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New SET Amp

I currently own a Cary 300SEI. It's a single ended 300b tube amp. It's my first experience with SETs. I'm thinking about trying something different but don't see a lot of SET's produced by well known companies. I guess what I'm trying to say is; I like Cary because they have a nice reputation, have been around awhile and are made here in the USA. It'd be nice to try another SET by a similar company (Conrad Johnson, Mcintosh, VAC, Quicksilver, etc.) but I don't see too many. Any suggestions. Oh, by the way, I can't spend more than $500 over what I can get for the Cary. I'd guess I could get at least $2,500 for the Cary. It's the latest model with autobias, remote, etc.

Also, I don't need a preamp since I can go direct with my Cary 303/300 and am using AKG K1000 headphones for the forseeable future.

Thanx!!
pawlowski6132
warrenh's avatar
warrenh
2,299 posts
 
Marco, I loved the Caravelles, as you know, but I moved. New crib was much much larger, plus high ceilings. Not enough speaker for the space. Wanted a small foot print and a full range speaker. Almost impossible to find. And then came Zu. 101db left the door open for tubes. Wasn't even considering tubes. Was happy as anything with my YBA Passion, but another Definition and Druid owner encouraged me to rethink the idea of tubes. The rest was history. 53, and still teachable. These Definitions are very exciting. Never had an efficient speaker in my life. Tubes were never in the picture. Couldn't afford what it would take to drive what I had in the past. thanks for asking...good to see you back on the 'gon Marco...warren
pawlowski6132 OP
592 posts
 
I think the Cary is just fine so far. Date some more before I get married.
darkmoebius
900 posts
 
Hi Pawlowski6132,

The Cary SEI 300B was also my first in-home experience with SET's. It is instantaneously lush, rich, velvety smooth - enough to make most anyone drunk with SET envy. But, after a few weeks, I started to find the sound too lush and rich, almost exaggeratedly so. And the low frequencies tended to be flabby and underpowered with both my 90dB/4 ohm & 97dB/8ohm speakers.

Then, I got chance to hear some other great 300B amps which confirmed my impressions about the Cary's "signature sound". My current Welborne DRD 300B monoblocks are far more transparent, revealing, tonally accurate, and dynamic. The Cary seems bloated and slow in comparison. Cy Brennan's were another revelation about how 300B amps should sound. Both these amps better the Cary's peformance in all respects, especially it's low frequency response.

The good news is that there are several American made amps that offer better performance(depending on your preferences) below the price of what you can get for the Cary. A used set of Welborne DRD 300B monoblocks will run you ~$1,100 w/ TJ Meshplate tubes.
pawlowski6132 OP
592 posts
 
Thanx everyone. So far I have Art Audio, Welborne and maybe Quicksilver. Also, It doesn't hae to be a 300b. 45s, 2a3s also OK.

I think.
warrenh's avatar
warrenh
2,299 posts
 
KT 88s?
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