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Considering A 20-40 Watt Stereo SET Amp

I just got over a 16 day illness (not Covid) where it was touch and go for a few days. I am thinking of rewarding myself with a 20-40 watt stereo SET amp. The speakers I will use are a pair of the new JBL L100 Classic speakers that I bought at the end of 2020. The speakers are rated at 4 ohms @90db sensitivity.

Presently, I am using a McIntosh integrated and I do not listen loud. The meters on the Mac usually sit between .20 and 2 watts at its loudest. I have not started looking yet but I do know I want something with 1 pair of outputs so I can use my SVS powered subwoofer with it. I would also need 3 high level inputs. I don’t want to break the bank as this would be a secondary amp to put into rotation as the mood strikes me.

I do not want a flea powered amp so it has to be 20-40 watts and under 4 grand new. Used would be even better. I am hoping I can be steered in the right direction so I can start my research. I do not want to have to buy other components to accommodate the amp. Source components are a McIntosh SACD player, McIntosh FM tuner and a Sony HAP-Z1ES music player. Nordost interconnects and Canare speaker cables, Shunyata power cords and a Furutech power conditioner round out the system. The amp must be stereo, no monoblocks please. 99% of my listening will be through my Mac FM tuner. The system is also on its own dedicated 20-amp circuit.

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Showing 2 responses by larryi

larryi
3,742 posts
 

I own a parallel SET and two pushpull amps.  My favorite is a flea-powered pushpull that runs the 349 output tube.  The best tube amp I've heard is a custom-built output transformerless amp followed by a pushpull amp running the extremely rare 252 tube.  In other words, I don't have favorites that are consistently one topology.  

I think the OP should broaden his search to all types of tube amps, not just SET amps, particularly because higher powered SET amps are quite pricey and none have sounded as good to me as the low-powered SET amps, which might work if high volume levels are not a priority, but, are probably not ideal given that the speakers are not near the 100 db/w efficiency level that is more suited to low-powered SET amps.

larryi
3,742 posts
 

I like the el84 tube and it is often used in pretty nice sounding low-cost amps.  It is an indirectly heated pentode tube, but, the tube type does not determine anything particular about its sound.

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