Why not more on 845 SETs?


As a brand-new owner of a Bel Canto SETi40 int amp,(bought used) I was intrigued to see very little in the fora on the subject of 845 SET amps an A'gon. It seems that this provides the best of both worlds -adequate power to drive most moderately sensitive speakers- 40 Class A SET WPC with SET sound. What is the downside to this approach and why don't more of the SET groupies have higher powered amps, giving them much more latitude in speaker selection? I drive 4 ohm 87 db sensitivity Totem 1 Signatures quite adequately with this amp. Is it beacuse of transformer issues, difficulty in finding adequate designs, size or the feeling that this is not a true "SET sound"?
I would like to hear SET-owners' reasons, if possible.
springbok10

Showing 2 responses by trelja

Great thread, Denis!

My friend had a pair of ASL 1009 amps, featuring this tube, and of all the amps he has ever had, and he's had a lot of them (including his current Mesa Barons), this was far and away MY favorite. As good a sounding pair of amps as I have ever come across. Boy, did they sound HUGE, and lush, sweet, quiet, and detailed at the same time. A lot better built than I hear most people say.
Denis, please keep us in the loop over time as to how you find these new amplifiers. It is a rare audiophile who can really articulate what how something truly sounds, without adding their own personal biases, among other things. Over the past month, you have demonstrated an uncanny ability to actually hone in on the sound of a component. It will be exciting to hear how this component measures up for you.