Which is the best SET integrated amp under $1500?

Checkout a Decware (www.decware.com); they love low impedance loads and offer a thirty day money back deal. Maybe not enough power for your speakers but check it out and give Steve Deckert a call to discuss. Other than that you are looking at used. A pair of Wright 300b monoblocks is in your budget used and within a few hundred new; good stuff for the money but the chassis is cheap (good chassis cost a lot).

YOu might look at Almarro.They have a model that uses the 6c33cb tube single ended for about 18 watts.

It depends on your musical tastes, room size, volume level, and a few other things. It also depends on what type of tube sound you are looking for - lush and velvetey or more neutral.

A few that I can recommed right off the bat - Almarro A205A(5 wpc) & A318A(18wpc), Antique Sound Lab MG- SI 15 DT (15wpc in Ultralinear, 5 wpc in triode), ASL Orchid 2A3, Sophia Electric Set Music Baby.

I've got the A318A(3 inputs) and it has many great traits going for it besides fantastic build and cosmetics. It is ballsey yet neutral as far as SET amps got. It does a lot of things right. Not in the same ballpark as my Welborne DRD 300B monoblocks, but totally different output tubes and intended use.

How about some more info on what you are looking for and listen to? Also, how big is your room?

Thank you for responding Darkmoebius, I mostly listen to a little bit of everything--classical, rock, pop, jazz, etc., and I prefer a more neutral, lifelike, natural, sound over a lush one. My room is big, my system is in my living room, and so it is a fairly large size room, and so I am looking for a lot of power as well. I am mainly looking for a good amp in terms of sound quality, the best that I can get at this price point.

Leroy, I was on a similar quest so I'll chime in here. Darkmoebius mentions the ASL Orchid, a 2a3 based set integrated. His recommendations and suggestions are spot on. I have one in my office system and I can say it is beautiful sounding and extraordinarily clear. However, I have doubts it will drive your speakers well. With 3 watts, I'd expect your speakers to sound a bit anemic given their low impedance. Really would mate best with speakers close to 100db/watt with an 8+ohm rating.

In my home rig I have an Audio Note Kit1 amp. This may be a great option for you. It is a kit so you must build it, but for me that was a plus--fun, actually! Anyway, it's a 300b amp that retails for $1399 for the kit. Really nice quality components and should drive your speakers surprising well considering it's only 8 watts. Where it will be lacking will be at high volumes and low bass. Highs may also roll off depending on the impedance curve of your speaks--the flatter the curve the flatter the frequency response will be using an set amp.

The kit1 has only 1 input, so it can only handle one source at a time. Other than that, it's considered an integrated since it has a volume pot.

http://audionotekits.espyderweb.net/

If you decide on the kit1, join the forum at audioasylum.com it's a great place to get more info and share your experiences.

Doug