SET amp owners thread

[jeffreybehr]

Finally to the next stage of my quest.. I now have a pair of deHavilland 845-Gs that have had many parts upgraded with Kara Chaffe's assistance, a new pair of Opera Consonance 845Ss, and my 'old' pair of Allnic A-6000s.. I also received the pair of Viva Auroras, but at over 90 pounds, each amp is too heavy for me to lift, so to simply eliminate any possibility of hurting myself or the amps, I repacked the one I opened and will sell them.

The trip to/from Oakland to retrieve the deHavillands was excellent, and Dmitri was very helpful.. The Operas were VERY well packed and operated perfectly from turn-on.. I did remove their 'spaceship-landing-pods'-feet and added six 2" sorbothane feet to each.. (If I keep them I'll add a couple aluminum straps to their bottoms to accommodate 2-1/2" sorbothane feet and add some left-right stability.)




One of the Allnic A-6000s arced a tube, blew a tube fuse and fuseholder, and burned two resistors on turn-on, and I'm waiting for parts for that.

Frankly, I'm NOT looking forward to all the work it'll take for me to choose which of these is better than my EXCELLENT-sounding Atma-Sphere MA-1s, but I'll get it done.

 

[morricab]

Finally to the next stage of my quest.. I now have a pair of deHavilland 845-Gs that have had many parts upgraded with Kara Chaffe's assistance, a new pair of Opera Consonance 845Ss, and my 'old' pair of Allnic A-6000s.. I also received the pair of Viva Auroras, but at over 90 pounds, each amp is too heavy for me to lift, so to simply eliminate any possibility of hurting myself or the amps, I repacked the one I opened and will sell them.

The trip to/from Oakland to retrieve the deHavillands was excellent, and Dmitri was very helpful.. The Operas were VERY well packed and operated perfectly from turn-on.. I did remove their 'spaceship-landing-pods'-feet and added six 2" sorbothane feet to each.. (If I keep them I'll add a couple aluminum straps to their bottoms to accommodate 2-1/2" sorbothane feet and add some left-right stability.)

View attachment 98012
View attachment 98013

One of the Allnic A-6000s arced a tube, blew a tube fuse and fuseholder, and burned two resistors on turn-on, and I'm waiting for parts for that.

Frankly, I'm NOT looking forward to all the work it'll take for me to choose which of these is better than my EXCELLENT-sounding Atma-Sphere MA-1s, but I'll get it done.

Waiting for the interesting shootout...pity about the Allnics. I have never had that happen to me with an amp before...

You should get some help to set up those Vivas...I suspect they are the best of the bunch...and totally different sounding to the Atmasphere amps!

 

[jeffreybehr]

Well, morricab, your comments prompted me to rescue the Auroras from my entryway on their ways out, to my equipment lowboy; my goodbuddyaudiofool, stronger and younger than I am, moved them.

Tubes and music Sunday.

 

[morricab]

Well, morricab, your comments prompted me to rescue the Auroras from my entryway on their ways out, to my equipment lowboy; my goodbuddyaudiofool, stronger and younger than I am, moved them.
View attachment 98034
Tubes and music Sunday.

Beautiful! Let us know how they sound

 

[Atmasphere]

You should get some help to set up those Vivas...I suspect they are the best of the bunch...and totally different sounding to the Atmasphere amps!

Actually of all the amps we've had through the shop in the last ten years the Vivas were among the very best and sounding a lot like our M-60s.

 

[Ron Resnick]

The Viva Aurora mono has always been one of my very favorite SET or PSET amplifiers (along with Absolare and Lamm).

 

[morricab]

Actually of all the amps we've had through the shop in the last ten years the Vivas were among the very best and sounding a lot like our M-60s.

Let’s see what the proud owner has to say …

 

[Atmasphere]

The Viva Aurora mono has always been one of my very favorite SET or PSET amplifiers (along with Absolare and Lamm).

This is only my opinion of course but we also had the Lamm amps here as well. I thought the Viva to be the better amp.

 

[morricab]

This is only my opinion of course but we also had the Lamm amps here as well. I thought the Viva to be the better amp.

I liked what I heard on their smaller horns, which is an impressive speaker for the size/cost.

 

[Ron Resnick]

This is only my opinion of course but we also had the Lamm amps here as well. I thought the Viva to be the better amp.

Very interesting. In what ways?

To which Lamm did you compare the Aurora?

 

[LL21]

This is only my opinion of course but we also had the Lamm amps here as well. I thought the Viva to be the better amp.

Very interesting. In what ways?

To which Lamm did you compare the Aurora?

Yes, most interested to read more about your thoughts, Atmasphere. I genuinely wish this part of the thread does not devolve into a question of one manufacturer being seen to critique another...but rather it be seen as the good faith sharing of the personal listening notes of a [very respected] professional who has his own experience and values sound a certain way.

 

[Atmasphere]

Very interesting. In what ways?

To which Lamm did you compare the Aurora?

It was the 18 Watt unit using 6C33s.

Again this is just my opinion but the Viva seemed easier to listen to, being more lifelike. One of the ways it did that was to be more pronounced in the bass. The speakers we used we still have and are not the best speaker for SETs. They are 93dB 1 Watt/1 meter and 16 Ohms. The latter part good, the former, not so much.

 

[jeffreybehr]

Running.


After a brief comparison against the A-S MA-1s, probably I'll install replace the MA-1s with the Allnic A-6000s with each running three tubes (quoted to be OK to do) and get those burning in.. (With my electrical-rate plan, my conscience will allow me to run these things 20 hours per day but not between 4 and 7PM.)

 

[jeffreybehr]

After I obtained a 'feel' for the Auroras (that I shall NOT share until I've listened again), I decided to fill the bench with other candidates.. I started with the Allnics, but the blown-tube-and-fuse amp wouldn't run with 3 tubes, so I excluded those.

These are the Viva Auroras centered, the Opera Consonace 845Ss next out, and of course the deHavilland 845-Gs on outsides.. Started burning in the deHavillands last nite and am 'idling-in' the Operas.. With my electrical-rate plan, I can get 20+ hours per weekday on quite-low (= 15 cents/kWh.) rates.

The center-channel speaker is not involved in these 2-channel comparisons, and I've set my DP to play all SACDs in stereo.. The Auroras and deHavillands are sitting on Herbies tall Tenderfoots while the Operas are on 8 2"-diameter sorbothane almost-hemispheres.. Moving these amps about is very tough on my 78-year-old back, but I'm getting it done. (The Auroras are sort of permanent until my goodbuddy visits again. )

 

[morricab]

After I obtained a 'feel' for the Auroras (that I shall NOT share until I've listened again), I decided to fill the bench with other candidates.. I started with the Allnics, but the blown-tube-and-fuse amp wouldn't run with 3 tubes, so I excluded those.
View attachment 98137
These are the Viva Auroras centered, the Opera Consonace 845Ss next out, and of course the deHavilland 845-Gs on outsides.. Started burning in the deHavillands last nite and am 'idling-in' the Operas.. With my electrical-rate plan, I can get 20 hours per weekday on quite-low (= 15 cents/kWh.) rates.

The center-channel speaker is not involved in these 2-channel comparisons, and I've set my DP to play all SACDs in stereo.. The Auroras and deHavillands are sitting on Herbies tall Tenderfoots while the Operas are on 8 2"-diameter sorbothane almost-hemispheres.. Moving these amps about is very tough on my 78-year-old back, but I'm getting it done. (The Auroras are sort of permanent until my goodbuddy visits again. )

I wonder how the Dehavilland GM70 version would sound compared to the 845. I have a GM70 based amp in the house now and it is a beast. Looking forward to the conclusion of the shootout. Too bad the Allnic won’t be able to partake for now…

 

[charles1dad]

I first heard Viva Auroras in 2010 driving Trenner-Friedl RA Box speakers at CES. I’ve always liked the Viva amplifiers. I look forward to the listening impressions.
Charles

 

[jeffreybehr]

Well, we move forward, and we move backward.. One of the Operas quit making music overnite and is now making low-level snapping noises, so another pair of amps temporarily bites the dust.. I'll remove them and probably get the Atma-Spheres back up and concentrate on comparing the A-Ss, Auroras, and deHavillands.. I did discover a difference among output tubes, with the Linlai Global 845-T2BE sounding SLIGHTLY less resolving and edgier than the Linlai Global WE845 Western Electric version.

845 – Premium Vacuum Tubes

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[morricab]

Well, we move forward, and we move backward.. One of the Operas quit making music overnite and is now making low-level snapping noises, so another pair of amps temporarily bites the dust.. I'll remove them and probably get the Atma-Spheres back up and concentrate on comparing the A-Ss, Auroras, and deHavillands.. I did discover a difference among output tubes, with the Linlai Global 845-T2BE sounding SLIGHTLY less resolving and edgier than the Linlai Global WE845 Western Electric version.

845 – Premium Vacuum Tubes

premiumvacuumtubes.com

You are having some seriously bad luck with amps! Are you sure your power quality is ok? I had a friend that was constantly having issues with gear blowing and it turned out that his power was really spiky and inconsistent with lots of distortion. He installed power regenerators and the amp dying stopped.

 

[jeffreybehr]

You are having some seriously bad luck with amps! Are you sure your power quality is ok? I had a friend that was constantly having issues with gear blowing and it turned out that his power was really spiky and inconsistent with lots of distortion. He installed power regenerators and the amp dying stopped.

The Allnics were and will be powered by a 240VAC line I had adapted from a 120VAC dedicated line.. Turning on the two Allnics the first time is my only experience with that power, so who knows? Not me.

The Opera 845Ss were powered by my PS Audio P20 regenerator and my normal long, custom-made powercords.. The Opera is the only amp in many years to fail while fed by those lines.

All my Atma-Spheres, deHavillands, and Auroras are running just finely.

 

[Argonaut]

The Allnics were and will be powered by a 240VAC line I had adapted from a 120VAC dedicated line.. Turning on the two Allnics the first time is my only experience with that power, so who knows? Not me.

The Opera 845Ss were powered by my PS Audio P20 regenerator and my normal long, custom-made powercords.. The Opera is the only amp in many years to fail while fed by those lines.

All my Atma-Spheres, deHavillands, and Auroras are running just finely.

Apologies if I am reading this incorrectly… You have constructed a dedicated power spur by simply doubling up two 120V power lines ?
You do realise that you will still be running at US mains 60Hz frequency.