SET amp owners thread

[Amir]

I don’t know many things about output transformers but I know tightly wound, compact transformers are better compared to loosely wound, big ones. The goal is to concentrate magnetic flux in a small area. In OPT world being bigger doesn’t mean being better. Of course OPTs you mentioned might have been wound tightly while also being huge.

Audiopax designer (Delima) said the output transformer of SET amplifiers should optimize for best listening experience so Delima believes not big not small OPT are good and the designer should find the proper size of OPT.

Over 90% challenge of SET sound is proper designing of OPT.

Romy believes it is better to use multi channel SET amplification (DSET) and designer can optimize each OPT for the frequency range.

 

[DasguteOhr]

Making statements without having listened to the gear is not the way I contribute to WBF. And I stand by my word regarding Aries Cerat. I had plenty opportunities to acquire gear from them and never wanted to. Case closed.

View attachment 149489

Amazing good driver tube c3g love german posttubes.

 

[DasguteOhr]

I don’t know many things about output transformers but I know tightly wound, compact transformers are better compared to loosely wound, big ones. The goal is to concentrate magnetic flux in a small area. In OPT world being bigger doesn’t mean being better. Of course OPTs you mentioned might have been wound tightly while also being huge.

Exactly right. A small example: Monolith Magnetics that GM 70 opt weighs only ~8kg have phantastic specs. Not a cheap pleasure pair 1.4k€

 

[Argonaut]

Monolith Magnetics that GM 70 opt weighs only ~8kg have phantastic specs.

Monolith are my weapon of choice , have three complete sets of their iron laid away for future projects :

https://www.monolithmagnetics.com/sites/default/files/datasheets/Single-ended-output-transformers/datasheet%20SA-9%20300B%20single%20ended%20output%20transformer%20prelim%20Metglas%20powerlite%281%29.pdf

 

[bonzo75]

Monolith are my weapon of choice , have three complete sets of their iron laid away for future projects :

https://www.monolithmagnetics.com/sites/default/files/datasheets/Single-ended-output-transformers/datasheet%20SA-9%20300B%20single%20ended%20output%20transformer%20prelim%20Metglas%20powerlite%281%29.pdf

https://www.monolithmagnetics.com/sites/default/files/datasheet%20SX-11%20old%20format.pdf

Their nano is excellent. SJS also uses them in his 300b amps that Kevin sells

 

[DasguteOhr]

Monolith are my weapon of choice , have three complete sets of their iron laid away for future projects :

https://www.monolithmagnetics.com/sites/default/files/datasheets/Single-ended-output-transformers/datasheet%20SA-9%20300B%20single%20ended%20output%20transformer%20prelim%20Metglas%20powerlite%281%29.pdf

https://www.monolithmagnetics.com/sites/default/files/datasheet%20SX-11%20old%20format.pdf

First one , when you smart with anodeload on your primary winding, then have a better dampingfactor then dartzeel 108 first series . What is serious good for set amp.

 

[bonzo75]

Tonapparate, has a Supravox field coil 11 inch woofer. The horn model above this (the Maista) has two 15 inch woofers front loaded but haven’t heard it yet.

Audio Note Meishu 300b Tonmeister, Jinro, and a couple of push pull from audio note (EL34) and Aurorasound (EL84) were compared.

Origin live resolution and enterprise table with Zyx omega was source, and the top rega model with Zyx airy.

 

[morricab]

Tonapparate, has a Supravox field coil 15 inch woofer. The horn model above this has two woofers but haven’t heard it yet.

Audio Note Meishu 300b Tonmeister, Jinro, and a couple of push pull from audio note (EL34) and Aurorasound (EL84) were compared.

Origin live resolution and enterprise table with Zyx omega was source, and the top rega model with Zyx airy.

View attachment 152743View attachment 152744

And what sounded best?

 

[Mr. Analog]

Tonapparate, has a Supravox field coil 15 inch woofer. The horn model above this has two woofers but haven’t heard it yet.
Audio Note Meishu 300b Tonmeister, Jinro, and a couple of push pull from audio note (EL34) and Aurorasound (EL84) were compared.

That is not correct. The Model 50 has an 11" Supravox full range driver and the Model 55 has an 11" Supravox Field Coil full range driver! You can play them with ~5 Watts (for example 300 B).

Regards Tom

 

[bonzo75]

That is not correct. The Model 50 has an 11" Supravox full range driver and the Model 55 has an 11" Supravox Field Coil full range driver! You can play them with ~5 Watts (for example 300 B).

Regards Tom

Sorry you are right this is 11 inch, but with horn I was referring to the Maista which is a front loaded horn with 2 15 inch woofers

 

[bonzo75]

And what sounded best?

The Meishu

 

[bonzo75]

We also got to swap the speaker with an audio note AN-J LX. Their hierarchy is a long list defined by type of drivers, cables, voice coils, inductors, caps, etc

 

[Mr. Analog]

In my opinion both are fantastic speakers. But I was never able to listen to them in direct comparison.

Regards Tom

 

[we421a]

1930 Osram DA60 tube.


Single Ended build by Japanese Audiophile enthusiast. I adapted 12au7 with the 1940s 7N7. choke load 6F6G driving these DA60 tubes. I planned to tube roll with KT63 and WE 349A / 336A.

 

[morricab]

So, I got my ‘new’ NEM integrated SET. It is similar to the A300se model but with a couple of significant differences.
1) it is using Emission Labs 520bV3 output tubes instead of 300b. So, it makes approx. 17 watts instead of 7. Originally, it used Vaic VV52b tubes but these are no longer available…the 520b is it’s successor.
2) It is diode rectified rather than tube rectified. Given how different tube rectifiers can sound, this might be a good thing for OCD type people.
3. Input tube is an interesting pentode, E55L, wired in triode. The current amp has a different pentode.

Sound of this amp is spectacular! Resolved, incredible dynamics and very beautiful tone. Really impressed with this Russian beast from the east.

 

[Golum]

So, I got my ‘new’ NEM integrated SET. It is similar to the A300se model but with a couple of significant differences.
1) it is using Emission Labs 520bV3 output tubes instead of 300b. So, it makes approx. 17 watts instead of 7. Originally, it used Vaic VV52b tubes but these are no longer available…the 520b is it’s successor.
2) It is diode rectified rather than tube rectified. Given how different tube rectifiers can sound, this might be a good thing for OCD type people.
3. Input tube is an interesting pentode, E55L, wired in triode. The current amp has a different pentode.

Sound of this amp is spectacular! Resolved, incredible dynamics and very beautiful tone. Really impressed with this Russian beast from the east.

How/where did you manage to source this one?

 

[DasguteOhr]

So, I got my ‘new’ NEM integrated SET. It is similar to the A300se model but with a couple of significant differences.
1) it is using Emission Labs 520bV3 output tubes instead of 300b. So, it makes approx. 17 watts instead of 7. Originally, it used Vaic VV52b tubes but these are no longer available…the 520b is it’s successor.
2) It is diode rectified rather than tube rectified. Given how different tube rectifiers can sound, this might be a good thing for OCD type people.
3. Input tube is an interesting pentode, E55L, wired in triode. The current amp has a different pentode.

Sound of this amp is spectacular! Resolved, incredible dynamics and very beautiful tone. Really impressed with this Russian beast from the east.

Congratulations, Brad, one less item on your bucket list.


@Golum
Until now, distribution in Europe thats i know
Audiovertrieb Andrejs Staltmanis
An der Meerwiese 23a
D-48157 Münster
Mobil: +49-177-3506640
E-Mail: info[at]ultraudio.de

P.S Zellaton also has Nem audio in the program

 

[morricab]

How/where did you manage to source this one?

I keep my eyes and ears open for hidden gems…

 

[morricab]

Congratulations, Brad, one less item on your bucket list.


@Golum
Until now, distribution in Europe thats i know
Audiovertrieb Andrejs Staltmanis
An der Meerwiese 23a
D-48157 Münster
Mobil: +49-177-3506640
E-Mail: info[at]ultraudio.de

P.S Zellaton also has Nem audio in the program

Thx! Looked good on paper so I took a chance…price was very right as well because it’s an older one I think. Still, more powerful than the A300se even though quite similar other than ways I mentioned.

 

[DasguteOhr]

Thx! Looked good on paper so I took a chance…price was very right as well because it’s an older one I think. Still, more powerful than the A300se even though quite similar other than ways I mentioned.

If you squeeze the 520b properly, it produces almost the same power as an 845 tube, around 24 watts class a1. But that gets expensive in the long run; a pair like that costs €1.1k.