What's the greatest bargain in SET these days?


Hi, Gang,
I response to my recent review of the Reference 3A De Capo BE speaker, someone wrote that if you really want to hear them sing, you should try them with a SET amp, or words to that effect.
That got me thinking. The De Capo's are 92 db efficient, which (correct me if I'm wrong) seems kind of borderline for low-power SET amps.
In any event, right now I'm running mine with a pair of Manley Mahi mono-blocks. They are switchable from triode (20 watts) to "ultra linear" (40 watts). I run them in triode all the time, and in my room, the volume knob almost never goes past 9 o'clock; more would just be too loud.
All that said, what do you guys think of running the De Capo's with a SET amp? And if I did, what's the best bargain in SET's these days?
Thanks!
rebbi
Rebbi,
I don't take your question as snarky. I would take the 300 DHT every time in a well designed and implemented amp such as the Coincident Franks. I don't know anything about the Bottlehead, except what I have read.

Charles has really outlined what it takes to be a great 300B. The Transformer being paramount along with good design and implementation of the design. I' m not a reviewer or designer/builder. Charles is a better go-to person on this topic.
I commented earlier on the Golden Tube 300B which was a excellent design with very good transformers. It sounded good, but here's the rub, it was poorly executed because of cheap parts, poor parts, poor build internally. Like most SE40, or 300B, they failed and support was basically non-existent. Yet, if you made the parts changes Arthur Salvatore suggested, you ended up with a world class amp, sounding better than most anything out there. Same went for the Golden Tube SE40, which I
also owned. If I were a builder/designer and a design thief with $$$$ I
would build the Lau Brothers Golden Tube amps with appropriate changes ala Arthur Salvatore and some others who upgrade the GT SE40. So, here is an example of good sounding amps gone wrong.

I trust my ears, that is why I keep mentioning the Dynamo. Israel Blume, to
me, has created a beautiful sounding musical amp at an affordable price (you just have to match appropriate efficient speakers of your choice), but it answers your question about "bargain" SET. I'm happy, doesn't mean this is what you want. I just wish the best for you in your choice and that you will be as happy as I am with my choice. I throw out what is going on with the Dynamo to help. Rebbi, sooner or later you'll find what you are looking for. You asked, we answer.
Mikirob
The Mullard 378 rectifier is a superb match in the Frankenstein. This is Noteworthy because the sound is excellent with the stock 5U4G tube. The 378 provides across the board improvement without trade offs .
Mikirob,
Your reply to Rebbi is on the mark IMO. It comes to what you want at what cost point. My choice is the same as yours , spend more money to get a 300b amp with quality built and parts. Once this is done match it to the proper speakers and you will have long term joy with no regrets I believe.
Charles1Dad,
Agreed. For giggles down the road, as a wild experiment, since I really will purchase the Franks, perhaps I'll get the Mullard 378 and plop it in the Dynamo to hear what it does in the Dynamo prior to installing it in the Franks...it would be interesting, what an expensive rectifier does, or does not do in the Dynamo? Right now, as currently constituted, I bought this amp for $800, bought NOS RFT Siemens for $200, Shuguang Black Treasure 6CA7-Z for $150. I already had on hand the Sylvania 6SL7 WGT and RCA Red Base, as well as Gold Lion KT 77 and a NOS Phillips rectifier. So, $1,150 for audio nirvana. Now, that is a bargain SET set-up.