I think I have the makings for a first-rate, affordable audio system. My 6SN7-based SRPP linestage preamp is very smooth and blends perfectly with my efficient towers. My 300B single-ended stereo amp is also a perfect combination with my preamp...in my opinion the entire system is very accurate, dynamic, and above all extremely musical. Given the tight budget constraints I'm under at present, this SET-powered system overall is truly a best buy! Eventually I may opt for a powered subwoofer, but first I need to make the neccessary repairs to fix the damage left by Hurricane Jeanne which partially flooded my room, damaging furniture and ruining the carpet (which was removed, thus the concrete foundation...maybe I'll just paint to floor)!
Class-A Single-Ended Triode Stereo Power Amplifier. Zero negative feedback, utilizing a pair of heavy duty single-ended Ei output transformers made with Z10/0.35mm thick high grade silicon/steel plates and wound with 4N oxygen-free copper wire, along with a heavy duty Ei power supply transformer, filter choke, 1% red metal film resistors, paper-in-oil AC coupling capacitors, and point-to-point wiring, Power AC cord is a heavy-duty 3' SignalCable MagicPower. Four solid brass Dayton Audio isolation cones. Power output: 8WPC x 2 @ 8 & 4 ohms (pure class-A). Frequency response: 20Hz-30kHz. S/N ratio: 90dB. Total harmonic distortion: 1% @ 10W/1kHz. Input impedance: 500k ohms. Input sensitivity: 0.5-1V RMS. Tube compliment: Matched pair new 2004 Shuguang 300BC graphite anode power output tubes. NOS '40s Canadian Westinghouse 6K7G driver tubes. NOS '50s Mullard GZ37 rectifier tube.
BEZ Model Q4B Linestage Preamplifier
SRPP Linestage Vacuum Tube Preamplifier. Utilizing an 80W Ei power supply transformer, dual NOS M.B.L.E. 2HYS chokes, dual NOS MEPCO/Electra 250uF electrolytic capacitors, along with point-to-point wiring, paper-in-oil AC coupling capacitors, 1% red metal-film resistors, and a 23-step attenuator with 1/4W (1%) resistors. One pair output, three pair input RCA jacks. Power AC cord is a heavy-duty 3' SignalCable MagicPower. Four solid brass Dayton Audio isolation cones. Frequency response: 20Hz-100kHz. S/N ratio: 96dB. Output voltage: 2.0V RMS (max 25.0V RMS). Tube compliment: Matched pair NOS '50s RCA 6SN7GTB blackplate SRPP amplifier tubes. NOS 1958 RCA OC3 regulator tube. NOS 1967 RCA OD3 regulator tube. NOS '50s Mullard GZ30 rectifier tube.
Athena Technologies AS-F2 Loudspeakers
Two-way Floorstanding Loudspeakers from their Audition Series. Reflex-loaded, front ported design, consisting of a 1" man-made silk "Teteron" dome tweeter with a 70mm ferrite magnet in a wide dispersion baffle, two 8" injection molded polypropylene woofers with 1" voice coils, and high-quality gold-plated five-way binding posts. Frequency response: 35Hz-20kHz (±3dB). Sensitivity: 93dB @ 1watt/1meter. Power handling: 250 watts maximum continuous. Nominal impedance: 8 ohms. Crossover Frequency: 2kHz.
Cambridge Audio azur 640C Compact Disc Player
Single Disc Transport Compact Disc Player. Includes a Wolfson WM8740 24-bit/192kHz DAC, proprietary data reclocking, and three seperate power supplies for digital to analog circuitry/audio filter stages/regulator stages. Power AC cord is a heavy-duty 4' SignalCable DigitalPower-HC. Four black chrome solid brass isolation dampening cones from Dayton Audio. Frequency response: 10Hz-20kHz. Total harmonic distortion: [lessthansign]-92dB. Dynamic range: [greaterthansign]105dB. Channel seperation: [greaterthansign]75dB. Jitter: [lessthansign]260pS.
Nakamichi DR-1 Cassette Deck
Discrete Three Head Cassette Deck. With Dolby B & C noise reduction, tape monitor, bias tune, and playback head azimuth tuning control. Frequency response: 20Hz-21kHz (±3dB). S/N ratio: 72dB (Dolby C). Total harmonic distortion: [lessthansign]-0.8% @ 400Hz/0dB/Type IV. Channel seperation: [greaterthansign]37dB. Crosstalk: [greaterthansign]60dB @ 1kHz/0dB. Bias frequency: 105Hz.
Cardas QuadLink 5-C Interconnects
1 meter length RCA interconnects.
Cardas CrossLink Interconnects
1 meter length RCA interconnects.
Stout-Interconnect B-2 Series Speaker Cables
Silver Wire OFC Conductor Extreme Speaker Cables. Twisted pair open configuration design, with pure Type-E extruded TFE "Teflon" dielectric insulators. Two stranded 16 gauge conductors each consisting 19 strands of 29 gauge wire, unterminated at 6' pairs.
Monster Power HTS 5000 Line Conditioner
Reference PowerCenter Line Conditioner/Surge Protector.
Pawlowski, sorry for not returning a reply sooner (new job keeping me busy). The only place I know of to purchase BEZ components is direct from the designer/builder, Edmund Lam of Hong Kong ([email protected]) on his eBay auctions (user ID: selogic).
I am new to SET myself, and I can vouch that indeed it would be awfully hard to live without (I've also heard very nice KT88, EL34, 6V6, and 6BQ5 PP amps I could easily live with).
I know of inexpensive DIY single-driver horn-loaded kits (like the Voigt Pipe, etc.) that would benefit greatly from my SET 300B amp...I'm not a woodworker or a cabinet maker unfortunantly, but maybe someday when I'm more financially stable (recently lost my job and went bankrupt, and new job's pay is half what I used to make), I'll look into Lowthers in place of my venerable horn-loaded Klipsch for this tiny room!
I have never heard a SET amp in my room, but some say once you hear it you can´t live without it.
What about trying lowther drivers?, some friends here built a DIY cabinets (horn loaded) with Lowther drivers (single drive of course) and are very happy.
Thanks for your response, Kehut. I've read stories about how Monster Power isn't always the best choice in AC filtering, and for me to even consider those units you mentioned at this time, they'd certainly have to be used! I will definately keep my eyes open for any other power conditioners that are "affordable", but for the time being the HTS 5000 will have to do...Being broke sucks!
An interesting and well thought out system, that offers what seems to be very nice synergy at real world prices. The Bez components look like they offer alot for the money. My only thought is to perhaps upgrade from the Monster HTS to something like the Richard Grey or Bybee Powere purifier. These offer better and less intrusive AC filtering at a price to keep within your budget(used). I had the HTS 3500 and while it is convenient as a "surge protetctor" and outlet source, these tends to add phase shift and grunge that you dont want. You could get closer to your music without it IMO. Congratulations again on a nice set up!!--Ken
" I them you've put together a very nice system. I'm glad to see more people are finally discovering tubes. Have you ever consider trying the Alphacore TQ2 interconnects?. As I think you might obtain an overall better sounding system. See if you can at least borrow a pair from the Cable Company. I believe you'll hear an improvement. Just an honest opinion."
