SET Shootout China VS The USA

Dac chips until this thread. So thank you for that if nothing else. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

. I’ve had the DAC now 9 months.

Yesterday was a very wet 100% humidity and cool. I’ve noticed during a rain , next day, DAC needed **drying out time**, Yesterday was the worst...So what i am doing to help prevent this longgg dry out time,, is 1) placea paper bag over top of unit where there are vent holes placed along top, 2) turn DAC on early in the AM< WITH bag left in place, this way heat builds up and drys out any excess moisture. Beats using a blow dryer, which did not help all that much... , Also I could put back in the window my 5k btu window AC and run it at night, like a dehumidifier. If I have to I will. I note the pops are more frequent while in play, with all my jazz /pop cs which have some marks on the surface,, my classical cds are near mint have less pops. So the entire Shamling drive + DAC together are being sensitive to excess moisture + cds in avg condition. This issue only happens on certain super high moisture days. 100% humidity + rain + cool front which makes air highly energized wind = static energy. This Jadis DAC is loaded with chips + the Class A JFET opamps, loaded with tiny cjips. All make for highly sensitivite DAC setup to moisture.

Why are you supporting China's economy? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Look I am completely with you on this one. Chinese intellectual theft is real and affects us all here in the USA, in one way o more. I don't like what the chinese do, robbing our technology and then branding it and we buy it. Its theft. But in this case, I can't afford the other high end manufacturers ofg FR speakers nor the higher end amplifiers made in the EU and USA. Also are there any USA manufacturers designing a 2A3 PP amplifier at the moment? At a price I can afford. In this case, hats off to china for bringing me wonderful components which fulfill my long quest for a beautiful musical soundstage.

Someone text me say his UX250 SET has no issues driving his vinatge Realistic Nova 7’s and Grafyx SP10’s, both double stacked,, thats SIX WATTS...so just **what** do I know...

ahhh you know what, Here is where his Colbalt out trans kick in with a bit of slam power,,, vs the Yaqin’s Z11 weaker trans. So it is possible he is having some **success* driving LOW EFFICIENT xover types with a SET, Cobalt trans.

 

Few of us have cobalt trans in our low powered amps.

So that caveat aside.

basically this topic OP has been altered.

Its not about a chinese designed amp vs a USA amp design.

The new OP Q is

KT series tubes PP

vs

Low SET type tubes PP (300B,2A3)

 

For all low sensivity speakers/xover types, KT series , EL34,88,120,150 are the ideal tube for giving dynamics to a highly INefficient speaker.

These speakers demand power, Which the KT has to offer.

 

In high end HIGHLY efficient speakers such as FR. lower powereed tubes such as the 2A3 is the superior choice. Lets say **marriage made in heaven*.

So I will not commit to say the lowered powered tubes, are superior in soundstage/musical sound field..only that witha FR the best and ideal choice is NOT the KT series.

I’m closing out this year with 2 major discoveries in my experiemental journey ~~~search for high fidelity.

 Discovery  of FR as my dream speakers, DUALs at that.

and this Yaquin 2A3 which i had no idea what it was all about,, how it would perform.

It was intended as a low watt SET for light chamber/solo piano. Sort of backup amp.

Now the Defy has taken a distant 2nd place.

Yaqin wears the crown jewels.

2A3 does things a  KT series tube can't do.

 

@mozartfan

What you’re referring to as "SET tubes" are technically DHT(Directly heated triode) true 3 element tubes (45, 2A3, 300b, PX 25,211,845, 805,50 and so on). Your reference to "KT type tubes"  are IDHT (Indirectly heated ) with most of these tubes being pentode, 5 element constructed tubes. You are discovering the world of DHT tubes. Welcome😊, there’s a ton of information available via search that can go into as much detail as you care to explore and learn.

Charles

You are discovering the world of DHT tubes.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

**another world**. Bigger.

 

Another universe. As you were typing this message,,

I was on the Inet searching these *DHT** tube designs. I’ve heard amazing things about the **45**, and other DHT tube circuits Just unreal. WOW factor off tjhe charts. Look its high time we get off discussing KT series tubes. Audiogon past 20 yrs has been ALL about KT series tube designs. I;’m sick and tired of of the old standard fare, like stale bread./

Yes a KT is a nice sounding tube. But it ain’t nothing special such as these DHT’s deliver. 2 **completely** (hyperbole necessary) different soundstages. You guys know how far I’ve gone in hypeing FR speakers as not only the best choice, but,,,well I refuse to finish the sentence... Again here with the **DHT** Universe discovery,, the sound fields lifts you off the earth into a new unknown (KT exp well known /explored) planteary system.

For months I was perplexed as to what amp design will open up the magic of a FR system..

I searched all and evey KT offer. Close to addinga 2nd KT series, like a EL34 low watt amp,,, By sheer luck (man do I need a break on luck in my choices lately)) I hit on this 2A3 PP rare gem. So as we close out the year, i am going to add to my prognostication (big word I know, but have a bit of that old spirit with me,, a bit I said, not to the degree of the old masters). FR as speaker choice, 1st system, wearing crown jewel And these DHT SET/PP as the preminent place among audiophiles choice in amplification power. Its comming, I can see it, but its still some years off. Sterophile, 6 Moons still pumps out massive does of propaganda fopr the big KT power tube designs and the speakers that go with these sheer power blocks, the low sens/low efficient blood(fidelity) sucking xover type speakers. Neither of which is going away anytime soon as 1st picks.

 

~~~But a time is comming~~~

KT amps will be offered at *dime a dozen* prices on used retail sites. Rock bottom. Whereas you’ll be lucky to find a good deal ona used SET/DHT type amp. = Minisclue discount. maybe 10% off list. vs PP amps, now nearly 30%++ off list. jadis DPL Linestage, with takman, Mundorf and Teles, Jadis Defy, Takman, Mundorfs, Teles,,, I gave jadis all the best,,But its no match fora DHT PP 2A3 design.

The future is

~~~FR + DHT~~~