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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 OP
1,319 posts
 
Mikirob!
I think she'd love building that Kit. It's kinesthetically very pleasing to watch the thing come together. I especially enjoyed populating the PCB's with the resistors... it's somehow very satisfying.
I'll repeat what I said earlier. It's like cooking a meal. If you enjoy the process of chopping, blending, and so on, you'll get good results. If you're in a hurry to eat, you may not. So if your wife can take pleasure in the build process itself, she'll have a blast with it.
brownsfan
1,238 posts
 
Charles, I was getting 1 to 2 hikes a week in up until Thanksgiving. I'm booked on the house this week and next, then my boots go back on.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
6,996 posts
 
Rebbi,
I've developed much respect for Paul Joppa based on his contributions and demeanor on the Audio Asylum SET forum. I also appreciate the input of Gordon Rankin(Wavelength Audio) who posts there sometimes. I believe Dennis Fraker is talented and has much to offer but he's certainly a polarizing person on that site. Joppa seems to avoid the "drama queen" behavior that appears there at times. I'm not surprised that his Bottlehead kits are well done.
rebbi OP
1,319 posts
 
Charles,
Yes. "Caucasian Blackplate"is another Bottlehead employee who often posts on SET Asylum. But I agree that there's a lot of personalized vitriol on that board that can make it difficult to wade through.
Interesting thing about the Bottlehead designs is that they feature Joppa's "parafeed" topology (I have no idea what that means so don't ask) and they also are solid state rectified rathe than tube rectified, for whatever that's worth.
rebbi OP
1,319 posts
 
Back ordered tubes and a few other odds and ends arriving from Brian today! Woo-hoo!
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