1. Home
  2. amps-preamps
  3. 129850-89982

Budget SET or SEP recommendations?

Not in a rush, but considering playing with an SET or SEP.  Have only heard a few.  Something fairly inexpensive, worth trying, but not immediately upgrade-worthy.  Any thoughts, recommendations, or similar SET/SEP noob experiences?  Integrated, or not, doesn't matter.

These two seem to be reasonably respectable for cheap, at least according to the interwebs:

Dared MP2a3c
Yaqin MS-300c

Thank you.
stfoth
glennewdick's avatar
glennewdick
702 posts
 

I’ve owned Cary amps and recently sold an Audio note Otto SE that this Finale Audio 300b amp replaced (ok I did have a Luxman Class A amp temporarily while saving funds) the Finale Amp is just so much more musical then the Cary or the Audio Note Uk stuff that I’ve heard. Now I do have the $6000 version of the 300b integrated but I have heard some of the other amps they make and they all seem to just get the music right. you don’t get bling that’s for sure you get good design and great parts quality. I have not heard the Dynamo so I can not comment there but I do recommend giving Frank at Finale/triode labs a ring he is very approachable and a kind soul i’m sure he would recommend something that will suite your needs and budget he also has from time to time show amps and prototypes he sells at a reduced price. I believe there is also an integrated in Audiogon that’s worth looking at for around $1200 if my memory serves.

http://www.finaleaudio.com/



charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
6,996 posts
 
Glenn,
I suspect that your amplifier sounds terrific with the Hashimoto transformers and high quality chokes on board. This parallel SET amplifier seems very well built and implemented. I own a Canadian built SET as well, the Coincident Frankenstein MK II and am utterly satisfied with it x 8 years.
Charles
whitestix
386 posts
 
I have a solution for your quest for an excellent SE amp... it is made my Dennis Had, the founder of Cary Audio.  It is far better than Dared and Yaqin amps, no question.  I have a Dennis Had EL84 SE amp for sale on this Audio Mart.  I upgraded from very efficient single-drivers in my bedroom system to speakers that require more current so I am parting with the amp.  You don't know mention the speakers you are driving, but if they are in the range of 94 db or better, this might be the amp for audio nirvana.  Dennis's amps are legacy pieces of gear.  Just my take. 
Whitestix
fourwnds's avatar
fourwnds
261 posts
 
 I picked up a pair of wright sound company 300b mono 8's for under a grand shipped and am very stoked. The designer has passed on now but I think his work pops up now and again if your not in a hurry. 
fraterperdurabo's avatar
fraterperdurabo
39 posts
 
Strong 2nd on the George Wright stuff.  Yes, he passed away, and the finish on some of his stuff is not so hot, but soundwise they're amazing.

If you're buying new, I'd avoid the cheap-ish stuff.  SETs only sound as good as their output transformers, and there's no way to do those without $s (other than buying used).  Fi, Audio Note, and Cary all make/made wonderful gear, and there are smaller manufacturers (like Final, noted above, and also the late George Wright) who only sold direct on the web, who offer solid products.  I recommend buying the DVD with all the back issues of Sound Practices magazine and familiarizing yourself who's who in SET/SEP world.
More to discover