Ultralinear vs. Triode vs. SET

For my taste, a speaker well matched with an OTL is the very best type of amplification overall, especially if you include compatability with a broader range of speakers than is possible with most SETs; and much better frequency extension with very resolved midrange. If you are intrigued with SET, a good time to also consider OTL (Atma-sphere, Joule, Transcendent, and soon Music Reference - there are others).

Charles1dad made the solid statement that you would get many "opinions and experiences expressed here" and then expressed his. As I read the original post, it is not an inquiry exclusive to SET amps but a comparison between SET and other designs. While I guess the word extreme is subjective, we disagree that SET's, in general, aren't much more demanding and restricting of the speakers they're matched with.

Sparky: "My problem is I have never heard a high efficiency speaker that I would die for. Yet, these are the only speaker types that a set amp can drive."

WRONG WRONG WRONG. SETs can drive any kind of speaker, some better than others. You just haven't experienced SETs driving relatively-lo-sensitity as I have. My 50- and 12-Watt SETs drove and drive my Quad 989 and Audio Physic Avanti speakers excellently.
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Hi phaelon,
No real disagreement actually, Droz said he wanted comparisions with his switchable PP tube amp and a "true SET"amp. If he wants to expand his options, a 300b PP amp would be a good way to go i.e. the beauty of DHT tube vs a pentode indirectly heated tube. Many opinions is what I`d expect on a open forum that`s all. Regarding speakers , yes theh`re some restrictions but Droz has a lot more choices available then some would lead him to believe. Zu, Tonian Labs, Coincident,Horning,Audio Note, Living Voice, you get the idea as the`re many more.On the other hand if he was basing a system around an inefficent speaker he would then have to deal with limiting the pool of amplifiers( always some compromise is`nt it). Phaelon you have the NAF amp from Italy correct? I`ve never heard one but love the look of them.

Take Care

"I`ve never heard one but love the look of them."

Yeah Charles, that's the nice thing about the Italian stuff; if you don't like the sound, you can always put it on the mantle and call it art. :-)