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What's the greatest bargain in SET these days?

Hi, Gang,
I response to my recent review of the Reference 3A De Capo BE speaker, someone wrote that if you really want to hear them sing, you should try them with a SET amp, or words to that effect.
That got me thinking. The De Capo's are 92 db efficient, which (correct me if I'm wrong) seems kind of borderline for low-power SET amps.
In any event, right now I'm running mine with a pair of Manley Mahi mono-blocks. They are switchable from triode (20 watts) to "ultra linear" (40 watts). I run them in triode all the time, and in my room, the volume knob almost never goes past 9 o'clock; more would just be too loud.
All that said, what do you guys think of running the De Capo's with a SET amp? And if I did, what's the best bargain in SET's these days?
Thanks!
rebbi

Showing 1 response by ddd1

ddd1
261 posts
 
If you are using low powered (ie. 2-10 wpc) SET and SEP amps, they work better with speakers of higher sensitivity. ie. closer to 100 dB instead of closer to 90 dB.

Don't put a lightweight in the ring against a heavyweight!

If that is all the power you have, try some horns. If you don't want to buy the big dollar stuff, try some Klipsch Heresy, Forte, Chorus, Cornwall, Lascala, Klipschorn, etc. Better the speaker impedance is linear too, othewise there will be audible frequency response issues that you may not be able to overcome with speaker placement.

OP: with your De Capos I would look at 20 wpc as the minimum, which will give you some leeway with different recordings, volume levels and room placements.
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