RichP4003
New Member
I have found myself, like many, on an amplifier Everquest to match up to my Zu Audio Druid V. Some of the things I tried:
- a "traditional" 300B (tube rectified, C3G driver, transformer coupled) and it sounded very nice, but a little syrupy, slow. Really nice but not quite what I was looking for.
- a 2A3 amplifier (an earlier triode lab amplifier) and didn't really like it, although I was surprised with how sound 3.5W or so could produce.
- A EL84 SEP amplifier (Decware Zen Taboo 3) wow this amplifier was impressive. It felt it was lacking power but the clarity and speed were very nice, and quite musical and great with voices.
- A 45 amplifier: I was lucky to find a cosmetically damaged Yamamoto A-08 for a great deal. It sounds FANTASTIC. It is a very beautiful sound, yet quick and transparent. Voices are in the room not in the speaker. Bas isnt super strong but incredibly well defined. At less than 1.5W, even this sounds very powerful in the room (the amp is rated 2W but at 8 ohms, the Druids are 16ohm)
If I ranked these, the 45 is the winner, with the EL84 second. Although the Zus are 101db, I still feel they need a bit more power. At louder listening levels the amp is just below/ starting to clip. I would love a solid bit of headroom..
So given Im close to where I want to be, I have some options:
- Build/acquire a PSET 45 amplifier.. with the issues that PSET brings. (4w)
- Build a 45 amplifier that has 2 45 circuits bridged at the transformers, floating them from ground like Decware and Bottlehead accomplish their 45. They both claim this doesnt have the issues of PSET (smearing if the tubes are 100% matched throughout their lifetime) (again 4W)
- Build an amplifier around the EML 45B tube. This tube can run like a regular 45, or up some numbers and run the right transformers and it can put out more power. if I went this route I would get the tubes first, try them in the Yamamoto and confirm they even sound like a true 45 (4-5W)
The final bit is: Is there ANY 300B setup that sounds like a 45 tube? solid state rectification, a particular driver setup, a particular tube (its pricey but even like the ELROG 300B thing).
Thanks everyone.. I feel like I am close to getting where I want to be (im honest in that in audio there is never a true "end-game")
- a "traditional" 300B (tube rectified, C3G driver, transformer coupled) and it sounded very nice, but a little syrupy, slow. Really nice but not quite what I was looking for.
- a 2A3 amplifier (an earlier triode lab amplifier) and didn't really like it, although I was surprised with how sound 3.5W or so could produce.
- A EL84 SEP amplifier (Decware Zen Taboo 3) wow this amplifier was impressive. It felt it was lacking power but the clarity and speed were very nice, and quite musical and great with voices.
- A 45 amplifier: I was lucky to find a cosmetically damaged Yamamoto A-08 for a great deal. It sounds FANTASTIC. It is a very beautiful sound, yet quick and transparent. Voices are in the room not in the speaker. Bas isnt super strong but incredibly well defined. At less than 1.5W, even this sounds very powerful in the room (the amp is rated 2W but at 8 ohms, the Druids are 16ohm)
If I ranked these, the 45 is the winner, with the EL84 second. Although the Zus are 101db, I still feel they need a bit more power. At louder listening levels the amp is just below/ starting to clip. I would love a solid bit of headroom..
So given Im close to where I want to be, I have some options:
- Build/acquire a PSET 45 amplifier.. with the issues that PSET brings. (4w)
- Build a 45 amplifier that has 2 45 circuits bridged at the transformers, floating them from ground like Decware and Bottlehead accomplish their 45. They both claim this doesnt have the issues of PSET (smearing if the tubes are 100% matched throughout their lifetime) (again 4W)
- Build an amplifier around the EML 45B tube. This tube can run like a regular 45, or up some numbers and run the right transformers and it can put out more power. if I went this route I would get the tubes first, try them in the Yamamoto and confirm they even sound like a true 45 (4-5W)
The final bit is: Is there ANY 300B setup that sounds like a 45 tube? solid state rectification, a particular driver setup, a particular tube (its pricey but even like the ELROG 300B thing).
Thanks everyone.. I feel like I am close to getting where I want to be (im honest in that in audio there is never a true "end-game")