Are you speakers sensitive enough for an SET? that is a key question. Tube amps are divided into 2 classes, SET and class A/B. SETs are the main venue of "tube amp magic". Stay away from primaluna and other amps built on circuit boards. Go with simple point to point circuits. Get Manual bias control. Look for the simplest circuit with the fewest components in the signal path as possible. Jerry |
@charles1dad I don’t want to argue semantics and even yield that you are probably correct in the way you define it. (pentode vs ultralinear). but to me the sound isn’t that much different between them. I recommend the simple, single output tube per channel, directly heated triode, single ended, tube amp to get the nimble, crystal clear, and dynamic sound we chase. But you have to have speakers that are compatible. BTW, I own an excellent example of the pentode push-pull amp that sounds excellent. I'll be getting rid of it in favor of the SET I prefer. Jerry |
@charles1dad Thanks. BTW, I forgot that @brandonw is on here. I would definitely recommend a custom amp from his Apollo Audio Systems to meet the OP's desires.. Jerry |
@gregjacob I have never owned a primaluna but have heard a couple. I wasn't impressed, I concluded it was the amp, but I have to be honest that it was other peoples' systems. for a true test, it would be much better to drop one into my system so I would be able to control the other variables. the ZMA is a point to point wired vs printed circuit board for the primaluna. Primaluna. The PL is a bit of a swiss army knife with all the features, but that in my opinion degrades the signal. The ZMA's strong point's are the huge power supply and simple signal path. I am a big fan but I don't need so much power and am fixated on the simple SETs now. Yes, i will be listing it for sale soon but I am not offering it for sale yet. I know there are a lot of Primaluna owners out there. This is my opinion only. I'm just a guy and my opinion is worth what you pay for it so don't be offended. the custom amp is a 6 figure amp with hand wound transformers and some amazing features. I am very lucky to be able to purchase it. I have heard the layout version of it and it is already the best amp I've ever heard. Jerry |
@boxertwin12 I have a Decware ZMA, a UFO and am on the waitlist for a 300b. In the mean time I’m having a custom amp made which will probably replace all of them. but they are hard to beat. I would recommend the 300b but there are so few out there that they are unheard of on the secondary market and 2 years out on the waitlist. I’ve owned 3 different Decware amps so far, all bought on the secondary market.
Jerry |
@charles1dad AD1. Built around the EML tube. |
@decooney I didn’t see @jchiappinelli ’s comment. thanks for answering for me. Yes, there are a lot of circuit bords inside this amp and in my opinion, it doesn’t sound like a cleanly wired simple point to point. A lot of that is probably the push/pull design. Yes, PL claims the important parts are point to point. My amp is all point to point. I have a friend who has taken a couple of simple PC based amps and rewired them to point to point with good success. PL would be pretty complicated for that. it has a lot of features that would be hard to integrate into a PTP. So when you want all those features, you may have to compromise. I first looked at PL when I was looking for an amp with an HT bypass and PL is one of the few tube amps with this feature. I figured out how to make it happen. Primaluna and Kevin Deal have a large fan club and my negative opinion is not going to change anyone’s mind. I’m glad so many people like them. I’ll fight to the death for the right to their opinion (all those folks who disagree with me). Finally, I’ll quote Henry Ford, "whenever 2 people always agree, one of them is unnecessary." I don’t think my opinions are valued enough that I’m influencing people. Jerry |
