Horning Perikles w Frankenstein amp

Markus,
That's the same point I made earlier when comparing the Franks to my
push pull amps(both a 100 watt and a 40 watt amp). Simply no problem
with the Coincident dual woofers. The Horning may or may not be a
different case(could be harder to drive?). Your comparison to the VAC REN
30/30 (excellent amp) speaks volumes of the Frankenstein's considerable
capabilities. The Frankenstein has a very stout/ heavy duty power supply
that may provide drive that some other 300b SET lack, as a possible
explanation.
Charles,

Thx for the input Markus. A direct comparison btwn a Ren 30/30 and the Franks is very helpful. Which would you say is better at harmonic structure, timber, tone, conveying the emotional side of the music as opposed to soundstaging, imaging, etc, which are not that important to me. Musical tastes run toward Americana, alt-country, singer songwriter, blues, folk-rock. Tift Merrit to Lyle Lovett to Eddie from Ohio to Bonnie Raitt to Iris Dement to EmmyLou Harris to Mark Knopfler to Ronnie Earl to Stevie Ray Vaughan to Norah Jones to David Grisman to Cindi Lauper.

Swampwalker once you have a good SET amp, I don't think there is any turning back. It's like having tubes for the first time and realizing what they do that solid state does not do and then going to the next step Single Ended. As long as the speaker can be driven no looking back.

Agree with Jwm completely!
He went from the very good push pull VAC Phi 300.1 mono block to his current splendid Absolare Passion Signature 845 PSET and it was an undeniable step upwards (and that's not a put down of the VAC). The SET renders more emotion, involvement and you're just pulled deeper into the music. Swampwalker, the very qualities you inquired about, tone, timbre, harmonic overtones is the strength of a good SET amplifier. Jwm is right, going to SET from push pull (non DHT tubes ) is like moving to push pull tubes from a solid state amplifier. Stuff like sound stage, imaging, spatial information are all included. The key to success is matching the appropriate speakers, otherwise you'll miss what a SET can do in your system.

A DHT tube push pull would definitely be my choice of amplifier if I couldn't utilize the SET. I'm really drawn to the DHT type of tubes.
As far as bass is concerned for acoustic bass I feel you gain texture and the natural bloom that they actually have and maintain very articulation. Depending on the speaker perhaps some slight loss of impact and weight (subtle in my experience). With synthesized and electronica emphasized bass I could concede that type of music would favor more ofen than not higher power PP tube and certainty SS amplifiers. Anything else, give me SET.

Swampwalker,

The Frankensteins definately excell at conveying the emotional side of the music which was even further enhanced when I switched to the Takatsuki 300B tubes. In my system and to my ears, these amps deliver detail and realism that I have not experienced with any other amp be it solid state or tube based.