SET amp for Gallo ref 3.1

From the posts I glean that I seem to value SET "glory" over neutral sound....shame on me! The Music Reference have been on my list to listen for a while as they seem to be well built and powerful. The Canary would currently break my bank - although I would love to play with bias. Having a precision multimeter next to my poweramps all the time....

SET vs. push -pull: I have tried the push-pull KT88 (or 6550) based Triode TRV M88SE monoblocs (around 40Watts) on the Gallos with subamp and it sounds fine - its just lacking the magic that the the SET Audio Mirrors (6C33 based 45Watt design) can do. In my room at at my listening levels it looks as if 40Watt plus is ample for me. I could probably get by with some 20 clean and stable SET Watts from a 211 or 845 based amp.

Sub amp: I am using the Gallo subamp set for enhancing the below 40Hz region only. All other setting I have tried seem to mess things around 100 Hz up. Using a SPl I get decent output at 25 Hz and some at 20. Switching off the subamp takes the oomph factor out of good modern recordings (i.e. Eric Bibb) and makes orchestra play in smaller halls. I clearly could not live without the subamp. But then many people love speakers with little output below 40Hz.

Hanshhh,

I have gone thru somewhat the same experience as you. I owned a very high quality 300b amp and just totally enjoyed the listening experience even though my speakers were not really designed for a low powered SET amp. Being the typical audiophile I sold the 300b and bought a great 70 watt k88 tube amp looking for better sound. I enjoyed that set up for about a year and when on to a different speaker. 6 years later I have gone back to a 8 watt 300b amp and I could not be more happy. If you are drawn into the SET sound like I am then you must get a SET friendly speaker. You will never know how good a SET amp sounds unless you get a speaker designed for a SET amp. I now have a SET friendly speaker (96db) and the music to my ears is the best I have ever owned. So my suggestion is to buy a SET amp and see how it works on your current speakers, then down the road purhase a pair of speakers that really shine with SET amps.

Bobheinatz

sounds a bell with me.....driving a pair of Klipschhorns in my basement with a slightly modified set of the old Quad 22 (not SET I know). Each time I listen to some small scale jazz on that setup it sounds REAL.

Unfortunately my living room has some space constraints and I cant think of any SET friendly speaker that would replace my Gallos and not my wife.... (by the way, the Quads do not work well on the Gallos, they run out of steam even at my modest listening levels)

lack of fantasy ???

Hanshhh,

There are many great SET speakers and they don't have to be large ugly looking. When I finally got back into a SET system I spend months researching all type of SET friendly speakers and believe me there were 10x,s as many as I ever dreamed. I got the chance to listen to many great horn systems, single driver, Lowthers,Tannoys
altec's, Phy's, Audio Note, Feastex ,Audio Reproductions great DIY speakers, ect. Most music lovers and audiophiles have never explored a all SET setup. The ones who have many have discovered what I have and will never go back to to a inefficient loudspeaker.
My 8 watts sounds glorious but I will be looking down the road for a 1 - 2 watt amp. The Feastex speakers are absolutely the best I have ever heard but these drivers cost more than most complete speakers. I ended up having some custom made large monitors that sound wonderful. It makes my 300b tube amp sound like a SS muscle amp. My whole point is if you really like the SET sound the chances are nothing for you will satisify but a great SET friendly speaker. Chances are 5 - 10 years from now you will still be searching for that SET enjoyment. If you are like me you will spend lots of money on gear and never be completely satisfied. I am now and I won't ever go back.

Bobheinatz

I could not agree more with you - but as you state yourself size maybe a part of the SET fancy; to get a good below 50Hz response you simply need a lot of bass membrane surface combined with enough cabinet volume to get there on puny power with authority. My Klipschhorn fare great on meagre 15 Quad Watts (all the way down to 30Hz (which is fine for most music). The low ferquency power output was one reason why I choose the Gallos with the subamp setup - still hoping that some 211 or 845 based amp will take care of anything >40Hz...

Happy New Year

hanshhh