SET amp owners thread

bonzo75

Member Sponsor
Feb 26, 2014
22,435
13,467
2,710
London
Hi Ked, I use NOS RCA 2A3's, sadly not monoplates, though I have been in touch with Kevin about the set he has for sale and hope to have them here soon. David

Are you in the UK?
 
  • Like
Reactions: gian60

dwhistance

Well-Known Member
Feb 15, 2019
103
98
113
63
Hi Joao, I do understand that I'll lose 50% or more of the power, however I have tried the speakers with a pair of 45 amps I have in store that deliver maybe 1.75w and they were fine except for an earth hum which stopped me doing a proper longer term test. I must dig them out again to try and sort them out as that would show me once and for all whether either a 50 or a single 2A3 will work for me. David
 

Joao@altheamusica

Well-Known Member
Sep 20, 2010
88
49
923
Hi Joao, I do understand that I'll lose 50% or more of the power, however I have tried the speakers with a pair of 45 amps I have in store that deliver maybe 1.75w and they were fine except for an earth hum which stopped me doing a proper longer term test. I must dig them out again to try and sort them out as that would show me once and for all whether either a 50 or a single 2A3 will work for me. David

Is the 45 ac-filaments, and if yes can you adjust the hum with the pot? BTW, I prefer the 45 over a 2A3 & 50.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Carlos269

ihmeyers

VIP/Donor
Nov 13, 2017
262
193
325
Palm Beach County, Florida
Hi Ian,
I'm interested to hear that you are driving your Tonian's with a 35w SET, what size is your room? I have a silver wired pair of Ocellia Grandis Signature 30 which uses the same full range driver but different tweeters. At the moment I'm driving them with a PSE 2A3 amp which makes perhaps 6w and have been thinking of changing to a still lower powered SET, either a single 2A3 or maybe a 50. I don't lack for bass or volume in my 16'x23' room, indeed my preamp volume control is rarely past 10 o-clock, hence the thoughts about lower power. Have you tried your speakers with any lower powered amps and, if you have, could you tell me what you feel the extra power has given. Many thanks for your thoughts.
David


Hi David. My Tonians are set-up in a small room, my office. Right now it's part of my second system but eventually I'm going to combine my two systems together. This room is about 13x12 and they get very loud. I have heard of people driving these with 6W but I've only used them with these Wall amps and a LTA ZOTL amp that put out about 40W. The Wall seems much more powerful despite the fact it puts out less power than the ZOTL. I've heard other mid 90s db speakers with low per amps and IMHO I think less than 20W is too little power. Your Ocellias might be more efficient than my Tonians. If I had a 6W or so amp on hand I'd try it but I don't, so I can't say for sure.
 

ihmeyers

VIP/Donor
Nov 13, 2017
262
193
325
Palm Beach County, Florida

dwhistance

Well-Known Member
Feb 15, 2019
103
98
113
63
Ian,

Yes just like the music festival. I have been with my family every year for the last 6 years, albeit that they all abandon me to be with their friends, yes even my wife (!), as soon as we get inside. I've really enjoyed it even though I mostly listen to jazz and classical at home. I suspect it's because many of the bands are ones I listened to at school or saw when I was at uni in the 70's/early 80's, there's nothing quite like nostalgia!

Many thanks for your thoughts on the amplifiers. I've never heard the Ocellia's with anything more powerful than a single 300b driving them and much preferred my PSE 2A3's to that though I think that was because of the way that particular amp was built. I suppose really ought to try something a bit beefier before going further down the low power route, maybe some 211's or 845's, I'll have to see what I can demo at home.

Joao,

Many thanks for the reminder. I hadn't seen the "hum pot" on the 45 amps as it is well hidden at the back and looks like a bolt to hold on the power transformer. Having now located it after your post I will reinstall them and have a listen. I have been plagued by other mains noise recently so had just put them back in the cupboard for another day. I'll try to get them set up next week.

David
 

Joao@altheamusica

Well-Known Member
Sep 20, 2010
88
49
923
Joao,
Many thanks for the reminder. I hadn't seen the "hum pot" on the 45 amps as it is well hidden at the back and looks like a bolt to hold on the power transformer. Having now located it after your post I will reinstall them and have a listen. I have been plagued by other mains noise recently so had just put them back in the cupboard for another day. I'll try to get them set up next week.
David

David, good luck... I'll cross my fingers, the 45, hard to beat, and owns a fresh sound and when it matches you will enjoy it
 

redcars

Well-Known Member
Jan 7, 2015
52
101
265
Minneapolis area
Hi guys,
Referring back to my posts #600 - #609

I have made some changes/IMPROVEMENTS.

_2020-10-13 12.05.34.jpg

Specifically, for discussion today, I have changed my (4) Avantgarde SUB 225 subwoofers. The change is truly phenomenal! Stick with me; this is coming back to my SET amps.

I have had many issues with the AG subs:

I had to recone most of the (8) drivers!
There was a huge thump when I turned them on or off (which, because of this, was seldom).
There was a background hum that additional grounding did not resolve.
They were SLOW relative to the horns.
Even when turned down so that they did not affect the midrange, they still muddied up the sound of the horns.

Despite all this, I lived with them for 20 years because I did not find anything to replace them that I thought would be better, or that I could afford, or that fit in my space, or that worked with my amps, etc.

I stumbled on a thread in a blog I seldom read: https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/avantgarde-trio-set-up-revisited-question.729213/

I contacted the thread starter in England, and one thing led to another.

I ordered a pair of (the newest) REL 212SX, and a pair of SR subwoofer cables designed for the RELs.

https://rel.net/shop/powered-subwoofers/serie-s/212-sx/

https://www.synergisticresearch.com/cables/atmosphere/subwoofer/atmosphere-relspec-subwoofer/


The two RELs are each powered by 1000W amplifiers and connect to the amp speaker terminals just as the AV subs did. That makes a total of about 2008+ watts!! Obviously, most of it is unused.

All of this was mixed with high anticipation, new friendships, and frustration.


I bought my Wavelength Mercury Ag amps when I bought my Trios. I still love them 20 years later. The Wavelength Mercury was rated at 4W @ using AVVT20SL tubes. Since these tubes are NLA, I switched to the Emission Labs 20B. This turned out to be a big improvement as the AVVT was more tubey sounding and the 20B is very dynamic and realistic in my system. I suspect that they also boosted the 4W output a bit.


I wrote to REL:

If: The amps are 4W+ full power and 15-45KHz -3dB
And: The Trios are 109 Db+ efficient, and the amps are still VERY quiet.
And: The horns are rated for 3W-200W input.
And: The horns and the Avantgarde subs will play really loud now without noticeable distortion, and I avoid driving them any harder.
And: The amplifier designer/manufacturer says there should be no problem here.
And: My friend has a very similar system with the same speakers and two REL 212SE
Then: Is there any problem with driving two REL 212SX subs to the same volume levels that I currently have?


Every person I spoke with at REL thought this should be fine, except for one influential individual who stated they would not work with my amps but refused to talk with me.

I ordered the subs anyway!

After a couple of break-in stumbles, the RELs are FANTASTIC!

There is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG with my Wavelength amps driving these!

Relative to the AG subs:
They are much easier place and tune.
They integrate with the horns seamlessly.
They are fast, dynamic, powerful and natural sounding.
There is a new quietness around the musical notes coming from the horns that has never been there before.
The soundstage is larger, but naturally recorded voices and instruments are not.
Likely much more that I have yet to discover!


I am a happy camper!

Best,
Don
 

Chop

Well-Known Member
Aug 9, 2020
226
271
135
England
Hi everyone

Brand new member on this forum from England. Thought I'd introduce myself, committed SET user, Tron PX25 amp, Avantgarde Trio's, REL 212SE's. Im not sure how to add my equipment into the bottom of my profile yet but I'll get there. Anyway, looking to learn a lot from all the knowledgeable people here!
Happy to answer any questions.

Regards

Chop PX25 and power supplies.jpg Horns  3 060219.jpg
 

bonzo75

Member Sponsor
Feb 26, 2014
22,435
13,467
2,710
London
Hi chop, which Px25 valves are you using?
 
  • Like
Reactions: gian60

bonzo75

Member Sponsor
Feb 26, 2014
22,435
13,467
2,710
London
Sorry for the very late response
Speakers are Tune Audio Anima, Cube Audio Magus and Nenuphar, FinkTeam Borg and Boenicke W8 at the moment....
Preamp is now also Bespoke Silver version.

So you still have the Allnic 7000 phono, and what amps are you using on the Anima?
 
  • Like
Reactions: gian60

Chop

Well-Known Member
Aug 9, 2020
226
271
135
England
Thanks for your note Bonzo75. I have a matched pair of original Marconi's and a pair of KRAudio PX25's. The original's are smoother and...quieter between notes, if that makes sense. Definitely better but IMO not night and day. I believe the KR Audios are electrically different but they work just fine.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bonzo75

bonzo75

Member Sponsor
Feb 26, 2014
22,435
13,467
2,710
London
Are your Marconi globes?
 
  • Like
Reactions: gian60

Chop

Well-Known Member
Aug 9, 2020
226
271
135
England
Yes.
 

bonzo75

Member Sponsor
Feb 26, 2014
22,435
13,467
2,710
London
Yeah with all this discussion of toe in and out, toes up would indeed have been a new thing
 

About us

  • What’s Best Forum is THE forum for high end audio, product reviews, advice and sharing experiences on the best of everything else. This is THE place where audiophiles and audio companies discuss vintage, contemporary and new audio products, music servers, music streamers, computer audio, digital-to-analog converters, turntables, phono stages, cartridges, reel-to-reel tape machines, speakers, headphones and tube and solid-state amplification. Founded in 2010 What’s Best Forum invites intelligent and courteous people of all interests and backgrounds to describe and discuss the best of everything. From beginners to life-long hobbyists to industry professionals, we enjoy learning about new things and meeting new people, and participating in spirited debates.

Quick Navigation

User Menu

Steve Williams
Site Founder | Site Owner | Administrator
Ron Resnick
Site Co-Owner | Administrator
Julian (The Fixer)
Website Build | Marketing Managersing