SET Asylum

Single Ended Triodes (SETs), the ultimate tube lovers dream.

Return to SET Asylum

Message Sort: Post Order or Asylum Reverse Threaded

SETs: 300B compared with 572.

203.124.1.187
Posted on April 15, 2000 at 18:24:00
Johann E


 
So I still havent got a SE triode amp yet. Still in love with my GTA SE40, but I miss that truly beautiful *sparkle* that only or seem to only belong to 300B SE amps, especially of the silver wired/killer transformer variety.

My concern with 300B's low 8-12 watt limit got me interested in investigating the Cary 572 SET amps, but unfortunately, the local Cary
dealer can't bring the amps in unless I order them and commit myself to a no money back guarantee purchase, sound unheard. I don't blame them; interest in the amp seems low in Singapore.

Have you guys compared or heard a 572 SET amp and compared it with a 300B SET amp? I love the 300Bs highs and shimmer and speed. MIdrange magic? Gee, goes without saying, still even a pentode amp like the GTA SE40 give the lesser 300B SETs a real fight.

The 20 watt 572 is just terra incognita for me =(

Any opinions really welcomed.

 

Hide full thread outline!
    ...
Cary 572, posted on April 16, 2000 at 00:10:42
Alex


 
There is one review of the Cary 572 at Audioreview. This review said both that the tube was "euphonic" ruining several kinds of music and that for female vocals it was the most glorious (adj. paraphrase not quote) tube he had ever heard.

There is an owner review in the AA archives. This owner seems to be
totally in love with it.

There is a famous (rare more to the point) Stereophile article on it (which of course you can order). The reviewer raved about it apparently.

__________________________

I'll let others give qualitative judgments about the 572 (it will be found to be lacking in comparison to 2A3). In terms of Cary's product line:
Cary divides Svetlana's 572 and 811 with Cary getting the 572 and the AES division getting the 811.
The 572 amp is 20 watt as you say, singled ended circuit, and a triode output tube. SE + T = SET, "true," "real," and what have you--
the waveform amplified in one piece not split and recombined.
The other way to get 20 watt SE monoblocks from Cary is with KR tubes.
The 572 in the US is exactly 1/2 the price, $3,000 less, $2,000 less than the ones using 300B, with tubes costing something like $100-$150
as opposed to $400 KR (?) and $900 WE.


 

Re: SETs: 300B compared with 572., posted on April 16, 2000 at 07:24:50
rich


 
be sure to check out DeHavilland amps (707)527-5000 they use the 572 triode with Electra Print output transformers with are one of VTV's & Uncle Eric Barbors favorite OPT. the amps retail for about $2,600.00 U.S.

 

Re: SETs: 300B compared with 572., posted on April 16, 2000 at 08:35:45
Johann E


 
Thanks Rich, but I am not in the US. I am in Singapore.

Which made my questions about mail ordering amps a few months back really important. I recently got a pair of speaker cables online
and can't get the cable makers to reply via email :(

Right now I am a lil wary of mail ordering large items from so far away...

So we got Cary in Singapore, Golden Tube (NOW killed off by a local "high end" audio shop), Audio NOte UK (HA!)-for SE tube amps...

Unfortunately no Wright nor Welborne nor Moth...AND wary if a certain "high end" shop took any of these brands in....they killed off GTA, Wavac, E.A.R. and god knows how many other good brands here already...

 

Re: SETs: 300B compared with 572., posted on April 16, 2000 at 12:37:50
MTL


 
You are right in that the 572/811 will give you more power than the 300B but they are different tubes and they sound different altho they still have the SET magic.You seem to have a certain sound that you prefer so I'd suggest that you actually listen to the tube/amp before you decide.What speakers are you using?

 

disengage automatic piolet, posted on April 16, 2000 at 14:42:26
Alex


 
he can't listen to it. he's in singapore. That's his point.

 

Re: SETs: 300B compared with 572., posted on April 16, 2000 at 23:28:55
Johann E


 
MTL offered:
"You are right in that the 572/811 will give you more power than the 300B but they are different tubes and they sound different altho they still have the SET magic."

=Would you say the 572/811 tube SE amps sound generally closer to 845, 300B *or* 2a3s?

(I have heard AudioNOTe U.K. 300B amps that resemble tonally 2a3 amps more than Audion and Cary 300B amps do(!)You know,
dryer, smaller tonalities, slightly grainy highs and bompish bass rather than voice-rich, bloomy, expansive...)


"You seem to have a certain sound that you prefer so I'd suggest that you actually listen to the tube/amp before you decide.What speakers are you using?"

Right now, ProAc Response 2s...around 86dB. I used to use the Cary 300SE monos, but had to sell them. The current prices for Cary300SEs
places them out of my budget unless I max out and don't replace the ProAcs with another higher dB speaker, don't upgrade wires, etc. Frankly, I d be absolutely broke if I now buy the current Cary 300Bs :(

I do prefer the classic 300B sound as far as I have heard. To my ears, the micro-dynamics, shimmering highs, transparency,speed and immediacy of *non-AudioNote* 300B amps, while my current amp, the GTA SE 40 has about 70% of, are musical qualities I most desire from a playback system, you know?

I m looking for a higher powered SET amp within my (US)$1,500-2000max budget that retain these characteristics.

Am I barking up the wrong tree with the Cary 572 amps?

 

Re: SETs: 300B compared with 572., posted on April 17, 2000 at 07:24:14
Thorsten


 
Hi there,

I have heard the 40W Wavac SE SV572-30 Amp. I have also heard a range of 300B Amp's and a variety of others (845, 211) and so on.

The 572 came closest to some 211SE Amplifiers from China tonally, but had plenty more power. Tonality is somewhat hard....

If I where to compare the "typhical" 300B Sound to the Wavac 572, I'd say musicality & beauty = 300B and accuracy & power = 572....

Later T

 

Re: SETs: 300B /572. Thank you!, posted on April 17, 2000 at 07:43:49
Johann E


 
I gather from all your excellent replies that I am either better off with:
a)sticking with my GTA SE40....OR*

b)getting a good true 300B SE amp...

AND I managed to secure the purchase of a Golden Tube Audio SE 300B mkII...! I feel pretty good about it.

Now, on to the speakers....! =)

 

Re: SETs: 300B /572. Thank you!, posted on April 17, 2000 at 08:42:22
Thorsten


 
Hi Johann,

I would not be so rash to commit myself to a purchase. Please try to go and listen for yourself. "Sound" is a very subjective thing and what I find not neccesarily to good sounding is often praised by others.

So basically, doin't trust Guru's, let no-one tell you what you should like and make sure you listen carefully and extendedly before you buy.

Later T

 

Re: SETs: 300B compared with 572., posted on April 17, 2000 at 10:04:32
MTL


 
First off I think that if you like the sound of DHSET you really need a sensitive speaker.In other words don't let the speakers be your limiting factor.If you are trying to adapt a DHSETA to you existing speakers that are not really suitable for DHSETA that's a hard and time and money wasting path.I'm speaking from experience!
Thorsten is right about the 572/300d sound differences.In addition the 811 is somewhere in between.In spite of the fact that the 572 amp is not available in S'pore I still suggest that you listen to it's sound or some other 572 amp sound before you take the plunge.If you have no way of listening to it then forget it.

 

Re: SETs: 300B compared with 572., posted on April 17, 2000 at 16:00:41
llammers


 
Find an amp you really and THEN look for speakers. Other wise you will
find yourself on heavy medication, you will become neurotic if you approach SET from any other direction. BTDT=Been There Done That.


 

Re: SETs: 300B compared with 572., posted on April 18, 2000 at 08:08:02
M Vidal


 
I've heard the Cary 572 with a pair of Soliloquy 5.3's and I really liked what I heard. I am considering a pair. Instruments and voices with body and dimensionality that I had not heard before. Bass is strong too. I didn't notice any exagerated lushness. My local Cary dealer mentioned to me that is not that far from the sound produced by the Cary 300B LX II which he also had briefly with these same speakers. They have the same power rating (20 w/c), The 300B are a little more smooth but they cost twice what the 572 costs.

 

the answer is within you, posted on April 18, 2000 at 19:00:38
Alex


 
The original post said that he *can't* listen to the product.
This didn't disuade us from the usual party line, oh no!
This person seems to want to be told what to do based on other
people's subjectivity.
1. listen yourself (or have others listen for you; proceed to 2.)
2. 2A3 and 300B are better than 572.
Choosing a 20 watt SET for the power, the technology, and a consensus of subjective quality is not rocket science. There is no 20 watt 300B SE.

 

Re: the answer is within you, posted on April 18, 2000 at 23:26:29
Johann E


 
Alex:"This person seems to want to be told what to do based on other
people's subjectivity."

We all shortlist gear partly from reviews and recommendations (Stereophile's April issue always get sold out fastest)

But since I Can't "hear it for myself". . . *your* cultivated opinions are the ONLY thing I have to go on! NOT a way to buy audio gear, but....

"2. 2A3 and 300B are better than 572."

How so? What are your criteria/parameters for "better"?


"Choosing a 20 watt SET for the power, the technology, and a consensus of subjective quality is not rocket science. There is no 20 watt 300B SE."

Cary 300B KR rated 20watts, Welborne Apollo 20 watts to name two...
Audion and AN UK make parallel 300B amps rated 18-20 watts.

 

Amp or speakers first?, posted on April 19, 2000 at 02:59:29
andy evans


 
Les Lammers writes "Find an amp you really and THEN look for speakers. Other wise you will find yourself on heavy medication, you will become neurotic if you approach SET from any other direction. BTDT=Been There Done That." I can see the logic of this approach, but I'd do the reverse. I've spent years and years with boxes - Tannoys, BBC speakers, even Vitavox 15" and horns at one stage. I always and in all circumstances preferred panel speakers - Quad, Apogee, Maggies. These are the ones that sound like music does to me, and by a substantial margin. So I'd compromise on the amp, hence my postings on higher powered SETs, trioded pentodes and PP 300b amps. I have no immediate intention of going back to boxes, and certainly not horns. We know quite well that higher power SETs or DHTs exist - where's the huge problem?

 

Re: SETs: 300B compared with 572., posted on April 19, 2000 at 16:35:24
Dave


 
I have the Apollo I's from Welborne, with the 842VHD, new souped up KR wonder engine.I origially had the KR 300BXLS, but Ron sent me these new ones to try and they are even better, more of everything.
I think this amp is rated at 18W. I use it with home-brew TL's w/ modest 90Db efficiency, and these amps....I can't say enough.

Later
Dave

 

Re: the answer is within you, posted on April 19, 2000 at 16:56:00
Dave


 
Yes and the Apollo I costs about half the Cary. It also comes stock with the KR842VHD, a more powerful, more incredible tube than even the 300BXLS. I haven't heard the Cary, but the build and circuit design of the Welborne is very fine indeed.
Make sure your pre-amp is up to par.
Later
Dave
PS check out the reviews in Listener mag.

 

Re: the answer is within you, posted on April 20, 2000 at 05:56:14
llammers


 
The higher power SET are NOT 300B tubes. They are variants and you should not use a 'normal' 300B in them as it will burn up, or the life will be greatly shortened. Better to get more efficient speakers
rather than paint yourself into a corner. You will be happier in the long run as you will have more options. JMHO.

 

Re: Amp or speakers first?, posted on April 20, 2000 at 15:56:36
llammers


 
Andy has a good point too. IF you have speakers you really like, find an amp that works with them. Many roads lead to the same destination.
Just don't expect a 2A3 amp to work with you speakers. Ron Welborne
has a great deal on two demo Apollo amps. www.welbornlabs.com
Check it out.

Les the Mess

 

Re: the answer is within you, posted on April 20, 2000 at 19:45:40
Dave


 
Thanks Ilammers. I know that I can't use the regular 300B's in this amp. Have you heard any of these new tubes (300BXLS or 842VHD)?
I would like to hear your reaction to them, and how do they compare to the original WE?
I am working on a new speaker.
Later
D

 

Re: SETs: 300B compared with 572., posted on April 26, 2000 at 17:36:36
Mitch


 
I am evaluating a 211 based amp from Wyetech. I have only heard one 300B tube amp from Manley running the Sovtek 300B. The Manley was no match for the Wyetech in power and spead. In fact it sounded hazy during fast passages on some of my music. I have been told that the Manley is not indicative of good 300B design and sound. Can you compare/contrast the sonic differences? Can I get an amp that is very clear and fast with a 300B?
Thanks
Mitch

 

Re: SETs: 300B compared with 572., posted on April 27, 2000 at 03:42:36
Johann E


 
I am told that KR 300B variants are really fast and powerful versions of the classic 300B tube.
Mitch, does Wytech do international mail order, do they have a website?

What you wrote is very interesting indeed. I could infer that a Cary
572, like the 211 tube amps, would be faster and cleaner than a Cary
300B SET amp. I wish I could hear the damned 572 amp without obligation first tho. *sigh*

 

Page processed in 0.019 seconds.

[ Top Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]