Posted by Wayne Parham [ 65.69.121.77 ] on February 14, 2005 at 15:01:37:
In Reply to: Re: Pull pin... posted by TC on February 14, 2005 at 11:08:18:
I tend to agree. I've heard some really nice SET amps, but one thing I've started to realize is that they aren't cheap. The entry level SET kits I've heard had very little power and flabby bass or no bass at all. But if budget allows bigger tubes and iron, then I think SET becomes an attractive option.
I think you can make a much nicer sounding push-pull amp for a few hundred dollars than a SET amp, so I think entry level systems might be better off running push-pull. The trouble for DIY is that SET is simple to build but requires more expensive components for good sound quality. A good quality push-pull amp can be made with cheaper components, but it's more difficult to build, and maybe that discourages DIY builders.
I guess I've come to the conclusion that if you have the budget, give SET a go. There are some great SET amps in the >$2K range. Less than that, I'm thinking go push-pull.
BTW, I wanted to let you know that Akhilesh has a PhD and is a professor at Tulsa University, so he's a pretty quick study. 