Integrated S.E.T Amp and Bookshelf Speakers Recommendations

@jimmy2615 -Happy to hear you have a combination you like. Have to say the Simply Italy is a wonderful integrated. I have it paired with either the OGY monitors and/or a ProAc Anniversary Tablettes. I have a REL T/5X that both supports the mids and boosts the bass.

I'm finding the ProAc mates wonderfully with the Simply Italy. In my smallish listening room (12" x 10.5", with 8.5" ceilings) the ProAc's deliver an expansive and pleasing euphonic/liquid soundstage--the other day I was listening to a Ron Carter/Houston Person CD and Person's sounded like he was performing in the adjacent bathroom :-). The speakers disappear.

I'm listening to them more often than the OGY's, which sound terrific and trade soundstage and euphonics for a more precise listening experience. My better half thinks I should sell them and use the proceeds for travel. Something I'm seriously considering. 

I haven't really pushed the volume and strongly agree the Simply Italy sounds terrific at low volume. When I purchased the integrated, the dealer/salesperson said I had a 30-day return window, but would not want to use it. Spot-on guarantee.

Have you changed/tried different tube combinations? The sound characteristics of the EL34 tubes really shine. I'm using the stock EL34's-Tung Sol with NOS Cifte 12AU7's.

David

Thanks for the update.  I’ve gotten a pair of Proac Tablette 10 to try out, so I appreciate your comments there.  Unfortunately my primary room is probably a little too big for this combo, but I’ll try it.  Yes, I’ve tried some Primaluna and Sophia EL34s and some RCA clear top, blackplate, NOS Mullards and a few other 12au7s.  I find the smaller tubes seem to make a larger impact on the sound.   

@jimmy2615 -

I really like ProAc. I have a pair of DR30R and they can be driven with as little as 10W. Just because, I paired the floorstanders with the Simply Italy in the bigger room and they sounded sublime. There will come a time when I'm going to downsize. I would happily replace my separates with another Unison integrated amp--a Triode 25, for instance. 

David

I’ll balance the argument.  SET is the only way to go.  I have tried a few SS amps since going tube and always disapointed. And push pull is a compromise that cannot hold a candle to SET. 

@carlsbad2 

The trick is to compare to a PP amp of the same power as the SET. The real magic of PP tube amps occurs when the amplifier is lower power, just like you see with SETs. But what is different is you get more usable power (SETs have about 20-25% usable power before distortion causes them to sound ’dynamic’), more bandwidth (particularly in the lows, always a problem for SETs) and greater coherence due to vastly lower distortion. 

In general due to the horsepower race, amps of this kind that are also high quality are rare!

I run a 5 Watt PP amp that easily keeps up with SETs of similar power no worries. Its also an integrated amp with two inputs and a volume control. It drives a set of Fritz Carbon 6s I use in my bedroom system. I’ve yet to run the amps out of gas. 

There are three power tubes I find of particular interest in this regard- the EL95, 6AQ5a and EL84. These tubes were designed to be extremely easy to drive, so the circuitry driving them can be extremely simple. 

I own a number of lower powered pushpull amps and a high end parallel 2a3 SET amp and I don’t think that any particular topology is superior.  The favorite among my amps is a 4 wpc pudhpull 349 amp.  Among the very best amps I’ve ever hesrd is a 252 pushpull amp (a very rare tube that pre-dates the 300B and is similar to that tube).  My favorite amp is an output transformerless amp that puts out less than 30 watts.

I agree With Atmasphere that low powered pushpull amps are very good.  There are MANY pushpull EL84 amps that are not very expensive that sound great.  I also like a lot of pushpull 6L6 and KT66 amps.