SET Lovers, what's the one solid state amp you love(d)?


I'm thinking of trying out a solid state amp in place of my 300B SET, which is giving me some problems again and the builder is swamped so it's going to be awhile.

Suggestions? Speakers are 96dB 12" 2-way bass reflex studio monitors from a Japanese recording studio.

dhcod

@jasonbourne71 THANK YOU - I will look in on Will Vincent (autospec) in Idaho. I found several Bedini forums today and started asking for repair suggestions to regain the Bedini magic we all love. Currently, it is better than my Schiit amps, but not what it was - the bass is slow and fat now - sounds wrong. It lacks a particular musical transparency that I adored. I feel like the recurrent repair dishonors what John created. I am not in a hurray as my current space does not allow for loud listening volume, and due to room acoustics, loud volumes create acoustic problems - still - to honor John and for my peace of mind, I would like to have the 25/25 restored to what John might have done were he still with us. Let's see what Will says. Thank you again.

I enjoy the added soundstage and “drive” of the McCormack DNA-1 when my LTA ZOTL40 is rotated. I mainly listen to jazz. 

For relatively little more money than the Pass XA25, one can get a Coda No.8 which is a wholly superior amplifier in my system(s). It takes everything good about the XA25 up a notch or two. Its current output ability is incredible yet it also has finesse, speed and great decay. 

 

A lot of great suggestions above.  Personally I think speaker synergy is very important.  My 10 watt Dennis Had Inspire SEP drives my 99 dB Klipsch beautifully,  superb holographic sound stage. Everything sounds like being there! It takes my beefy 23 watt 300b/845 SET to drive my Focal Aria @92 dB.  And BION, a cheap Olchen EL34 that really only puts out about 5 watts before distorting above 3-5% sounds great paired with Vienna Acoustics @92 dB. I swapped out the stock Psvane tubes for NOS Svetlana and Tesla EL34s with Tung Sol and Sylvania FAA 6SN7s. It’s my master bedroom rig playing early morning and late night low volume jazz, folk, etc. sound very clean, detailed and warm. 

So, for SS, and I’ll probably get a lot of haters here, but I also have a vintage Crown DC 300A and IC150 preamp that sounds amazing driving a pair of vintage Infinity 4 way towers.  Different sound than tubes, but great imaging, tight punchy bass, warm, yes warm mids, and sparkling highs.  And it can play loud, loud! Rock, country, let’s get the party started!

You’ll have no problem driving 96 dB studio monitor speakers with 25-50 SS watts.  Never heard a Pass Labs, but everyone loves them…however $$$$! The Kinky reviews are good and only $3500 ish.  If this is a temporary solution, I’d pickup an integrated SS reliable brand like Cambridge Audio or Luxman off ebay or audio mart.  If you’re budget bigger, there’s always a used McIntosh! Only brand that holds its value like a used Ferrari.