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Would You Rather Own A Good SET Amp, Or A Great Push Pull Amp?

Throwing this out there because I would appreciate the viewpoints of the many knowledgeable, and experienced audio people here. I'm really torn about a decision I am considering in this regard. And no, sorry, I cannot name the amps involved. I could lose one or both options if I publicized them here. And honestly, only the tiniest fraction of forum members would ever have listened to even one of these options. 

The speakers they would be used with can equally accommodate either of these choices per the designer/manufacturer, who I ran it by. 

Your thoughts would be appreciated. 

nightfall
dynamiclinearity
328 posts
 

I have abias against non-linear amps and due to their topology single ended amps(tube and solid state) are non linear. They amplify the top half of their signal differently than the bottom half. If you like the sound that's fine but that's poor fidelity. As A friend once said it's - Color me perfect.

greensigns95
2 posts
 

I have a 60w Frenzel PP that can take kt88’s, 676, and k120s… I am also one of the audiophools on the Decware waiting list for a Sarah 300b SET…. Depending on if I liked the Sarah more, I was considering selling the Frenzel to help pay for it. Now, I am wondering if I should bi-amp the Frenzel to the bass and let the Sarah handle the mids and highs… hmmmmm….

audiotroy's avatar
audiotroy
3,938 posts
 

we have sold  many different tube amplifiers 

over the years most single ended amplifiers are too low in power and are too load dependent to be the amplifier of choice.

 

we had the unison s6 a parallel set which was good sounding but didn’t have the punch of the push pull designs.

 

 

over 20 years there  have been a few stand outs 

 

Master sound compact 845

Line Magnetic 845

Synthesis a100 

Zesto bia200 

 

Dave and Troy

Audio intellect NJ

 

 

yoyoyaya's avatar
yoyoyaya
949 posts
 

@OP Unless its a 100 dB/w/M speaker, then  PP.

Every SE amp I've heard just collapses when trying to drive "normal" speakers at anything above "polite" volume levels.

xenolith's avatar
xenolith
178 posts
 

Wonderful contribution from Ralph as normal; thank you.  Will just offer that PP ultralinear can be awesome.  With TV tubes (that were not available when vintage amps were built and that no current tube amp builders specify...wrongly IMO) that swing high voltage as drivers, big inducors to smooth current and eliminate the need for signal capacitance, KT77s which are specified for high voltage (can handle up to 800 volt plate voltage) and are optimized for 43% OT tap and custom specified high voltage OTs configured for 43% tap, 4xKT77 140 watt monoblocks result.  These 75 lb. beasts absolutely manhandle the Northcreek crossovered B&W Matrix 801 S2 12 inch woofers while also delivering delicacy, nuance and accuracy.

For the xenolith family, this is the right answer for our audio amplification. 

 

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