Highest Power SET Amplifier?

[KeithR]

Keith, did you invest in yr Zus based on specs and esp frequency response graphs?
If you did, you should have saved yr cash.
If you did because you liked the sound, you chose well.
Why make such a big deal of this w the Magmas when you patently weren’t that bothered choosing Zus?

Spirit - I absolutely look at amplifier measurements when trying to determine *compatibility* with a speaker. I think its hogwash to think otherwise.

I really don't understand your point at all. In fact, my Zu experience taught me to embrace amplifier compatibility more than any other. Most people don't realize they are under-driving their speakers, particularly with tubes.

 

[spiritofmusic]

Keith, my point was not about amp specs, it was about Zu data
So many slate Zu based on poor frequency response graphs and the like
One would never buy Zu based on the published data
And yet you did AND am in favour of decisions based on data

 

[Argonaut]

I emailed NAT Audio for a wattage vs distortion graph. Will let the forum know if they accommodate. The only measurements online for this company are for a preamplifier.

Sometimes I wonder if people would just prefer to speculate all day and spin their wheels rather than using hard information as a guide. Good grief!

+1....

Hmmmmmm....Also....Given the obvious importance of impedance matching between amplification and what are in this case rather expensive transducers, as a prospective purchaser I would ideally wish to be aware of the measured statistics for the ribbon array, specifically whether the impedance figure quoted at 6 Ohms (presumably a mean average for both elements of the speaker per Chanel) drops significantly below that figure on frequency peaks up to 20 KHz.

Armed as such with this information would IMHO enable one to make a more informed descision whilst selecting ones shortlist of suitable amplification.

 

[KeithR]

+1....

Hmmmmmm....Also....Given the obvious importance of impedance matching between amplification and what are in this case rather expensive transducers, as a prospective purchaser I would ideally wish to be aware of the measured statistics for the ribbon array, specifically whether the impedance figure quoted at 6 Ohms (presumably a mean average for both elements of the speaker per Chanel) drops significantly below that figure on frequency peaks up to 20 KHz.

Armed as such with this information would IMHO enable one to make a more informed descision whilst selecting ones shortlist of suitable amplification.

+1. This is where subjectivism really fails.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Where is Gary? I miss that dude! Didn't Gary actually have mid powered tube amps built specifically for the big G's? Yes he did!

View attachment 36725

Is that that Bob Carver amplifier?

 

[KeithR]

I emailed NAT Audio for a wattage vs distortion graph. Will let the forum know if they accommodate. The only measurements online for this company are for a preamplifier.

Sometimes I wonder if people would just prefer to speculate all day and spin their wheels rather than using hard information as a guide. Good grief!

FYI- NAT never responded.

 

[JackD201]

Is that that Bob Carver amplifier?

It was Gary's design and had them built by an Aussie company I believe. It was a Genesis amp.

 

[Zero000]

Here's a high power SET - 120 Watts. I shot these pics in 2014 at Silverstone Hi-Fi Show, and had a good chat with Ian, the importer.

Chinese, but very well made if external (and indeed internal) appearances are to go by, £20K or £24K for the silver wired version. Total picture overkill - because they are nice, I think. The trouble is there's no cred with these, and I am sure the brand Audio Music was once Audio Knight.

They sounded very promising, as has previous Audio Knight gear I have heard. I'm no huge fan of Horning loudspeakers, though, and no idea if there is a US distro, but I suspect there is.

EDIT: damn, the Google pics link don't work, so here is the website of the UK distro.

 

[Zero000]

Try this link for pics.

 

[Zero000]

BTW I really find myself agreeing with DDK, with the caveat that if the bass amps derive their input signal from the main source amp(s), a la MF Supercharger or an ML hybrid, then this will help.

However, can you bypass the internal amps, or do a mod such that they can be bypassed as a last resort? That would help if various options don't work in practice.

 

[Sablon Audio]

Audio Music appears to be related to Stereo Knight. I once evaluated their tvc / inductive preamp and it was very nicely built.

 

[Zero000]

Audio Music appears to be related to Stereo Knight. I once evaluated their tvc / inductive preamp and it was very nicely built.

That's it my bad.

BTW I once tried two TVCs, two Wired 4 Sound 500 Watt monos, and my Austria Analogue 211 monos on Duettas at a bake off I held. That, for the two hours the system existed, appeared to work extremely well. All other dissimilar amp combos I have tried on Duettas have failed, big style.

A group of us were all flabbergasted by the W4S and 211 combo, where as one listener put it "the walls have disappeared" when listening to Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here. He was right, and I will never forget it.

The caveat is that I am strongly aware that more time with that setup would have uncovered the obvious mismatch between the dissimilar amps. But in the two hours or less we had with it we were all transfixed.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Who is tubeguru.eu?

How about this: http://www.tubeguru.eu/pushpull-amplifiers/slide-show/

or this:

http://www.tubeguru.eu/poweramps/

 

[Sablon Audio]

Not SET but I’ll throw this one out there.....

http://www.itishifi.com/2016/04/phillips-1kw-el6471-amplifier-of.html

 

[Ron Resnick]

Here's a high power SET - 120 Watts. I shot these pics in 2014 at Silverstone Hi-Fi Show, and had a good chat with Ian, the importer.

Chinese, but very well made if external (and indeed internal) appearances are to go by, £20K or £24K for the silver wired version. Total picture overkill - because they are nice, I think. The trouble is there's no cred with these, and I am sure the brand Audio Music was once Audio Knight.

They sounded very promising, as has previous Audio Knight gear I have heard. I'm no huge fan of Horning loudspeakers, though, and no idea if there is a US distro, but I suspect there is.

EDIT: damn, the Google pics link don't work, so here is the website of the UK distro.

Are they Chinese copies of a Wavac?

 

[Ron Resnick]

And I just found Icon Audio. Has anyone ever heard of them?

http://www.iconaudio.com/main-products/mb81-se-mono-blocks/

 

[microstrip]

Who is tubeguru.eu? They seem to build there own designs. . .

How about this: http://www.tubeguru.eu/pushpull-amplifiers/slide-show/

or this:

http://www.tubeguru.eu/poweramps/

See http://www.whatsbestforum.com/showthread.php?23478-Zero-Distortion-hORNs-Universum&p=459849&viewfull=1#post459849 and next posts.

 

[Ron Resnick]

SpiritofMusic, these tiny "garage builders" seem to be up your alley. Have you heard of tube guru or Icon Audio?

 

[Zero000]

Are they Chinese copies of a Wavac?

Not so far as I am aware.

These sound awesome driving Art Deco 12 loudspeakers. SET at 80 Watts.

I'd steer clear of Icon Audio whenever I go in their rooms at shows for years it has always sounded dreadful. Apart from once recently when they were running some Pioneer Exclusive speaker copies which were OK.

The Tube Guru stuff I'll pass on but he has been trying to sell off ebay for years.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Thank you, User211!