SET Tube Question


I am very new to the tube world and high end audio so I hope I don't get flamed. I have just acquired my first couple pieces of gear a pair of Belle Klipsch speakers, a custom made isoberic sub made to match the Belle's, and an EAD MK III cd player. I have been doing alot of research and reading and I would like to try a SET amp first but there are so many different types of tubes and tube gear it gets a little overwhelming. Is there a tube gear guide for dummies out there or other recommended reading? Any advice or recommended tube gear to compliment the Belle's would be appreciated.
Thanks
iain42

Showing 2 responses by plato

Another very appropriate option would be the Sophia Electric Baby amplifier, which uses 2 6P1T triode tubes per channnel in a push-pull configuration yielding 10 watts per channel. I use one with my Klipsch Chorus with very good results. It is very low noise (-95 dB) and ultra-wide bandwidth. It has very good bass extension and articulation, a smooth, sweet midrange, and simply fantastic high-frequency performance. Best of all is the low price. Here's a link:
http://www.sophiaelectric.com/

Many of the other amps mentioned are lower in power, higher in noise, and are lacking at the frequency extremes. The plus for the 2A3 and 300B SET amps is mainly a glorious midrange, which most folks are prepared to sacrifice bass and treble performance to get. But I've grown too accustomed to having excellent bass and treble to go that route -- at least for now...
Mwilson makes some good points about the benefits of running higher power even with high efficiency speakers. In fact, as much as I like the Sophia Baby amp I mentioned above, I feel I need more power at times. The sound becomes a little strained when I push the amp. Because of that, I recently bought a higher powered, class-A, solid-state amp to try. A little more headroom would be nice. :)