2. amps-preamps
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Upgrading my SET amplifiers?

I am very happy with my Wright Sound 3.5/Lamhorn/Lowther EX 4 combo, but I know that the amps can be improved. I was looking for a Berning Siegfried, but nobody wants to sell this amp used and new is not longer available. I’ve read good things about Art Audio, Wavelength, Exemplar and the like, but I want to know from people who actually own those amplifiers or other very good SET amplifiers. I am willing to spend $ 3,000 / 4,000 in this upgrade. If possible, I prefer to buy used. Your help is greatly appreciated. Pablo.
pablovila
boa2's avatar
boa2
1,550 posts
 
Pablo,
If you are very happy with your Wright's, I might suggest that you keep them until you're certain that your next amp purchase is indeed an upgrade for you. I've not heard everything on the market, but I have heard SET amps costing as much as $18K that did not strike the tonal purity of the Wright's. Have you tried some different tubes as well? That can dramatically alter the sound of those amps. I've re-tubed my Wright's with 1950s Russian 2A3's and 6SN7's, and they sound extraordinary. They are still the most honest amplifiers that I've heard.

I'm not suggesting that you won't find something even more satisfying out there (you very well could), only that you might want to hold onto "I am very happy..." until you know for sure that something else doesn't end up spoiling your fun. Just a thought, FWIW.

By the way, where are you from in Argentina? Do you live there still?
Regards,
Howard
tumbler's avatar
tumbler
93 posts
 
My Wright 2A3s performed great on a variety of speakers, most recently a pair of B&W CDM1-SEs. I changed out the stock 2A3 to Sylvania NOS tubes. A modest improvement in sound resulted. I'd keep them and enjoy them. Put the money into a fine DAC, or branch out to different speakers, or a sub. Enjoy the Wrights!
pablovila OP
46 posts
 
Howard:

Thank you for your answer. I know (because I’ve read some of your threads) that you are a Wright Sound fan. I enjoy the amps immensely as well. My policy is not to sell my previous gear before, in my listening room and after a couple of months of careful listening, it is obvious that the new stuff sounds much better than the old one. I completely agree with you about the tonal purity of the Wrights. To me, that is their most important virtue. I have tried some tubes, but not many. Currently I am using the Sophia Mesh Plates, Sylvanias 6SN7s from the late 1940s and RCAs for the 5Y3 position.
I live in Philadelphia right now. I used to live in different Buenos Aires’ suburbs (Acassuso, Florida, San Martin). Do you know Argentina?

Tumbler:

Thank you for the advice. I love the Lamhorn/Lowthers!. I won’t change them. And I have a REL Stadium II as a sub.

It seems that my thread has become a kind of “Wright Sound 3.5 fan club.” Best regards, Pablo.
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