in that tube I have very very rarely heard with big muscle SS amps. Its a trade off, will you get all that Sabrina has to offer? No but you can get something that else you wont with SS.

@mootsdude If you used that amp with a speaker of 10dB greater sensitivity, you'd find that amp more spacious and more detailed, also smoother sounding all for the same reason: its making less distortion.

The Coincident, being designed to be easy to drive, points you in that direction.

OTOH, you might also be surprised how well a lower power PP amp would do on your Snells. Decades ago Dynaco used to make a small power amp called the ST35 which made 17 Watt/channel using a pair of EL84s per channel. If one of those is refurbished properly it gives you pause when compared to a good SET.