Amp/Preamp Asylum: REVIEW: Golden Tube Audio SE-40 Amplifier (Tube) by ElDragon

Model:	SE-40
Category:	Amplifier (Tube)
Suggested Retail Price:	$1,500
Description:	Single ended paralled 25-40 watts output.
Manufacturer URL:	Golden Tube Audio
Model Picture:	View

Review by ElDragon on May 31, 2009 at 09:09:29
IP Address: 74.182.27.248 Add Your Review
for the SE-40

I was fortunate to re-entered this hobby, about the same time internet kicked into the full gear, along with the audio forums, and used marketplaces e-bay, audiogon etc.., so there was less and less limitation on the gear we could hear about, and own.

As I remember reading the posts, the Golden Tube amp's were synonym for unreliability and headache - where even, what should be a simple tasks, of biasing the amp would drive almost every unfortunate owner crazy. Still, many weren't discouraged, but were ready to put-up with anything they had to, because of the - sound!

I decided to test myself, to see if I could keep up, with owning this 'best bargain' in Hi end sound. The price was always right on these amps, in comparison to the majority of the other bargain tube amps, so it wasn't much at stake, if things didn't work-out.

I found one for $400 shipped, here on Asylum Classifieds, and as soon as the amp arrived I pitted it against Pass Aleph 3, and liked what I heard. I wasn't ready to get rid of the Aleph's just yet, but more music got played through GTA amp as the amp offered more 'weight' to the sound, more dimension. It was like looking at the cardboard cutout vs. the three dimensional object the tube amp offered. It could have been the room, a tad more power of the GTA amp - or pleasing distortions, often attributed to tube amps. Regardless, the tube amp stayed.

Soon after I sold Aleph's, the 'things' start happening. Crackling sound, that didn't go away even after tube replacement, bad(?) tubed socket, I still replaced, but didn't alleviate the problem, bad biasing pot...and finally cold solder joint. I didn't wait long but joined the Golden Tube group on Yahoo, where with -indirect- help of Loc Vu, and others , made my amp much more reliable by implementing the simple upgrades. Also you could go over board, just to make sure:

http://gallery.audioreview.com/data/audio//505/medium" /2004201090594863.jpg

http://komkris2000.webs.com/P11%20pcb%20completed.jpg

Because of the sound, that far outweighs the cost of the amp, the constant tweaking that you could do it yourself, this amp offers almost the same quality of pleasure one would expect from the purchase of the classic car. And just like the classic car enthusiast would advise: "Not for the faith of heart."

I have seen dogs with more style than men,...

Charles Bukowski

Product Weakness:	unreliable right out of box, requires extensive 'walk through.' On the bright side, the tweaks, mods and upgrades aren't hard even for the inexperienced solderer. Plenty of help online.
Product Strengths:	Sound that equals or surpasses the far more expensive amplifiers with offering... je ne se qua?

Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: GTA-Se40
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Cary SLP-50
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Sony DVP9000ES
Speakers: DIY Watt/Puppy
Cables/Interconnects: Kimber, Discovery
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Classica, Baroque, Blues, World
Room Size (LxWxH): 24 x 17 x 11
Time Period/Length of Audition: 2 years
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner

Amplifier:	GTA-Se40
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Cary SLP-50
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Sony DVP9000ES
Speakers:	DIY Watt/Puppy
Cables/Interconnects:	Kimber, Discovery
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Classica, Baroque, Blues, World
Room Size (LxWxH):	24 x 17 x 11
Time Period/Length of Audition:	2 years
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner