Reference 3a Dulcet with Solid State Amp?

When I first got my Dulcets I used them with a pair of ASL 1006 845 DT SET monoblocs. While I liked the sound I felt like the Dulcets needed a bit more power than the 22 watts provided by the ASL amps. I'm now using a Cary 308SA hybrid amp at 50wpc. I think this was a definite improvement.

I own de Capos and, while I'm sure they're fine with ss electronics, their reason d'etre is that they are uniquely well suited for tubes. These speakers employ a very simple (almost no) crossover network. Most crossovers cause a spike (or dip) in impedance (as well as many phase related issues). Hence, the de Capo's minimal crossover network creates an unusually flat impedance curve. With tube amps, which are particularly sensitive to loudspeaker load, you're listening to a combination of the speaker's frequency response and its impedance curve, Therefore, the de Capo will make most tube amps sound unusually neutral. Depending on your taste, this phenomenon should be understood FOR BETTER OR WORSE.

I really enjoyed my Dulcets for about a year with Nait5i and Naim CD5x. First I've heard about different versions voiced for tube or SS, despite useful correspondence with a helpful manufacterer on other points.

I traded up to Veenas; they sound excellent, benefitted from dedicated base-platforms and some acoustic fibre treatment in the port to de-tune bass on my rather resonant suspended wood floor.

I still feel twinges of nostalgia for the Dulcets. The Veenas really shone with a nice tube amp from ASL; I feel the Dulcet may have been more optimal with the Naim, though clearly not as full range.

I really enjoyed my Dulcets for about a year with Nait5i and Naim CD5x. First I've heard about different versions voiced for tube or SS, despite useful correspondence with a helpful manufacterer on other points.

I traded up to Veenas; they sound excellent, benefitted from dedicated bases and some acoustic fibre treatment in the port to de-tune bass on my rather resonant suspended wood floor. I still feel twinges of nostalgia for the Dulcets. The Veenas really shone with a nice tube amp from ASL; I feel the Dulcet may have been more optimal with the Naim, though clearly not as full range.

I use and Edge G3 to drive my MM De Cappo i's along with a Naim CDX2/XPSII....I enjoy it very much. I reviewed the Dulcets loved em.....I think it all sounds great but I would look for a smooth solid state to sound their best, but mine sound great and the Edge is not smooth...

I had a pair of Dulcets for about 1.5 years and found that they actually sounded better with solid state amps than the other Reference 3A speakers. The Dulcets take a lot more juice to get to a decent volume level than the more efficient MM de Capo i's. Just be careful how much power you throw into them as they are quite small.
Any of the Reference 3A's (voiced for tube or solid state) can sound great with very high quality solid state.

Good Luck,

Derek Stewart
Vancouver, BC

They do 2 versions - one for tubes, one for SS.
Talk to them.