What’s the world’s best 2 watt amplifier?

[charles1dad]

Good choice! I'm listening to the SE10 (also simplified to 2-stage) as I type.

If you do not mind, what speakers are you using with your low powered DIY amplifiers?
Charles

 

[je2a3]

If you do not mind, what speakers are you using with your low powered DIY amplifiers?
Charles

The SE10 mono amp is part of my mono hifi, driving an Altec 756B + 32C horn + 802 driver housed in a custom 2.5 cf sealed cabinet.

My near-field stereo speakers = Altec 755As in Silbatone cabs or Altec 755Cs in similar enclosures.


Main speakers are an homage to the Western Electric 753C, using Altec 414A woofers + 802D drivers + 32C horn, hence, Altec 753C.

They're all a mixture of classic hifi + DIY.

 

[godofwealth]

The SE10 mono amp is part of my mono hifi, driving an Altec 756B + 32C horn + 802 driver housed in a custom 2.5 cf sealed cabinet.

My near-field stereo speakers = Altec 755As in Silbatone cabs or Altec 755Cs in similar enclosures.

View attachment 100203
Main speakers are an homage to the Western Electric 753C, using Altec 414A woofers + 802D drivers + 32C horn, hence, Altec 753C.

They're all a mixture of classic hifi + DIY.

Very nice collection of antique speakers. I have an Altec 755C mounted in a bamboo cabinet. It was made by Gordon Rankin of Wavelength Audio. It sounds really nice. Tiny compared to my La Scalas, but far better than some of hugely expensive Harbeth monitors I have owned like the 30.2.

 

[bonzo75]

The SE10 mono amp is part of my mono hifi, driving an Altec 756B + 32C horn + 802 driver housed in a custom 2.5 cf sealed cabinet.

My near-field stereo speakers = Altec 755As in Silbatone cabs or Altec 755Cs in similar enclosures.

View attachment 100203
Main speakers are an homage to the Western Electric 753C, using Altec 414A woofers + 802D drivers + 32C horn, hence, Altec 753C.

They're all a mixture of classic hifi + DIY.

Can you please post these systems on the https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/set-amp-owners-thread.27070/

 

[je2a3]

Very nice collection of antique speakers. I have an Altec 755C mounted in a bamboo cabinet. It was made by Gordon Rankin of Wavelength Audio. It sounds really nice. Tiny compared to my La Scalas, but far better than some of hugely expensive Harbeth monitors I have owned like the 30.2.

Thank you!

I vaguely remember Gordon talking about a vario-vent enclosure during the Sound Practices era. That must be very similar in concept.

 

[je2a3]

Can you please post these systems on the https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/set-amp-owners-thread.27070/

Much obliged, thanks!

Just posted on that link.

 

[mtemur]

I’ve recently started exploring the fascinating world of extreme low power amplifiers, think under 2-3 watts. No megabuck amplifier that requires a forklift to move (I once owned one of those behemoths, a Krell 750 MCx!). Since my current reference speaker is a pair of Klipsch La Scalas, 200 pound behemoths that look the size of a midsized refrigerator but are 105+ dB efficient, I’ve discovered I can get by with flea sized amplifiers. My current reference is a Triode Labs 45M monoblock SET amplifier. It uses 1 45 tube per channel to produce 2 glorious class A watts per channel. It simply sounds magnificent on my La Scalas. Here’s a pic of them. I’m using Sophia Electric Princess 274B rectifiers with NOS RCA 45s.

Are there better extremely low watt amps I should consider? Does anyone make a 2 watt class A solid state amplifier? Yes, I know Nelson Pass here in California makes his First Watt line. I don’t want 15-20 watts. I want just ONE glorious watt! Extremely high quality but extremely low power. The best components money can buy, but no unnecessary power. Suggestion?

I heard Komuro’s 212 monos and 845 monos many many times, unfortunately I haven’t heard this one. But I believe this VT-52 amp is the best 2 watt amplifier based on what I heard with other Komuro amps.



It uses VT-52 tubes which are similar to 45 tubes. Check the link for full article

https://6moons.com/audioreviews/roadtour16/roadtour16.html

BTW I spotted a CEC TL-0 on your OP. It’s a great sounding transport.

 

[charles1dad]

@mtemur
That’s one hefty and robust looking 2 watt amplifier.
Charles

 

[je2a3]

I heard Komuro’s 212 monos and 845 monos many many times unfortunately I haven’t heard this one. But I believe this VT-52 amp is the best 2 watt amplifier based on what I heard with other Komuro amps.

View attachment 100702

It uses VT-52 tubes which are similar to 45 tubes. Check the link for full article

https://6moons.com/audioreviews/roadtour16/roadtour16.html

BTW I spotted a CEC TL-0 on your OP. It’s a great sounding transport.

I loved the sound of Nori's DC coupled (no caps in the signal path) SE300B amp in the 90s! In spite of the fact that he's very generous in sharing his circuits, I was scared to build it because the stacked B+ power supply was over 700 VDC as seen in the schematic below. I still don't handle anything over 500VDC. That's my limit.

 

[cjfrbw]

I just finished building an 8-10 watt class A single ended VFET amp designed by Nelson Pass around the vintage Sony 2SK60 VFET transistor triode. For nostalgia lark, I put it into a Sony TA4650 chassis (the 44 year old integrated was the first commercially available VFET amp). I have two of the these chassis that I used for years before the amps bit the dust.

I have been listening to it for over a week. It has surpassing transparency, akin to a 45 or 2A3 tube amp. However, it has real specular intensity and attack, with excellent struck tones. It is a nuance champ. I think it may become my favorite for the 75 inch Wisdom/Bohlender ribbons (6 ohms @ 300Hz to 7Khz). It sounds great all by itself, but a DHT driver stage really puts it over the top.

Nelson Pass has gifted these designs around various SIT and VFETs on his DIY portal, and I suppose you could call this the poor relative of his SIT 1 and SIT 2 amps. It sounds absurdly good, all builder solipsism aside, as long as you respect its impedance and power limitations. It has much of the transparency and sound staging character that I remember from SIT 1 and SIT 2 at audio shows, but richer tonality.

 

[beaur]

I just finished building an 8-10 watt class A single ended VFET amp designed by Nelson Pass around the vintage Sony 2SK60 VFET transistor triode. For nostalgia lark, I put it into a Sony TA4650 chassis (the 44 year old integrated was the first commercially available VFET amp). I have two of the these chassis that I used for years before the amps bit the dust.

I have been listening to it for over a week. It has surpassing transparency, akin to a 45 or 2A3 tube amp. However, it has real specular intensity and attack, with excellent struck tones. It is a nuance champ. I think it may become my favorite for the 75 inch Wisdom/Bohlender ribbons (6 ohms @ 300Hz to 7Khz). It sounds great all by itself, but a DHT driver stage really puts it over the top.

Nelson Pass has gifted these designs around various SIT and VFETs on his DIY portal, and I suppose you could call this the poor relative of his SIT 1 and SIT 2 amps. It sounds absurdly good, all builder solipsism aside, as long as you respect its impedance and power limitations. It has much of the transparency and sound staging character that I remember from SIT 1 and SIT 2 at audio shows, but richer tonality.

Very nice. Great use of a classic chassis. Love the SIT amps. Still wish I had pulled the trigger on a SIT-1 trade. Those VFETs are getting spendy now.

Beau

 

[cjfrbw]

I think a commercial upscale version of these 'single ended transistor triode' amps might be the incredibly built Aries Cerat Ianus amps at higher power ratings. It is hard to guess the specific, proprietary technology, however.:

“The Ianus Essentia monoblock amplifier uses TriodeFet technology but has features that make it unique in the already innovative Ianus range. In contrary to the bigger Geminae model, the Essentia is using the TriodeFet active element in a very different topology, as this is a Single Ended design. It is also performing sonically at the highest level, and even though it is the ‘smaller’ model still weighs in at 80 kilos per channel.”

 

[gleeds]

I would include the Destination Audio 45 and 50 tube based amplifiers which I believe are 1.8 and 3.4 watts per channel respectively and simply divine sounding!

 

[cjfrbw]

I would include the Destination Audio 45 and 50 tube based amplifiers which I believe are 1.8 and 3.4 watts per channel respectively and simply divine sounding!
View attachment 100809

Heard these at CAS years ago on the Destination horns and the combo was magical, most impressive. I would like to have heard the 50 tube, but they weren't in service, only out for display.

 

[adrianywu]

I have collected a bunch of 45, 46, 10Y, 2A3. I have intended to build amps around all of them, but have only managed to do the 2A3 so far. I will get round to the rest after I retire..... What I really want to try is a single stage amp with the WE437A. I have collected a dozen of these.
I recently bought Nelson Pass's Amp Camp mini kit. They cost about $100 each without chassis, but a SMPS is included. I use two of these, bridged for 10W class A mono, to power my plasma tweeters. I was using 300B PP amps before that, and my system sounds more extended with the kit amps. I have another two on order so that I can try them on my midrange horns as well.

 

[ALUCARD19]

Although hard to get 11/2 to 2 year waiting list no one has mentioned the Decware 2-3 watt mono and stereo amps. these amps are more affordable but sound smooth and vibrant with 100dB + speakers

 

[godofwealth]

Just received a pair of Emission Labs 45 tubes for my Triode Labs monoblocks. Came all the way from Germany. Took a while to get them. They look and sound very nice. Build quality is exceptional.

 

[charles1dad]

Just received a pair of Emission Labs 45 tubes for my Triode Labs monoblocks. Came all the way from Germany. Took a while to get them. They look and sound very nice. Build quality is exceptional.

Congratulations!
I’ve had the EML XLS 300b in my SET amplifiers for about 7 or 8 years. Splendid sounding and utterly reliable and trouble free.with heavy usage. Excellent quality tubes.
Charles

 

[godofwealth]

These are really hard to get in the US. Most places were sold out or waiting for new shipments.

 

[Holmz]

I’ve recently started exploring the fascinating world of extreme low power amplifiers, think under 2-3 watts.
…

I have heard of “first watt”… maybe they can be bridged to get a ”second watt” which is in the 2-3 watts range