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What are the differences in sound, generally speaking, between a single-ended pentode amp and a push-pull triode counterpart using the same tube, say, KT88, assuming both are well executed?
I like the sound of my push-pull triode KT88 (previously EI KT90), but always wonder what will be the outcome if I had used a single ended KT88 - I probably love to have the latter in triode had it not been for its power limitations.
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To me the KT88 based amps have more hi-fi sparkle but the music seems "pulled apart" a little more (Triode helps and is the only way I would listen to them). I own an Audio Note OTO SEP (EL84) and I have not heard a KT 88 (or an El34 or KT120) that I have found to beat it's "right sounding" sound. The downside of course is power - at 10 watts (4.2 watts undistorted) the OTO is limited in what it can drive and it doesn't possess.
I am not sure you can generalize much from this since I have not heard all the KT88 based amps out there nor I suspect are most EL84 amps up to the same level as the OTO.
I did audition 2 days ago a wonderful KT88 based amplifier (arguably the best I've ever heard from a KT88 from a Hong Kong maker (been around 30 years) called Sound Master (not Mastersound). He was using PSVANE Gray bottle KT88s and made speakers I don't normally like sound rather exceptional.
What I liked about the amp is that you can apparently switch the output tubes to EL34 as well. Their flagship preamp interested me because you could switch between 300B, 2A3, 45, among others.
This is your "fly so far under the radar it's laughable" post but hey maybe it's available for an audition somewhere near you and you might be as impressed as I was.
I have heard a few Audio Note speakers and amps and never heard any bad(read: offensive) tone no matter how badly the set up was. Refinement is foremost of their attributes.At the point, I am getting pretty good sound from my KT88 push-pull triode monoblocks but keep wondering how an Audio Note amp would improve my system. I have my sight on their Parallel 300B kit but have to audition one before I am willing to pull out my credit card, especially if I want their better output transformers.
Edits: 04/03/14
If you need the power, then you need the power. However, if you can run SEP EL84s with a bit of feedback, and still enjoy your speakers, then I think you need to hear the 6BQ5 in SE Pentode or Triode mode.
If you think you miss something, then you do miss that something. Perhaps, you can build a homebrew SE amp that accommodates your various tube choices ? Incorporating a quality switch inside, you could then quickly hear the pentode vs triode differences instantly...
This really depends on the specifics of the designs.
Is the single-ended pentode amp running the output tube as a triode or a pentode?
Your push-pull triode amps shouldn't have any global feedback, but when you migrate to a single ended pentode amp, it will need feedback to stabilize its operation.
If you don't need a ton of power, a single ended triode amp is certainly worth auditioning.
I have two single ended pentode amps,6V6 Decware Mini Torii and Triode Corp TRK3488 EL34/6550/KT88. Both are excellent. If you have speakers that are fine with 5-10 watts go for a SEP amp. Sonics? Low power generally sounds better to me and I don't miss triodes.
If the speakers are appropriate I also find lower power amps generally better sounding and I do prefer the DHT over the pentodes. Obviously this is all personal choice/opinion but DHTs are more natural and realistic sounding in my experiences. We all have our preferences.
Agreed on preferences. DHT's are excellent too.
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