SET amp w/Neg feedback?

Jtgofish, if you have a speaker designed using Voltage Paradigm rules, then what you experienced is absolutely right. We have had similar experiences.

A speaker using Power Paradigm rules will often work better, including the bass, using an amplifier without any feedback at all. Obviously such a speaker is designed expecting a different set of rules from the amplifier.

Atma - how do I know if my speakers are designed with voltage or power paradigm? (EgglestonWorks Fontaines)

Rockadanny, it all has to do with the intention of the designer. In general, if the designer uses tubes its probably a Power Paradigm speaker he created. Voltage Paradigm designers usually use transistors. That will answer the question about 95% of the time. Beyond that, its a good idea to talk to the designer and/or read any white papers he may have written, or simply ask what sort of amplifier he recommends.

The equipment matching conversation that is all over high end audio is a direct result of the conflict of these two paradigms.

Ralph;is there a speaker that performs well in your opinion that operates within both of paradigms you mentioned;just wanted to hear your view on those types of speakers.

I prefer less feedback. I've owned amps that had adjustable feedback and they always sounded more musical with zero feedback.

This assumes that you have a reasonable power match between your amp and your speakers. If you don't, then a little feedback may sound like it provides greater control, but it will come at the expense of transparency, harmonics and tone. I prefer to correct the amp and speaker mismatch before I compensate by adding feedback.

In systems where big punch and power are desired more than sublety, I've heard push pull amps that I liked using up to about 6db of feedback. Any more than about 6db of feedback in any amp dampens harmonics and transparency too much for me. An example of an amp using about that much feedback that is very musical is the Tom Evans Linear A. Still, when compared to an excellent zero feedback amp, one gives up some harmonics, decay and transparency.

In short, I don't think an SET amp with more than 5db feedback is a "good thing" and I believe less is better.