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used SET amp under $1500 suggestion

As stated in another thread, I have problem of having too much gain in my system. I am considering buying a SET amp to drive a pair of Zu omen definition, and looking for suggestion. I have too options:

1) keeping my PrimaLuna Prologue 3 preamp and buy a SET power amp or mono block. I like the PrimaLuna sound, so, I prefer to keep it. However, in this case, my budge is under $1500. To work with the PrimaLuna, I need an amp with input impedance > 100k Ohm. And the PrimaLuna has a gain of 12 dB. My current McCormack has 30dB gain which is too loud. So .. likely, I prefer something not exceeding 20dB gain?

2) sell the PrimaLuan preamp, and replaced with an integrated SET amp. I prefer option 1 because I don't know if I will like the sound of the integrated. But if I get an integrated, my budget increase to $2500, and it seems it open up more choices.

I read the 6moons and other review, it seems the Almarro and Yamamoto are 2 highly recommended SET choices, but they are both quite expensive. Is there any other choices? Thanks in advance.
gte357s
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Colrane1,
That`s a very good suggestion, I`ve read and have heard nothing but excellent comments on that amplifier. I use the Black Treasure Series 300b in my amp and it`s superb! That amp would coast driving the Zu 98db speaker.
coltrane1's avatar
coltrane1
801 posts
 
Charles1dad, for sure it would coast driving Zu's or any other higher sensitivity rated speaker. But I was truly amazed that the amp was capable of driving a pair of electrostats that commonly dip below 2 ohms. This modestly priced integ loaded with black treasures encouraged me to sell off far more expensive gear. It's a very impressive amp and I'm surprised more listeners aren't beating a path to Grant Fidelity's door in an attempt to land one.

Get this, my former VK300XSE clipped out at 85dB driving a pair of cls iiz's but this modestly priced lower power 300B just chugged along as if it was pushing a pair of ZU's - that's sum trick.
morganc
255 posts
 
The Grant Fidelity Shuguang 300B integrated is kick ass also.....I sold mine a few months ago and it is 90% as good as my now much more expensive system.

I would recommend:
Decware torii
GF Shuguang 300
Almarro 318
Quad KT-66 amp ( and there is one on Audiogon that I heard and loved with Superfly's)
Melody 2A3 Monoblocks (used). Ask Sam HiFi on Audiocircle about this one.....he loves it with his Defs ( he has the integrated version).

I have the Omen Defs and have heard all of the above except the Almarro....and all are fantastic.

I would agree with a few posters though.....the Zu's are so transparent that you must have every piece working together to get a great sound......and just one piece off upstream will degrade the entire system. I would suspect the McCormack should sound pretty good with your Defs.

What is your source?
gte357s OP
281 posts
 
Yes, I think the McCormack sounds very good. However, I don't have others to compare to. The only problem is the gain. When I have to keep the volume low, it doesn't sound good. But when I turn it up a bit at about 9 o'clock, it sounds very good IMO. So, I don't really know if I should change it. It seems most of the SS amp has very high gain. For example, some ppl recommend the red wine audio sig 30.2. I did a calculation, it has aboutn 30dB gain as well. The Pass XA 30.5 has 26dB. It seems the only way to have lower gain is to with the SET.
morganc
255 posts
 
I think the only way to know is to buy a SET amp and give it a try! There is a used GF 300 with upgraded tubes for sale used right now. Assuming the tubes are A Grade matched, that is a bargain as rhe tubes alone are $500-600. That would be a good starting match for you to get the flavor of set with little risk as you could resell it easily. That's the key here.....finding synergy while not losing money in the process! At least that's what I have done and it has been worth the time and effort as now I am loving my system!
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