SET v. Pushpull

At 85 dB sensitivity I wouldn't even go with any tube amp, at-least in my case. 

Not sure when people say SET watts are more than SS watts, but watts are watts. It is just that when driving to spec SET distortion is more pleasant then SS. But why listen to distortion (I prefer not to)?.

Pulsars are 83 dB efficient?. Not sure why specs on website does not talk about Pulsars sensitivity?. At least it says impedance does not get lower than 6 ohm that is good.

50 Watts will get you to 95 dB at 8 feet for 83 dB speakers.

If you get a good amp that puts out the watts your speaker needs for your listening needs without breaking a sweat you should not hear a difference. Basically non-existent distortion for all the watts your music needs. This is difficult at loud levels for fair moderately efficient speakers. What I have learned is to not to drive an amp to its spec.

If you want to go in the SET direction then may be pick a speaker that is close to 98 dB or even 100 dB sensitivity?. Then 10 to 20 watts SET will get you there given impedance does not swing. It is a bad idea to pick speaker after choosing an amp, in my limited opinion.

I do own Line Magnetic 508ia and it puts out 48 Watts for a price that is hard to imagine!. It sounds great at moderate levels on 92 dB paradigm studio 40v3 (when compared to Marantz SR7005). It seems it may not be good enough for new set of speakers I got myself, so I am on the fence with this class A tube thing.

If you can do true A/B test of AMPs, after level matching the SPL level,  you should not hear any difference at normal listening levels for good amps SET/Push-pull/Class A/ClassAB or Class D etc.

@wolf_garcia guilty!.

Did he state how far is he sitting from them?. His room also plays a role. 22 watts for 83 dB is low. You want your amp to be operating at 50% or lower to achieve peaks of 97 to 100 dB swings given the impedance swings of your speakers. 

May be hybrid integrates?. 

https://parttimeaudiophile.com/2018/03/30/review-mcintosh-ma252-tube-solid-state-integrated-amplifie... 

@atmasphere  +1 If people want to make 85 dB @ 4 Ohm or lower speakers they need to cough up and make active versions or just make them more efficient. People listen to speakers at show rooms with amps that are not practical at home. They get the speaker and then the sticker shock of the amp required hits them. 

In the lower to mid end of consumer/audiophile (a term!) gear speakers should be 92 dB @ 8 Ohm stable or higher. Else they need to come with a warning to help ordinary folks like me. New people like me are totally stunned at shows / show rooms when we see amps that cost twice the amount of speakers or more sometimes. The speakers sound great at the dealer but once they are home it is a different matter.

I understand that we need things at every price point however.