SET the best?


Is SET amplification where we should all end up? I keep reading posts where people tell of their journeys from plenty power to micro power, and how amazing SET amplification is 45 set 211 set 845 set otl, and usually, ....with the right speaker. I have yet to read of anyone who has gone the other direction from SET, to High watt beast class A amps or others.
If your speakers can be driven by minimal wattage, is this the most realistic, natural sound we can achieve? versus say, 86db sensitive speakers and a 1000w amp?
Is the end result solely based on speaker pairing? circuit? tubes?

I am in the process of changing my direction in my search for realistic sound, just because, and wondering if this really is the best direction to be going.
From what I have been reading I think it may be.

What do we get with SET? What do we give up?

What's you favorite color?
hanaleimike

Showing 1 response by ckoffend

I went from high power high current to SET. I bought a 6 Moons reviewer sample amp(that he effused immensely about) and bought the speakers he recommended to go with it (which were also reviewed by him). Now this was not salary priced equipment, but reasonably priced and I was told would take me a good distance into SET performance (by the reviewer).

Sure it did some things well. I am not so sure I would say better than my high power system, but certainly differently. The SET set-up was a faction of the price and this should be noted. What it didn't do as well was significant to me.

My EXPERIENCE and opinion was that if you don't mind just listening to a portion of the music on the recording, albeit that portion sound nice, then you may very well like SET. However, if you feel that you need the entire frequency spectrum at decent or full weight, then you may end up disappointed - as I did. I am now moving back to higher power (at least vs. SET).

Will everyone eventually end up there? No way will that ever happen. It is definately a niche type area.

All that being said, I am confident that there are $100K SET systems that expand beyond my experiences.