2. amps-preamps
  3. 1257069072

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 6 responses by luisma31

luisma31
516 posts
 
Interesting thread, got resurrected after 10 years. If Ralph still follows it I would be interested on knowing which amps he was referring to in this comment
But the amps I use are designed to not generate any loudness cues to the human ear

Were you referring to your OTLs @at

luisma31
516 posts
 
Thanks Ralph, having your MA-1's OTL's I agree that listening to higher levels without distortion it is an exceptional experience, I figured you were talking about your OTL's
luisma31
516 posts
 
Its this phenomena of *sounding* loud that's what I'm talking about. 
Agreed I have compared a PSET with KT150's 16 Watts or so vs the OTL's and it distorts after 70% or so, that impression of playing loud to me was plain distortion. My speakers are 96 db not 100 db so I think it could get better but don't know how much more.

luisma31
516 posts
 
Good that works for you @wolf_garcia could not agree more with efficiency and the ability to use pretty much ANY amp
luisma31
516 posts
 
The destination should be contentment, not perfection.

Well said Markus
kind of energy that makes you want to throw a chair through the window or at least be able to get you excited

@bjesien remind me not ever to be on a listening session with you please

Well one would have to have heard each and every class A, AB, D, GAN, Tube push/pull, OTL, Chip and Hybrid amp produced to say only one or two amps. Right?! Hear them all in the same exact system. Right?!
We must be careful making sweeping statements that are always based on such little experience relative to all that is out there
.
@grannyring that's some good common sense, something scarce here on audiogon

I was about to post the other day but have been busy, I have listened a few SET, SS, PSET, OTL amps. And although some of these amps excel with almost every system there is always an Achilles heel you might say to the best in class amp.



luisma31
516 posts
 
LOL @antigrunge I have yet to see a post from Ralph's claiming he makes the best amps or any superiority claims. If you can find it post it here

For the record I owned a pair of MA-1's that Ralph makes and these work with a very wide range of speakers, as a matter of fact better than some solid state and SET amps, the horses for courses comment IMO doesn't apply to his amps

The only ever small compromise I found was with low impedance speakers with an impedance dip under 60 Hz 2 ohm or so, here an SS would handle better at the expense of mudiness and distortion at all the other frequencies
More to discover