Antique Sound Lab 805 DT SETs--WOW

Congrats. A lot of people dismiss high powered SET amps but I like them just as much as the flea powered SET's. I had the same reaction when I received my GM-70 amp (38W). Sit back and enjoy.

Hello Jefftsefu. Thx for resurrecting this tread; it gives me an opportunity to blab.
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I kept and loved these amps thru a pair of Quad 989s, but I tired of the 989s' excessive treble energy (for me) and bought a less-sensitive mag-planar speaker. The 805s didn't have enough power to drive them, so I sold the 805s and bought a pair of ASL Hurricanes, improved them greatly, sold the mag-planars, built hi-sensitivity open-baffle line-arrays, retired the 'Canes, moved to low-power SETs, bought in August 2010 a pair of Audio Physic Avanti IIIs, continued to use the 12-Watt SETs, sold them this month, and bought a pair of (GASP!) Marantz sand amps. The latter are the M-22s, 75-into-4, Class-A-biased monoamps.
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http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/jeffreybehr/Marantz%20M-22/17Jan2011_front_1280w.jpg
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http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/jeffreybehr/Marantz%20M-22/26Jan2010_rear_1280w.jpg
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I also ordered a new pair of ASL Explorer 805 amps (the RR is up to $4750!!!!!!!!) which should be here in a month or 3, and I've also ordered a pair of Monarchy Audio SM70Pros. The latter are 40-into-4, Class-A, MOSFET-output stereo amps that have an excellent reputation for sounding much better than their low price and overall at least very good. (I'll vertically biamp the lower-MR driver and the MR/treble drivers, which is doable since I've outboarded the X-overs and rewired the drivers.)
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After the SM70Ps get here and break-in, I'll determine which of these sandamps sound better (and return the SM70Ps if necessary) and also if I can live for years without vacuumtubes in my poweramps. If I decide I can't--that is, if the better of these sandamps don't create enough 'goosebump' moments of sonic bliss--and I've had them several times with the Avantis driven by the Marantzes, but more often when driven by the now-gone 12-Watt Music Reference SETs--I'll accept the 805s and see how they sound.
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So maybe I will return to SET heaven, and maybe I won't, but whichever I choose, the new system has never sounded better, overall.
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Jefftsefu, I hope you fall in love with the sounds of wonderful music that SETs can deliver.
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Jeffreybehr, we exchanged messages a few years ago (Two Jeffreys question).
Apparently you still have that turnstile installed in the doorway of your
listening room! You certainly have gone through a variety of equipment. But
it sounds like you're having fun and that's good.

Now, regarding power needs. A year and a half ago I bought a pair of 97 dB
speakers, my first venture into HE systems. I was able to borrow a number of
amps from friends (no local dealers seem to be into HE systems) that ranged
from 3-4 watts up to 25, and a mix of SET and PP. In general, even with the
efficiency of my speakers, musical realism/satisfaction improved with each
increase in power output. There was one exception, a 6 watt PX-25 amp that
sounds like it has roughly triple the output. It also offers a musical
refinement most of the more powerful amps didn't produce.

My bottom line conclusion? Generally you can't rely on an efficiency/power
needs chart, so don't hesitate to try more powerful amps than such a chart
tells you. A 97 dB speaker will play at 103 dB with only 4 watts? Not
successfully if you listen in at least an average size room and to anything
other than chamber music or solo folk singers.

It's difficult to find impressions of NOS 805 tubes. I am looking to venture into that world after trying an RCA 805 and liking it. Do you fellas have any experience with other NOS 805s and what are your preferences?