Is there a Solid State amp that can satisfy a SET guy?

Pani's recommenations are dead-on and mimic my experiences exactly.  

My recommenations would be:

First Watt SIT,
Pass .8 series,
Coda

You're never going to get the 300B warmth you're looking for via SS.  If it existed, it would be the most popular amp on the planet.  Another option would be a LIO DHT pre- coupled to wide bandwidth ss amp.  That's probably my next step.  I've owned Shindo Cortese, Berning 300B Siegfried (selling that was the absolute biggest mistake of my audiophile path), Berning ZH270, Kronzilla, Triode Labs 2a3, First Watt J2, and a bunch that I haven't mentioned.

@ thanasakis
How's Valvet E2SE handling your Kharmas? Is it struggling in any way, do you feel as if something is missing from the sound?
I was in a search for an amp to drive Harbeth P3ESR. They will be sitting on my computer desk (with me sitting 2-3 feet away), so I don't think more power, than what Valvet offers, should be necessary...
P.S. How do you find the sound of your Kharmas? They look quite beautiful, and, based on few youtube videos, they sound terrific as well; very lifelike!

Well, I guess amp topology is one way of looking at it. A shorter path in my opinion is what amp has brought the musicians, voice and instruments into your room for a "they are there" experience?

@mglik, I know what you are searching for. I too am a long time 300b SET user. And now looking for a more powerful amp for my Tannoys. The reality seems to be, there is no exact match without a compromise. Solid states that sound good to my ears are QUAD, Plinius and some very old (almost vintage) Mark Levinson, Sansui and the likes. The better option is to find a good tube push-pull amp with zero feedback and triode wiring. Like the Rogue Stereo 100. You get some genuine power and genuine tube sound and genuine flow of music. Many solid state amps simply try to artificially create this sound, which won't work for us.  Another option is to go for really good parallel single ended 300b amps, like the Border Patrol. You retain the SET magic and 300b sound, just a little less pure. Don't go for new age bigger hybrid 300b bottles made by Emission Labs and KR. They all promise more power but they sound too modern and ultimately artificial. Finally the really better amps are the parallel single ended 211 amps from a good designer. But they are very expensive. Don't go for single tube 211, 845 SETs, they sound slow and boring. Only when 211 is in parallel do they behave like 300b or 2A3. Hope this helps 😊

I created this review and did so because I finally found an amp that bettered my custom made SET amp. It has no sonic signature. It gets out of the way and provides gain to the signal. The warmth comes directly from the instruments themselves. No added fillers needed. I paid for these mono blocks With my own wallet and quite inexpensively. I created my channel to share some amazing products that I have discovered over decades of being an enthusiast. This posting this video is not kosher please let me know and I’ll remove this post.
cheers.
Cherry Amp's DeskTop Maraschino (DTM) Mono Block Amplifiers Reviewed! https://youtu.be/U4TpFf54ZzY

@wig Curious what 2a3 dht preamp you are using... Would love to know.

Thanks for the info, cal3713. The f4s may be good for Klipsch owners who prefer tubes, but have issues with enough power.

Get a BEL 1001 and you'll never want to listen to anything else!

"Sonic screwdriver losing the focus".
What does that mean?

Tvad, I agree with your comment.

I have come to like the 833-A SET which can effortlessly drive Magnepans more than loudly enough. The best way to do this is to build your own 1000 Volt power supplies using 3 Amp 1000 volt rated diodes two in series for twice the Voltage you will be using. Use car batteries to heat the cathodes on the 833-A's with a 0.25 Ohm resistor rated at least 50 Watts to drop the voltage to 10 at 10 Amps. A Hammond 1642SE output transformer is good for 300 ma while the 833-A's draw only 120 ma at zero grid bias. Drive the grid with a headphone amplifier with 600 Ohms transformer output (between the grid and one side of the cathode. If you want, I can help you try this.

Mark Levinson.

Well, my long awaited Tetra 606s arrived yesterday. The big question was if my 9 watts of 300B SET would power them.
The most consistent comments have pointed out that there is truly no replacement for the SET sound. However, comments that struck a nerve made reference to SS and SET being two different paradigms and that the SET sound was like a sonic screwdriver loosing the focus. Not to mention that one really doesn’t know until one tries. My 9 watts with the 92 dB Tetras sounds beautiful with the proviso that the bass is nicely there although not particularly tight and layered and all else is nicely there although not with particular slam.
However, the SET sound is highly musical and organic.
However, other owners of the 606s have commented that they are capable of all mentioned and more. On a good recording of a film screening using the 606s to play to a large audience, I heard only the MGM lion’s roar. Of the many, many times I have experienced the roar, this recording amazingly stood out. The roar was shockingly “real”, textured and layered. The amps used in this screening were the Bel Canto 500 watt monos. I can never forget how the speakers were grabbed by the amps. And this was in a MP4 YouTube!
In my first post I mentioned the Tetra designer’s recommendation of matching the 606s with the Leema Hydra II amp at 148 watts into 8 ohms and 250ish into 4 ohms. The Tetras go down to 6 ohms but are a pretty flat 8 ohms. They also have simple, low part count crossovers with no resistors. And I don’t listen at very high levels.
Although the Tetras go down to 27hz and have a big sound. It is very tempting to now want to listen to realistic sounding orchestras, etc.! All that with slam and headroom. It would be nice to be able to “dance the speakers around the room”. I think I would enjoy being able to crank the volume without it sounding “too loud”. Think I would get all that with a strong SS amp like the Leema. My inclination is to at least try an amp like the Leema and see if I can appreciate the new paradigm!

I recently went from a very efficient full range driver system to an excellent 3 way system and had to pull out my 2A3 DHT SET Amp and acquired a Coda Class A 18 Watts.

Both Purity Audio Harmonia V2 2A3 DHT Pre and Triode Lab 2A3M were evaluated against my Coda and Full Range Driver Speakers; I would say that Coda get you maybe 75% but those DHT Amps just has the ability to recreate life-like images and delicate textures between your speakers and not to mention the clarity and transparency they offer.

Also, if you want the best of both world; a SS Class A and a DHT Pre is sublime and from my experience and direct comparison, even the 6SN7 doesn’t come close to a 2A3 DHT Pre; the refinement of these DHT Pre are at a different level and of course are system dependent and listeners preferences...

Wig : )

[interesting thread] as I also am looking for poweramp for high efficient L.S. I do however also need balanced circuit and monoblocks.  Have any of you experience with Grandionote: Demone.

@thastum   I have the Grandinote Genesi Preamp. It is terrific. I expect the Demone monoblocks are as well. Max is wonderful to deal with. Solid state and balanced, that gets the music right.

Prana has a listing and I'd be all over it, if not for the fact that my speakers need a low, low damping factor.

+1 to @rixthetrick 's post.

First Watt is great and so is Pass labs. I have a F2 jfet.DMN sound great too. If you could get Dehaviland 845 a they are wonderful Amp kara is great designer. 

My new CODA No.16 sounds pretty close to an SET to my ears.

Agreed...in case my previous post wasn't clear.
I'm a SET guy who is extremely satisfied with my SS choice.
Although not a tube sound, it is a new, perhaps different, level of enjoyment.

I’d like to answer the OP’s original question, "Is there a Solid State amp that can satisfy a SET guy?" (as opposed to what many here seem to think was asked, i.e. is there a SS amp that sounds like a SET amp), since I was able to find an answer suited for myself; that is a resounding YES.

I’ve been a SET guy for many, many years (25+), and loved every minute of it. I’ve ran a variety SET amps based on 845s, PX25s, 300bs, VV32bs, 6C33Cs etc. but in an attempt to simplify my system, reduce heat output, and reduce costs (power tube replacements and electricity costs), I have found joy in tubeville using a Pass Labs XA25 amp (which I think has been brought up a few times in this thread).

I have tried numerous SS amps over the years while I ran my SET amps, and none of them really did it form me, until I put the Pass XA25 in the system. Does it sound like a SET amp? NO. Does it satisfy this SET lover and music lover... absolutely YES. Mind you, I have a tubed preamp (Backert Labs Rhumba) and a tubed DAC (Audio Mirror Tubadour III) in front of the XA25, and result is wonderful. YMMV!

Was using SET Dehavilland Aires mono blocks with WE845s (30w per channel) and it was driving Wilson Benesch curves beautifully (87db). 
Incredible sound but felt I needed a little more power for the Curves at times.

A need to simplify my system came up and I ended up with the solid state Lejonklou Boazu integration (40w). Not tubey sounding but the the Dehavillands are not overly either, just extremely revealing. 

The Lejonklou is simple amazing. It just gets out of the way and plays the source perfectly. 

Begrudgingly, the Dehavillands are currently for sale.

I see myself having SETs again someday but probably with some more efficient speakers. With the proper system matching you can't do better than good SETs. IMHO.

Full disclosure: I’m not sure I can identify a SET sound. My ears have not been exposed to enough really good audio equipment. However, I have listened to the German Octave 80 extensively at my local dealer recently, and I like it very much, but way out of my price range. The Octave Also had that big external transformer to aid in handling transients. It played through Blades and Dynaudios.  He just got in a Vinnie Rossi L2i, and I think it is the best sound I have ever heard, playing through the new Dynaudio Confidence 20s. So if you can audition the Vinnie Rossi and your budget can handle it, consider it. Good luck in your Holy Quest! Shrubbery!

ghasley,
I do enjoy the "honesty" of your posts :-)

The op is all over the map, which is of course his or her right to do. It seems the only setup he or she isn’t considering is the exact setup the speaker designer recommended. If I ever suffer a catastophic brain injury and voice a desire to get into the high end audio business would someone please stage an intervention?

@mglik,

I found the best SS amp for you. It is 40 watts in 8 ohm and 70 watts in 4 ohm.  It is a Lejonklou Boazu (integrated) or they have separates. It is my only SS amp, I have about 8 tube amps. I had a First Watt F7 paired with Pass Labs XP12 at it was good, but did not inspire me to keep it. I borrowed this amp from my dealer and was blown away. It literally takes a few minutes to wrap your head around what you are hearing. It is so musical, transparent and not linear or neutral. My dealer has sold about 8 of these integrated amps now. They are only $4K. See if you can borrow one from a dealer near you. You will not be disappointed. 

I agree with much of the above, a DHT SET amp is a unique beast that's nearly impossible to replicate with SS electronics.  I've seen good suggestions including SS amps designed to produce a "tube" sound, and even OTL.  Let me recommend another way to go (not to get a true SET sound, but to definitely get the magic of tubes but with SS power), and that's a hybrid amp. No, NOT what many call a hybrid these days, which is a SS amp with a tubed input stage.  I'm talking about a true tube amp, with a Futterman based OTL tube circuitry, but with a MOSFET output stage.  Of course I'm talking about Moscode.  I own a George Kaye modified Moscode 401 HR and while the sound is not SET (what else is?), it is very much a modern tube amp, but one that outputs over 200 wpc (and one that's surprisingly easy to tailor to your tastes with a little tube rolling).  Several publications reviewed this amp, but the 6moons article does a pretty thorough job describing it.  

like way too many audiophiles, but not most of us here, you want us to know what you paid for what you had and have, without telling us what it is.  Shame on your damaged ego.

Consider FW SIT3 and Pass XA-25.  Both have attributes of SET for me.  My SET is a LM 218 which is based on the 211 tube.  With SIT3 fronted by LTA preamp, I found it very comparable to my integrated SET.  XA25 keeps similar vocal magic while giving a deeper/tighter bottom end and tightening up the soundstage - not by making it smaller but by delineating the space/instruments better.  

Boulder amps meet the sonic challenge,  and then some.
So much air, space, delicacy, but combined with epic grunt

M2Tech Crosby in monoblock config. Balanced, powerful and the sweetest class d I have listened to. Relatively speaking affordable.  Paired with my Zu Druid 6's, they are special.

@mglik, I highly recommend you listen to the Bakoon 13R. I use it with the Cube Nenuphar full range speakers but it drives less efficient speakers like Boenicke just fine as well. It’s also not ridiculously expensive. Here in the UK it’s £5,995 and has bettered other SS amps costing considerably more. It’s unique, and has just received a Red Dot Award for design and a Six Moons Blue Moon Award for sound.

If you would like to know more you can PM me if you wish.

@thastum
I have heard Grandinote. A guy who is an importer would bring in things like TAD speakers and such to compare to what we were building.

One day he came in and asked my boss Mike if he’d heard Grandinote, so flight cases were opened up, and a Grandinote music server and integrated (I think it was an integrated) amplifier.

Well I’m always welcomed to come listen to something new, and we all sat there to listen. I wasn’t there for the MSB DAC and amplifier which was apparently the best Mike (my boss) had heard, this Grandinote combination was the best I’d ever heard driving our top of the line speakers.

The detail and lack of noise was exquisite. Unfortunately not in my current budget new. I don’t know if it was top of the line or entry level that I heard, I will tell you they together (DAC and amplifier) were refined and highly resolving.

I have owned a Pass Labs F5 and a friend owned an Aleph 3.Very decent sounding amps if a bit boring.Nothing like a good SET in sound though .Even with a very good 300B preamp driving them.The Bakoons are in totally different league .

Hi 
intresting tread as I also am looking for poweramp for high efficient L.S. I do however also need balanced circuit and monoblocks.
Have any of you experience with Grandionote: Demone.  Lamm: 1.2 or the hybrid Thrax: Hero.

 Regards Thastum

First watt m2 and sit3 are different beasts entirely. Hard to judge the sit3 based on it. I’d try a sit3 or a J2.

There isnt one...yet. I've tried First Watt F2J, SIT2. They come close but not quite there. The best and closest SS amp to SET 300B is the AGD Audion. Give that a try.
I have it and sometimes rotate it with my Berning 300B OTL, Fi 421a, LadyDay 91a+ etc..
But I think you really need speakers that bring out the best in 300B SET. And that means speakers with 98dB efficiency or higher. I highly recommend Rethm speakers.

Go check out Derek Sanderson’s Fleawatt chip amps.  He told me a long time ago that several people were trading in their expensive 300B SET amps for his Fleawatt amps and not missing a beat.

i can attest, I recently had a 3 wpc 6B4G SET amp (6V version of a 2A3 tube & supposed to sound identical from all I’ve read about this tube) up against a 3118 chip amp and after hearing it, I could no longer justify owning a tube amp.

I’ll add another recommendation for Firstwatt, the F5 in particular which is what I had.
I’m into DIY and built a 300B based on ISO Japan transformers, and then built an F5. They both sound excellent.
The F5 has adjustable 2nd harmonic distortion that can be tweaked to taste.
When I measured both, the F5 distortion profile was similar to the 300B

I had all the Aleph lines from pass labs.   Your Tetra 606 does drop down to 6ohms, if i were you the Aleph 3 will not have enough slams, the Aleph 5 is ok but i recommend the Aleph 4 or 1.2.  Your Tetra 3 way drivers, 12’ woofer, class A 30 watts will not be enough.  Happy Listening!  

I actually found an Aleph 3 in Finland. Stereophile went nuts for this amp. https://www.stereophile.com/solidpoweramps/674/index.html
Think I prefer the 3 over the Aleph 5. 
My Tetra 606s arrive tomorrow! Think my 300B SETs will push them nicely. But this thread has got me very interested in some slam, detail and bass of a good SS! My speakers are 92db, very flat 8 ohms and simple crossovers with no resistors. They are 3 way with a 12" woofer, ATC dome midrange and Mundorf dipole AMT tweeter). The only remaining question is whether it would be better to have the Aleph 5 with 60 wpc or the Aleph 3 with 30 wpc??

short answer to op's question is no

He may be a bit bit dated but he had 1 resounding suggestion-the Pass Labs Aleph!
Has anyone had experience with these? Guess it would be the 3 or 5?

Lovely amps but stinking hot,

Tone Publications:
One word of caution: this amplifier runs HOT! Give it plenty of ventilation and breathing room. Pass recommends that, if you have one of these or happen upon one that hasn’t been looked over by either the factory or a good technician, you do so in short order.

and I think they are a low gain amp, so they need a high gain ampere that is low noise SS maybe.
Or if going direct a very high output dac, over 4v output

I think you’d be better off with the XA30’s or XA60, and the bass could also be tighter, if you feel you need more wattage go the XA60’s.

There is an Aleph here that that’s for sale.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/PASS-ALEPH-5-NELSON-PASS-CLASS-A-Amplifier-Own-a-piece-of-Audio-History/313086985185?hash=item48e57043e1:g:lfsAAOSwqCdewxz3

Here's another one for $1600.
https://kahlaudio.com/products/pass-labs-aleph-0s-single-ended-transistor-stereo-amplifier-4000-msrp-2/

Cheers George

A lot of great suggestions.
I really appreciate being part of the Forum. I have learned A LOT!
I asked a good friend in the Audio Industry this question. He may be a bit bit dated but he had 1 resounding suggestion-the Pass Labs Aleph!
Has anyone had experience with these? Guess it would be the 3 or 5?
Any preferences?
I have heard a lot about the FW Sit 3 but I own a FW M2 and tried it. Both me and my wife missed the 300B SET sound a lot.
I always listen to her opinion. At least, her high frequencies are better than mine.

Why not start with a demo from a company that makes BOTH great tube and SS and form an opinion from there before branching out to other producers. The name has come up several times in this thread - Luxman, although Conrad Johnson comes to mind and I'm sure plenty more.

There is a review which compares the SIT-3 with a Bakoon.They are both great and dedicated to absolute purity of sound but go about it in slightly different ways.The Bakoon is arguably more SET like in its operation .As I understand it they are both basically current drive amplifiers but Pass has deliberately added some voltage drive .SET amps are considered to be quasi current drive.Whatever that means.Just about all SS amps are voltage drive.

I’m surprised nobody has mentioned the Firstwatt SIT-3. IMHO if there’s a SS amp that can approach SET magic, this is it.
I use both SETs and low-power SS amplification in my system and agree with others that one will not sound like the other. However, the SIT-3 is one of a kind because it’s a no-feedback single-ended circuit based on a rare transistor that behaves like a triode tube.
For reference I also own a Mastersound 300B and a Valvet E2 and while I find each one special in their own way, the SIT-3 somehow manages to combine the best of each and I find myself listening to it the most.

Having said that, if you REALLY want to be reminded what a good SS amp can sound like, try listening to one of the Gryphon integrateds. My experience with the “little” Diablo 120 has been ear-opening to say the least.

Up until recently, I enjoyed immensely my Pass XA60.8's. Needing a bit more power for my hungry TAD's, I now have a Coda Model 16 and am blown away with the sound. Enticing, tube like texture, punch and soundstage aplomb. You are welcome!

Check out the Belles SA 30 I promise you its a Special performer.  The input imp is 100 K so a tube preamp is at total friendly optimization
  Best JohnnyR

Pass XA30.8

The vast majority of SS will not sound like a SET because they are electrically very different.Bakoon amplifiers sound a lot like a SET.A very very good SET.And that is most probably because they operate much more like a SET electrically -no negative feedback/high output impedance/current drive.Although the unique SATRI circuit probably also contributes to that sort of sound.I sold my SET and stopped using my other tube amps when I bought a Bakoon.But like a SET they have to be used with speakers with a highish and flattish impedance to sound their best. Although in my experience they are not nearly as fussy about speakers as the typical SET.