SET 45 Amp Driving Dynamic Speakers

I have no problem with someone who tries a low power SET amp with well matched dynamic speakers, and concludes it doesn't work for them. What bothers me is that all the talk about these amps REQUIRING 100 db + efficient speakers dissuades people from even trying a setup like mine.

They may find it doesn't meet their needs, but they may also be very pleasantly surprised, like I was.

One of my most memorable experiences was listening at home after attending a live orchestral concert, and thinking "Wow, this actually sounds like what I heard in the hall!".

Massed strings in the concert hall can have this amazing "singing" quality, which is hard to reproduce at home. My system got it right (among many other things).

IMO nearly  the entire endeavor of assembling an audio system is subjective

I started out that way because I basically knew nothing about how this stuff really works.   I even lost interest for years because my sound was not what I wanted and I was too lazy to figure out why. 

Things changed when I started to focus on really understanding what was going on.    I was on teh right path soon after and finally found a happy place after not too long.

There is a difference between what one likes which is subjective and the decision making process that gets one to their goals.   That is best driven by objective learning to meet ones subjective goals.

Everyone ends up differently as a result because we all have different goals but there are right and wrong approaches to most any undertaking.  

2nd order can sound good to the ear. Enjoying our system choice is what its about not if its optimal or not, so if you like it dare I say its right.

The concern of course is not the 2nd harmonic, but the presence of the 5th and above.

100 db peaks is definitely desirable in a good hifi system. In fact it should be a basic criteria while choosing the speaker-amp-room combo. But 100 db continuous SPL is very loud.

This. 100 db peaks should be no problem for any system, that is if you want to be able to reproduce 90 db correctly. Most peaks don't show on a sound pressure meter as high as they really are due to their transient nature.

What bothers me is that all the talk about these amps REQUIRING 100 db + efficient speakers dissuades people from even trying a setup like mine.

I think you might be missing my point. Clearly there is something about that type 45 amp you like. My point is that with more efficient speakers you would like it more, as the more efficient speakers can bring out more of that that amp can do right. I am speaking from direct experience here as I have had type 45 amps at home for years.

My point is that with more efficient speakers you would like it more, as the more efficient speakers can bring out more of that that amp can do right.

That’s a very good way to put it and not just in this more extreme case (only a few good watts available) but in all cases amp/speaker integration is one of the most fundamental things to address and get right. Otherwise it may still sound good within limits but you may not be getting the most possible out of your overall sound investment  and you may not even know what you are missing otherwise.

Hi Inna,
I appreciate your input and perspective. At the end of the day we all develop audio systems that reflect our sonic destinations. From reading various post from you I realize you ideal setup would favor high power tube 0r SS amplifiers, I understand that choice .We have very likely experienced different outcomes with low power tube amplifiers, no problem.

My last owned transistor amplifier was a Symphonic Line RG7. It was a very fine amp. In my listening it doesn’t measure up to my current SET amplifier overall and particularly in the areas that matter most to me. Common sense and experience dictate that no amplifier or component is without some flaw and thus compromised. Given your objectives I believe you’d prefer the Symphonic Line, I get that. No matter how you cut it ultimately selection is based on what we hear in our systems. As is evident here that will vary greatly amongst listeners.
Charles,