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SET Asylum Single Ended Triodes (SETs), the ultimate tube lovers dream. |
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SET Asylum Single Ended Triodes (SETs), the ultimate tube lovers dream. |
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In Reply to: Don't be dogmatic about SETs posted by Obsessed1 on October 11, 2005 at 19:53:58:
"My 16w Art Audio Carissa Signature drives 88db sensitivity Sonus Faber speakers to reasonable levels with no problems at all, and it sounds superb. You don't need horns or such nonsense with the AA amp.
In fact, I replaced the Sonus Faber speakers with older Reference 3a La Veritas speakers, which are 92db. While they sent louder, I didn't like them as much as the Sonus Fabers.FWIW, my suggestion is to experiment with as many SETs as you can. You don't need to buy or build a 30-50w amp to drive modestly efficient speakers."
I owned several 845 based 0 negative feedback single ended amplifiers, including the reasonable but great sounding ASL AQ 1006DT's(With all Teflon coupling caps and nos 6sn7's etc...). I was trying to acquire the set/high efficiency speaker magic, speed, dynamics, and clarity with a pair of B&W Nautalis 805's. I fell in love with the billowing soundstage and smokeing vocal presence. But, even with 22 strong set watts, the speed and slamin dynamics that my Naim NAP 250/82/dual hicaps produced in spades with these speakers was absent. Is there something about the damping capability of an amplifier with feedback and or a push pull tube amp with some feedback and more damping capability that just does a much better job hadling a realatively inefficient speaker? Well, I also tried my pair of Eico HF-86 PP EL84 amplifiers at about 28 watts driving the Nautalis 805,s. Man, back came the speed and slamin dynamics that the 70 watt Naim solid state amplifier offered. However, the Eico's offered more of the beaty in the sounstaging and midrange derived from my ASL set amplifiers. So, I sold the Naim setup and lived mainly with the 22watt ASL set amplifier driving my N805's. Unfortunately, I continued to miss the speed and addictive dynamic slam that the Eico's and Naim offered in spades. Keep in mind that the Eico's and the ASL's produce about the same amount of watts. The ASL's just seemed to have way less dynamic controll over the 88Db 805's. Just for the hell (Smarter members on this forum GENTLY, they called me stupid, suggested a better way to make toast) of it I ordered a pair of Fostex 206e's and built me one of Mr. Dick's smallish ported tower boxes. Wow! The dynamics and speed were back in spades with even more clarity and detail. Now the ASL set's offered as much slam as the Eico or Naim Audio/B&W Nautalis 805 combination ,but, with tons more "LIFE" and realism in the presence region of my music collection. I'm not sure I know why ,but, at least for me, even a comparatively big 0 negative feedback set amplifier did not thrive until mated with an easy to drive and or control high efficiency speaker.
I have since evolved or de-evolved to 2 watt 45 based set amplifiers driving Lowther DX-4's in back horns. My opinion is to stop trying to make a speaker designed to be contolled with a great damping amplifier work with amps (most SET's) with traditionally weak damping factors. I learned the hard way! However, I also plan to have a big reflex corner cabinet built for a pair of 12 or 15" BMS coaxials which I will drive with the set's and a bigger PP (EL84 outputs. I love that tube) tube amplifier. I also plan to get the hell out of my listening room and take the wife to some live performances from now on. Have fun.
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Follow Ups
- Re: Don't be dogmatic about SETs - chopper87 10/12/0507:11:43 10/12/05 (0)
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