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Amp/Preamp Asylum Looking for a new Amp or Preamp? If you're after tubes, post over here. |
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In Reply to: Thank you posted by airtime on November 19, 2020 at 07:25:13:
I that case you can drive virtually any speaker on the planet with a SET amp because the levels are so low the amp will never work hard. So you don't need to worry about the speaker is 84dB or 110dB sensitive.
The EL84 is a spectacularly good tube IMO and I have not run into one that I didn't like. I own two EL84 based amp - a PP class A (KingKo) and a SEP(OTO SE).
I think the only thing you need to look for is a speaker that performs well at low volumes. Some of those speakers where the reviewer says "it comes alive when you turn it up" is code-word for "this sucks at low volumes."
The Quad ESL 57 sounded great with the OTO which is 10 watts but only 4.2 watts per channel without distortion. Basically on par with a 2a3 amp.
You could also consider a tube pre and SS or Class D power amp because tube preamps don't really get hot with their small signal tubes and then the Class D or A/B can run quite cool. An Audio Note M One that I am currently reviewing or a Shindo Aurieges - second hand they might not be too egregiously priced and SS power can be had used for peanuts.
The advantage if money is concerned is that if you buy the mainstream brands second hand and you sell them you will get most if not all of your money back. With DIY or smaller brands, you may have a bit more trouble so while the price may be lower it may cost more if you can't sell it.
One other disadvantage with SETs of lower power is that I suspect they will be harder to move. There are fewer buyers for the really low powered amps because there are fewer people with speakers than can be driven off of 3-watt amps. So you have to really know for sure you like the sound.
I think if you like EL84 you will like 2a3 though. But my OTO sounds more like a stereotypical tube amp than my Empress amps. Oto is "warmer" and "veiled" in comparison. SO with Bottlehead, I believe there is a forum and you can ask a lot of questions as to how it sounds.
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- RE: Thank you - RGA 11/20/2020:34:02 11/20/20 (0)
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