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

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Warning!!!

Posted by Rick R (A) on April 26, 2007 at 18:17:47

In Reply to: Best SET amp posted by Cooldude on April 25, 2007 at 16:34:30:

What you are considering by purchasing a low powered SET amp to go with your 100dB speakers is not a step to take lightly. You are stepping into the dark side of audio. Yes this can be pleasing and even fun, but you need to know in advance that there is potential danger here.

You might decide that it would be practical to start out with an amp that can use either 45 or 2A3 tubes, so you can try both and decide which you prefer. But, of course you will need to try a variety of different 45 tubes and different 2A3’s. You can’t forget about the variety of driver tubes either. Then comes your choices in rectifiers. You can spend lots of time trying all possible combinations and perhaps get to a point where you have decided on your favorite combination.

Now you decide that you should go for an amp that is dedicated to the output tube of your choice, since your existing amp could be somewhat of a compromise. So you buy a new amp. But this amp uses different drivers, so now you buy a bunch of different driver tubes to try. A few months go by and you think you have now found bliss with your favorite tube choices. But, unfortunately you have been following the Audio Asylum Tube and SET forums. You read about new tubes that have come out from China and Europe. Of course you feel compelled to try this too.

And then you read where someone with you type of speaker has found that he likes a 300B amp better because it sounds richer, more authoritative and has more palpable images. You have no choice; you have to try a 300B amp. Then you have to try all the 300B tubes. Now you start reading more about amp design and hear that if you don’t have AC on the filaments, you are missing the full potential of the 300B. So you have no choice but to seek out an amp that corrects that horrible problem. Now you start worrying that your amp may not use the ultimate driver for the 300B.

Just for fun, you start looking at the AA High Efficiency Speaker forum – big mistake. You discover that there are a number of speakers that, according to these expert participants, are much better suited to a SET amp than the ones you have. What to choose? Vintage Altec’s, new horn’s, single driver’s, Classic Klipschorns?

Just as you are stewing over this next big decision, your mother (or old friend) comes over to visit you. While you are getting them a glass of ice tea (or red wine), they happen to open the door to the closet in the spare bedroom. You walk in and see an expression of concern on their face. “What is all this?” they ask, as if you have some serious explaining to do. There inside the closet, where clothes used to be, are floor to ceiling shelves, packed with tube boxes, amplifiers, preamps, a tube tester and a few extra cables. Now it hits you as you struggle to come out with an explanation that makes sense to a normal person. You are addicted! You just can’t stop. There has to be one more tube, amp or speaker for you to try and then you will have reached audio Nirvana. Sorry my friend, but the sad truth is you never get there. Some will tell you that the journey is the prize and as long as you enjoy it (and don’t hurt anyone along the way), then go for it. Only you can know if this is the path for you.

Good luck, but - you have been warned.

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Kimber Kable

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