SET amp recommendations

Having dipped my toes into tube waters, it's time for a swim.

Looking for a SET integrated but need a little help compiling a list of amps to listen to. More into the transparent, boogie, detail type of sound but through tubes. Someone recommended Art Audio but then I looked at the prices . Budget of £2-2.5K (s/h is fine). Any pointers much appreciated.

 

Audionote?

 

below £1500 (new) the best one I've heard is the hificollective 'glasshouse' 300b integrated. This uses audionote c core transformers and is built like a tank. The owner will proffessionally make it for you for a couple of hundred quid.
You are talking £1,000 or about £1200 built.

http://www.hificollective.co.uk/kits/300bsedescription.html

another option is the ladyday monoblocks from DIYhifisupply. I'd say of comparable quality to the above kit. Importing from USA means a probable higher cost to the kit, and I'm not sure if they build.

http://www.diyhifisupply.com/diyhs_ladyday.htm

Other than that you are looking at something second hand for best value. Audion Silvernights, Art Audio - will both come in around £1500 used.

£2,500 will get you a second hand border patrol 300b.


These are all 300b SETs by the way, if thats what you are looking for.


*edit* I forgot to mention the only one of these that is really an integrated is the glasshouse amp.

I'd forgotten about Audionote (as above) they do a nice SET integrated that you get second hand for about £1500 which I think is called the 'otto'.

 

Have a look at the Glasshouse 300b, normally a kit but I am sure they would be happy to supply one built up if you didn't fancy building it
http://www.hificollective.co.uk/kits/glasshousehome.html

 

There's one for sale over at world-designs.co.uk/forum

 

so are you saying the glasshouse will compete with a 2.5K amp? what does it sound like?

 

the Glasshouse will more than compete with much more expensive amps,it is a very high quality product, it was designed by Andy Grove who has a great track record including Audionote amps
the thing to do is talk to Nick Lucas at Hifi collective
on 01908 217202

 

Another vote for the Glasshouse. I just finished building one a couple of weeks ago and it is very very good.. and thats with the standard quality components.. can't wait to hear it really sing when it's full of blackgates, paper in oils, posher resistors, audionote silver wound transformers etc.

 

heard the glasshouse today (the GTI version). yes, good in the mids and treble. the bass though was er, lacking. not really a rocker either. maybe an 845?

 

Thats surprising, I wouldn't describe the bass from mine as "lacking"....mine has better drive than the monarchy audio sm70 I was using before, maybe its a speaker matching thing, or the type of 300b fitted?
Edit to add: I have EH 300b golds in, not heard any other type yet.

 

entirely possible. hard to tell as i listened to the amp in someone else's system though the owner did concede the amp was bass light. not 300b's strength, according to him.

 

Indeed, This is the only 300b amp I have heard too. I was fully expecting it to be a little bass shy, but with the fabled midrange. It came as a bit of a shock when it started rattling my window
Good luck on your search, and enjoy the journey=)

 

Hi Cab586

What was the rest of the system with the Glasshouse 300B you heard?

You can get good bass out of a 300B amp. It's down to the design and the quailty of the components. The main areas are transformers and power supplies.

The Glasshouse looks interesting on paper. I've heard a number of good things about it but haven't heard one myself.

The Border Patrol amps get my thumbs up but it isn't an intergrated amp. Some Border Patrol amps do have a volume control but they are single input.

2nd hand single ened amps can be had that may meet your standards. Audion do a range that can be had new for under £2500.

if you can go for pre power, your choice is greater.

The Audionote Oto is not a SET amp. It's a single ended pentode intergrated amp. Audionote do the Meshu intergrated amp which can be had for less than £2500.

Some of the many Chinese amps may be of interest.

 

Not strictly a SET but I can highly recommend the Esoteric Audio Research 869.

 

Rest of the system - Marantz cdp, Garrard deck (with SME arm and Dynavector cartridge) plus some home made speakers. Fully concede that this dem may not been one of the best because so much of the equipment was DIY and tuned to the owners personal preferences (the 300b though had all the upgrade...blackgates etc). The end result though still lacked some bass and general pace.

I could run direct into a power (via my cdp - 850) but I am thinking of selling my player so direct may not be option if the new player doesn't have a build in pre.

Chinese could be an option if there is some sort of money back guarentee - I rather not buy blind though having said that I did buy an Eastsound E5 recently and it is very impressive.

Thanks for the other suggestions. I can see many dems ahead!

 

Hi Cab,

would your friend let you try the amp at your house?

perhaps his speakers are bass light, or not particularly sensitive.

 

Hi Bottleneck, that integrated kit looks interesting. Do you know how far those 11 watts would go with OBXR2s and a room that's about 6m x 7m? My only reference is a (dreaded) Sugden A21a - its plenty loud enough.

Alex

 

BN, yep i could get a home dem.

alexs, if you're interested, the chap lives in SW london.

 

Alex

Ive spent some time driving Avatars with the Glasshouse 300B.

Its the heaviest and biggest 300B integrated my back has ever had the misfortune to pick up.

I cane my amplifiers, playing at volume levels which mean I can hear pretty loudly at the other side of the house - it's my version of ''multi-room''.

I couldn't get the Glasshouse to clip. I thought its warm and generous sound was a nice match for the Avatars.

I like it best as a power amp with an active pre.

As an integrated, I'd reccomend replacing the carbon track volume with the stepped attenuator they sell. I have the same attenuator in my active pre and it is a belter. I reccomend it as an upgrade for existing glasshouse 300b glasshouse owners.

I'm too lazy to do a review, but suffice to say the stepped attenuator shat all over my alps blue pot.

I'd be suprised if you didn't find it 'louder sounding' than the sugden, or at least similar.

 

Thanks for that.