805 SET Monoblocks


I've found my Hegel H20 unbeatable on my rebuild Quad 63 ESLs, but with fond memories of SET sound, including the Antique Sound Labs 805 Explorer, and the fact that I am now actively crossing them, I am interested in trying high-power SET sound again after many years out of that game.

Does anyone make an 805, or otherwise "high-power" (>50W) SET these days worth trying?

 

paulfolbrecht

@paulfolbrecht 

Link Magnetic 805ia is a very well regarded 805 SET amplifier. 50 watts per channel pure class A (By default).

Charles

Cary 805rs has been something I’ve wanted to try

Of course there’s also the Kondo Kagura

I had a pair of MasterSound PSET 845 monoblocks which put out 120 wpc. Highly recommended.

@decooney  , oops, I missed your post.

Yes, I remember comparing Cary V-12 (EL-34) biasing notes with you and also the subject of Cary customer service (or lack of).

As far as the 805s go, back in the mid '90s I worked with a guy who got interested in "better end" stuff about the same time as I started dipping my toes in it.  I turned him on to my dealer in Philly, and he basically jumped in with both feet, and the amps that he wound up buying were a pair of CAD 805s.  At the time they were going for 4k a piece.  I hate to say it, but I never went over to his place to listen to the system that the dealer sold him, but every time he told me about it (and he told me about it frequently) he said that was "you-are-there-magic."  Every so often I see a pair of 805s come up on Cary's preowned site for a few thousand dollars, and it always gets me to thinking. . . .