The SET amp question.

I would also put the late John Hogan SET's on your short list. I've owned two (one was a 2A3 & 45 and the other that I still own is a 300B), both bought without hearing first, and can only be described as AMAZING! I used both with my 99DB and 101DB Klipsch speakers.

As has been said, it's a magical midrange that just has to heard.

As Larryi stated, 845's can give the benefits of SET plus substantial power (in a relative sense). I highly recommend the Art Audio Carissa SET amp at 12 big watts. It convinced me that all this is not hype but an exciting way to go.

I was I had the luxury to try some of the low powered SETs with high efficiency speakers - if I did, I would be very eager to try the Music Reference EM7 since I have found their RM10, RM9, and RMSEs to be exceptionally good PP amps. I think there are now some reviews out there, but you can be sure any amp by Roger Modjeski will sound very good, measure well, and be reliable. I think the 2.5 watt version of the EM7 is $750 (there is also a 5 watt version for less than $1,000). The Wright 3.5 would also interest me based on feedback from owners of his amps and this one in particular - don't know the price, but his stuff is generally very high value.

The earlier post regarding the Art Audio Carissa is incorrect.

Output is 16WPC not 12WPC.

I have had 45, 2A3, PX-25, 300B, 211, 845, and 805 SET amps.

As others have noted, with your speakers, your options are completely open - and IMO the 45 cannot be beat all-around. Either the Yamamoto or the Fi (the X is good but not as good as his stereo or monos; the X is the budget version).

The 45 tube will amaze you with its rock-solid bass, perfectly neutral tonality, amazing sound-staging, and complete freedom from any weakness at all, really.