Looking for advice on these speakers

Mapman,
I'll disagree with you on this point. The example Al cited of dynamic range
45-55db is actually quite rare for the overwhelming# of recordings ( his are
very special cases). My 8 watt SET replaced my 100 watt push pull tube
amp well over 4 years ago, it simply outperformed it. Dynamics, authority,
overall scale are very, very cose ( minimal loss) all other parameters
improved noticeably, tone, nuance, inner detail, presence and most
importantly, naturalness. If this weren't so I'd gone back to the 100watt
amp. So much is predicated on the speaker involved. Some of this really
depends on preferred listening volume, my SET can go louder than what I
care to listen to.

What was and remains highly successful for me may not be for others
(that's
true of most anything). My jazz and big band recordings have comparable
dynamic range to classical music and more than most rock and pop
recordings. When I do play orchestral music it is very involving and
satisfying. I know of others who've had the same happy results as me in
this type of switch. Again each of us may have different experiences and
will choose based on that knowledge. All I can say is in my case the 8 watt
amplifier is an unquestionable upward move and there's no looking back.
I can't speak to your Zu example obviously, I wasn't there. Many happy Zu
users on this forum would probably give a different account of their
experiences. The truth is lower power amplifiers won't be the answer for
everyone and the same can be said for higher power amps. There are quite
a few people on this forum who listen to multiple genres of music and are
well satisfied with their low power amps.
Charles,

Charles, yes, I think it all depends case by case as usual when it comes to what is good or good enough versus not as good....a lot is always a judgement call plus no two combos are exactly the same.

The key is always knowing what your goals are and working to achieve them. Lots of ways to skin the cat. You never know for sure until you hear.

If I may weigh in. . . There are SETs and then there are SETs; there are too many variables to lump all SETs together. I have Zu Def IVs and am happy with my Ancient Audio 300b SET (using Takatuski 300b) that seems to be able to drive these speakers successfully. (I have very eclectic tastes in music that include both solo instrument and fullscale orchestra, jazz, classic rock, female vocals, etc.) I started with a 45 SET and then tried a 2a3 SET; both sounded underpowered in my large space. I have also tried higher powered amplifiers, but was not impressed. On the other hand, Phil (213Cobra) swears by his Audion 845 SET with his Def IVs and his Audion 300b PSET with his Druid Vs and considers a 300b SET underpowered with insufficient drive for Zu speakers.

My post may be better suited for the amplifier forum, but since it is related to this discussion, I hope you'll indulge me.

My 180-watt tube monoblocks have a switch for ultralinear and triode operation. When I first got them a few years ago, I settled for the ultralinear mode and never thought to re-audition the decision, I guess since the mode was arguably the best compromise between low distortion and most power. This thread made me go back and revisit my choice and oh my. Perhaps there was something in the air today and it will disappear, but it was a revelation. The sound may have lost a fraction of the punch with rock music, but I just can't get over the overall improvement. Hard to describe it, but it's as if the sharp edges have been smoothed out, and a new quality to the sound emerged and made familiar recordings sound so revived and fresh they became literally intoxicating. In an A-B comparison, I could tell some difference, without a clear preference, leaning toward the triode mode, but not to the degree that the subsequent listening confirmed.

My amplifiers are obviously not SETs, but I'm curious to understand why switching to the triode operation made such a positive difference. Am I getting a taste of a true SET amplification with my 180-watt amps operating in the triode mode?