1. Home
  2. amps-preamps
  3. 1408839785

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
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
6,996 posts
 
Bill,
If Brent Jesse doesn't have the Mullard CV 378 I'll look to the ebay vendors. I value your judgment, so I'm motivated to get this rectifier tube into the Frankenstein based on your very high level of satisfaction with them.
Charles,
mikirob
950 posts
 
Brownsfan, Charles,
After the new house is finished (late spring) the first purchase I'm going to make is the franks. Between now and then l'll be having fun with the Dynamo. The Mullard is superb as it stands, but I likely will try some other rectifiers. The NOS Phillips 5R4GYS I firmly believe will substitute/perform wonderfully in some other compatible amp. A bargain at $65 from Upscale. Has anyone used KCA tubes? They seem to have a good supply of NOS RFT Siemens. According to Tim Smith, in his system the Siemens provided a "fatter, warmer sound". My only concern now is, how am I going to get any work done? I keep spacing out on the music.
brownsfan
1,238 posts
 
Charles, Last night's session included Schubert's Auf dem Storm for tenor, piano, and French horn. It just blew me away. I finally have a system that gets French horns right. I hope you are able to find a good pair and they work as well for you. You just never know what is going to happen with ebay on NOS tubes.
mapman's avatar
mapman
15,679 posts
 
That Coincident definitely looks like a winner.
mapman's avatar
mapman
15,679 posts
 
JMCgrogan,

I've never had a device with variable feedback.

You indicated the changes affecting bass and detail.

Could the detail be associated with more relative brightness?

I notice with certain good quality headphones that tend towards less of a low end that things sound a lot different in the midrange. I hear things I might not have focused on otherwise, but I am hard pressed to say that they are not there otherwise. ITs more like a different perspective on the music where different things become more prominent, more of a difference in what is emphasized I think, but the result of more emphasis in the midrange might often be perceived as more detail since that is where most music happens.

Then there is the whole bad harmonics rap on NF. I understand this in theory but have difficulty pinpointing it in practice. IT just does not seem to be a big issue to me if the gear is designed well.

I'd like to have adjustable NF in order to experiment more but don't, so I guess I am just looking for the impressions of others in this regard.

Thanks.
More to discover