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What's the greatest bargain in SET these days?

Hi, Gang,
I response to my recent review of the Reference 3A De Capo BE speaker, someone wrote that if you really want to hear them sing, you should try them with a SET amp, or words to that effect.
That got me thinking. The De Capo's are 92 db efficient, which (correct me if I'm wrong) seems kind of borderline for low-power SET amps.
In any event, right now I'm running mine with a pair of Manley Mahi mono-blocks. They are switchable from triode (20 watts) to "ultra linear" (40 watts). I run them in triode all the time, and in my room, the volume knob almost never goes past 9 o'clock; more would just be too loud.
All that said, what do you guys think of running the De Capo's with a SET amp? And if I did, what's the best bargain in SET's these days?
Thanks!
rebbi
brownsfan
1,508 posts
 
Rebi, I have a pair of deCapo Bes. They are sitting idle in my bedroom, along with a coincident dynamo amp and a Denis Had Inspire KT66. I also have 8 WPC Coincident Frankenstein amps. Give me a couple days and I will give you a rundown on how the 3 amps drive the deCapos.

I suspect the Frank's and dynamo will be fine, and the KT66 may be marginal.

Charles is correct with respect to transformers, but the inspire and dynamo are both decent inexpensive amps.
jrinkerptdnet
430 posts
 
IMHO greatest bargain in USED SET amps was the Cary 300SEI but its popularity seems to have increased over the years. At one time these could be picked up used for $1500 to $1700 ... now you are lucky to get one for $2200

GREAT amp with the ProAc 1sc I used it with. Not a perfect match on paper but sonically excellent. The 1sc is an 87db speaker but I used them in a small 12'x10' room
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,239 posts
 
Hi Brownsfan,
I was recently wondering how these DeCapo BEs compare to the Coincident Triumph Extreme II, both are highly respected stand monitors.
Israel Blume said that despite the lower cost of the Dynamo it has good output transformers. I'm interested in how it and the Dennis Had amplifiers compare in your opinion. Brownsfan, it seems like you're having a ball of fun with your system these days.
Charles,
rebbi OP
1,326 posts
 
So it sounds like the consensus is that "cheap" SETs aren't worth the trouble. I'll just have to keep an eye on the used market, I guess.
The Manley Neo Classic SE/PP 300b's are more than 9 big ones! Not in my future any time soon, short of hitting the lottery. ;-)
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,949 posts
 
I was impressed with sound of glow audio amps I heard at a show a couple years back.
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