SET amp owners thread

[Atmasphere]

The tilt in a reproduced squarewave indicates a low frequency rolloff. At one point there is considerable square wave tilt at 10Hz; the way to interpret the waveform is that the amp was very nearly at its cutoff frequency. The closer you get to the cutoff frequency, the greater the tilt.

 

[SVS]

As far as I know, phase audio itself in Ukraine uses double C core transformers.

There is Phast audio in Ukraine http://phast.com.ua/

 

[morricab]

New 5U4Gs inbound!! 1950s Marconi (Italia) Blackplates looking forward to some warm glow!

 

[MRubey]

Anyone have or know anyone who has or had EMIA Permalloy 50/300B?
It heads my short list….faith based.

 

[bonzo75]

Anyone have or know anyone who has or had EMIA Permalloy 50/300B?
It heads my short list….faith based.

Brencho had it on the west coast. You can PM him, he is not a regular poster

 

[MRubey]

Thank you bonzo75

 

[Audiolimits]

I'm using the Destination Audio GM 70 integrated amplifier and sometimes throw in my Kondo Ongaku. speakers are the Destination Audio Nika Horns.

 

[bonzo75]

I'm using the Destination Audio GM 70 integrated amplifier and sometimes throw in my Kondo Ongaku. speakers are the Destination Audio Nika Horns.

hi what preamp are you using, thrax?

 

[Audiolimits]

hi what preamp are you using, thrax?

Hello, with the Spartacus we were using the Thrax Audio Libra 300b preamp but we sold that recently. The GM70 from Destination Audio and Ongaku are both integrated amps with built in preamps. But we may try at some point to run the Destination Audio preamp into them. See how it does!
it is a really good preamp.

 

[morricab]

Hello, with the Spartacus we were using the Thrax Audio Libra 300b preamp but we sold that recently. The GM70 from Destination Audio and OnGaku are both integrated amps with built in preamps. But we may try at some point to run the Destination Audio preamp into them. See how it does!
it is a really good preamp.

Can you describe the difference in sound character you get from the Destination amp vs. the Kondo amp? THX! BTW, when you say Spartacus, you mean the previous version that was single ended (wasn't it?) or the new all 300B push pull model?

 

[Audiolimits]

Can you describe the difference in sound character you get from the Destination amp vs. the Kondo amp? THX! BTW, when you say Spartacus, you mean the previous version that was single ended (wasn't it?) or the new all 300B push pull model?

Hello, the difference in sound between them is quite large.
The GM70 sounds much more real than the Ongaku. It also has more attack and speed. And the bass is significantly better. The best way to describe its sound is it is very lifelike. The vocals this amp puts out are unreal. It’s powerful,textured with pin point imaging. Same with instruments. When a guitar player is playing a guitar it sounds like it’s right in the room with you and you can tell when he is using a tube amp. Brass is also amazing and sounds like real brass. The piano is full bodied with attack on the notes. The Ongaku is much more laid back, it’s very holographic,slow and romantic. it sounds beautiful. But It appears to put a little added extra reverb into the mix. It does create it’s own space and kinda puts you in a bubble of audiophile like sound. But it doesn’t sound nearly as realistic as the GM 70. it does have a very nice soothing touch and no listener fatigue with great midrange and high’s. The bass is its weak point. It is nice and rounded but by comparison doesn’t have nearly the slam and speed or attack. Another beautiful thing about the GM 70 is the tuning is endless. The bias settings really change the sound a lot. And you can tube roll very easily and boy do tubes make a big difference in the amp. And then of course you can adjust bias again with each different tube combo. I can make this amp sound almost identical to Ongaku with tube combinations and bias adjustment. It’s really cool. Honestly I love both amps but if I had to choose one you might know which one I’d choose. Specially with all the tuning that can be done.

 

[Audiolimits]

Hello, the difference in sound between them is quite large.
The GM70 sounds much more real than the Ongaku. It also has more attack and speed. And the bass is significantly better. The best way to describe its sound is it is very lifelike. The vocals this amp puts out are unreal. It’s powerful,textured with pin point imaging. Same with instruments. When a guitar player is playing a guitar it sounds like it’s right in the room with you and you can tell when he is using a tube amp. Brass is also amazing and sounds like real brass. The piano is full bodied with attack on the notes. The Ongaku is much more laid back, it’s very holographic,slow and romantic. it sounds beautiful. But It appears to put a little added extra reverb into the mix. It does create it’s own space and kinda puts you in a bubble of audiophile like sound. But it doesn’t sound nearly as realistic as the GM 70. it does have a very nice soothing touch and no listener fatigue with great midrange and high’s. The bass is its weak point. It is nice and rounded but by comparison doesn’t have nearly the slam and speed or attack. Another beautiful thing about the GM 70 is the tuning is endless. The bias settings really change the sound a lot. And you can tube roll very easily and boy do tubes make a big difference in the amp. And then of course you can adjust bias again with each different tube combo. I can make this amp sound almost identical to Ongaku with tube combinations and bias adjustment. It’s really cool. Honestly I love both amps but if I had to choose one you might know which one I’d choose. Specially with all the tuning that can be done.

The Spartacus I was using was the 300
I also use to have the older Spartacus 520b as well. As a matter of fact I have a pair of Spartacus 300’s available

 

[the sound of Tao]

Hello, the difference in sound between them is quite large.
The GM70 sounds much more real than the Ongaku. It also has more attack and speed. And the bass is significantly better. The best way to describe its sound is it is very lifelike. The vocals this amp puts out are unreal. It’s powerful,textured with pin point imaging. Same with instruments. When a guitar player is playing a guitar it sounds like it’s right in the room with you and you can tell when he is using a tube amp. Brass is also amazing and sounds like real brass. The piano is full bodied with attack on the notes. The Ongaku is much more laid back, it’s very holographic,slow and romantic. it sounds beautiful. But It appears to put a little added extra reverb into the mix. It does create it’s own space and kinda puts you in a bubble of audiophile like sound. But it doesn’t sound nearly as realistic as the GM 70. it does have a very nice soothing touch and no listener fatigue with great midrange and high’s. The bass is its weak point. It is nice and rounded but by comparison doesn’t have nearly the slam and speed or attack. Another beautiful thing about the GM 70 is the tuning is endless. The bias settings really change the sound a lot. And you can tube roll very easily and boy do tubes make a big difference in the amp. And then of course you can adjust bias again with each different tube combo. I can make this amp sound almost identical to Ongaku with tube combinations and bias adjustment. It’s really cool. Honestly I love both amps but if I had to choose one you might know which one I’d choose. Specially with all the tuning that can be done.

Many thanks for these thoughts, great references… you have here two of the amps I’d most want to have in my shortlist of dream amps.

Just wondering what signal cables were you running and whether they are copper or silver signal cables? I’d imagine the GM70 might favour copper ICs and speaker cables but maybe the Ongaku might be better suited to run with Kondo silver or upocc silver wire.

 

[morricab]

The Spartacus I was using was the 300
I also use to have the older Spartacus 520b as well. As a matter of fact I have a pair of Spartacus 300’s available

You found the SETs better sounding?

 

[Audiolimits]

Many thanks for these thoughts, great references… you have here two of the amps I’d most want to have in my shortlist of dream amps.

Just wondering what signal cables were you running and whether they are copper or silver signal cables? I’d imagine the GM70 might favour copper ICs and speaker cables but maybe the Ongaku might be better suited to run with Kondo silver or upocc silver wire

Many thanks for these thoughts, great references… you have here two of the amps I’d most want to have in my shortlist of dream amps.

Just wondering what signal cables were you running and whether they are copper or silver signal cables? I’d imagine the GM70 might favour copper ICs and speaker cables but maybe the Ongaku might be better suited to run with Kondo silver or upocc silver wire.

Hello, You are very welcome. Both amplifiers are quite outstanding. I’ve had many ultra high end amplifiers over the years and I have to agree with you. The Ongaku was a dream amp of mine for many years. I always said one day I will own one. Well I finally got it and love it. When I got it I loved it so much I thought I would take it to the grave with me. This was until the Destination Audio GM 70 arrived.
I am actually willing to part with the Ongaku. Hate to do it, but there is a lot of money tied up in it. for cables I switch back and forth. I use both Hemingway Audio cables. The ZCore Sigma series. And I use EnKlein XerXes. As well. Hemingway is Copper and EnKlein is silver. With the Ongaku it does seem to prefer Silver slightly more than copper. The GM 70 sounds great on both. According to Sam Copper should be better and it is preferred. But EnKlein cables are done so right. That it doesn’t sound like silver. It just sounds very musical.
Don’t laugh but I just ordered some Belden Cables to play with on the GM70 and Nika. there are a few Destination Audio Owners out there that swear by it. I need to test and compare so I ordered it.

 

[Audiolimits]

You found the SETs better sounding?

Yes, I really love the sound of good SET amps.
it really does have a lot to do with system setup and matching. But when you get a really good SET system singing it’s magical

 

[Kingrex]

Technically not a SET, but they play as good as any. Found Music - Blade. Got them 5 days ago.

40 watts. Mercury rectifier. Only 1 Mercury runs at a time. The spare is stored upright on the amp.
88 lbs each. Lots of Monolith Iron. Still breaking in. And I just got some Genelax to try.

These amps are muscular with grip. That means the detail is phenomenal. Instruments are far more natural and realistic than I have heard from any amp in my system. I could not sleep a couple nights ago. Got out of bed and turned the stereo on low. My first thought was the detail was so high it was close to having my headphones on.
The amps were selected to match my speaker demand. Found Music Would also make me a KT150. But he was unsure how available the tube would be. KT88 are everywhere, and inexpensive to replace ever 3000 to 5000 hours.

 

[Atmasphere]

Technically not a SET, but they play as good as any. Found Music - Blade. Got them 5 days ago.

40 watts. Mercury rectifier. Only 1 Mercury runs at a time. The spare is stored upright on the amp.
88 lbs each. Lots of Monolith Iron. Still breaking in. And I just got some Genelax to try.

These amps are muscular with grip. That means the detail is phenomenal. Instruments are far more natural and realistic than I have heard from any amp in my system. I could not sleep a couple nights ago. Got out of bed and turned the stereo on low. My first thought was the detail was so high it was close to having my headphones on.
The amps were selected to match my speaker demand. Found Music Would also make me a KT150. But he was unsure how available the tube would be. KT88 are everywhere, and inexpensive to replace ever 3000 to 5000 hours.

KT120s or KT150s will have you married to one or two sources worldwide. KT88s allow for a lot more flex.

 

[Kingrex]

KT120s or KT150s will have you married to one or two sources worldwide. KT88s allow for a lot more flex.

Yep. Why I went with it. Its appropriate power. And the other 10,000 hour tubes are only $40 or so. A very economical amp to run.

 

[the sound of Tao]

Hello, You are very welcome. Both amplifiers are quite outstanding. I’ve had many ultra high end amplifiers over the years and I have to agree with you. The Ongaku was a dream amp of mine for many years. I always said one day I will own one. Well I finally got it and love it. When I got it I loved it so much I thought I would take it to the grave with me. This was until the Destination Audio GM 70 arrived.
I am actually willing to part with the Ongaku. Hate to do it, but there is a lot of money tied up in it. for cables I switch back and forth. I use both Hemingway Audio cables. The ZCore Sigma series. And I use EnKlein XerXes. As well. Hemingway is Copper and EnKlein is silver. With the Ongaku it does seem to prefer Silver slightly more than copper. The GM 70 sounds great on both. According to Sam Copper should be better and it is preferred. But EnKlein cables are done so right. That it doesn’t sound like silver. It just sounds very musical.
Don’t laugh but I just ordered some Belden Cables to play with on the GM70 and Nika. there are a few Destination Audio Owners out there that swear by it. I need to test and compare so I ordered it.

It’s great to be able to have these two amps to compare.

The idea of exploring both of them with a preamp and also then trialling with the different cables including getting in some Beldens would make for fascinating compares.

I know some have mixed feelings about videos but it would be great to capture your comparisons if you were open to it. Am sure they’d make for great videos if they capture the differences.

Either way it will be great to find out what you find in pairing with preamps if you do try them out and which cables you do settle on when trying out the Beldens as well.