SET, Push Pull, or T-Amp best to drive Frugel horns?

[blue lander]

I'm about to build a Frugelhorn, and I'm trying to decide what kind of (hopefully) cheap amplifier to drive it from. I already have an S5 K-12G amplifier that I'm very happy with, but I understand that a SET amp or something like the T-Amp might be more sensitive and a better match for the Frugelhorn. Before I spend 70 bucks on upgrade capacitors for the K-12G, I wanted to make sure this was an "appropriate" amp to match with the Frugelhorns.

Would a SET tube amp in the same price range ($200) be more sensitive and revealing than the Push/Pull I have? I don't care if that price limits me to DIY amp that can't do more than 2 wpc. The K-12G is only 8 wpc and it can easily fill the room even when hooked up to a pair of stupidly inefficient Advent /3 speakers at like 85 db/w.

[chrisb]

Originally Posted by blue lander

I'm about to build a Frugelhorn, and I'm trying to decide what kind of (hopefully) cheap amplifier to drive it from. I already have an S5 K-12G amplifier that I'm very happy with, but I understand that a SET amp or something like the T-Amp might be more sensitive and a better match for the Frugelhorn. Before I spend 70 bucks on upgrade capacitors for the K-12G, I wanted to make sure this was an "appropriate" amp to match with the Frugelhorns.

Would a SET tube amp in the same price range ($200) be more sensitive and revealing than the Push/Pull I have? I don't care if that price limits me to DIY amp that can't do more than 2 wpc. The K-12G is only 8 wpc and it can easily fill the room even when hooked up to a pair of stupidly inefficient Advent /3 speakers at like 85 db/w.

Well, I've built a few pairs of Frugelhorns and other FE126 & FE108E Sigma based designs (BLH and otherwise), and my favorite amp to date from a from a wide range of tubed and SS is the (now retired) Bottlehead Paramour 2A3 SET.

I'd certainly be most inclined to recommend something along those lines, but good luck finding parts or a kit for the above budget - decent iron for power supply and O/P alone could cost at least that much . However, a new product that is currently getting raves, and that would certainly be worth looking into is:

http://www.aloaudio.com/store/index....roducts_id=258

see thread here:

http://www.audiophiletalk.com/cgi-bi...num=1248108891

no doubt other discussions on this little gem to be found elsewhere



2.5W might not seem like much, but as owners of many flea-watt triode amps will attest, there's more to it than that

[Scottmoose]

If you're handy with the old soldering iron, you should be able to build a First Watt F2 or F3 for that money. Either of those would be my pick in that sort of price range if you want a high quality low power amp.

[ra7]

I have the Audio Nirvana full range drivers in folded voight pipes - some horn loading is involved. For a long time, I was running them with a T-amp and the sound was good. Recently though, I connected it to a 2.5W/ch single-ended tube amp and the difference in sound is like night and day. In comparison, the t-amp sounds harsh, lacks bass and is in general uninteresting - another way of saying that is not a good match for these speakers.

Your K-12G would appear to be a good match and I would advise against investing in a t-amp. One of the zens or the firstwatt amps would be a good choice also.

[ra7]

chrisb,

I have that 2.5W gem. Got it as a birthday gift from my dad. It is astounding what that little thing can do. I've had it for a week and it has completely transformed my previously very good system into phenomenal (no modesty here).

I've been meaning to report on it in detail. I probably will after I've listened to it more. But I can outright recommend it to anyone and everyone. This is serious stuff for peanuts. Not as low as a t-amp but then it is miles ahead of the t-amp in terms of sound quality.

[blue lander]

I guess I'll take the T-Amp out of consideration. I really like the looks of that Miniwatt amp. It comes prebuilt and costs less than Zen's DIY offering!

I guess what I really want to know, is there something inherently superior about a fleawatt single ended amp compared to a push/pull in the same price range, when hooked up to a nice pair of back loaded horns? Or is that too generic of a question to answer? I'd rather use the K12g I already have since I don't have any other use for it, but I don't want to throw money at it if it'll never equal what I could get out of a SET.

[ra7]

I would recommend using the K-12G for now. Buy the miniwatt when you have the money and hear for yourself what the difference is. Atleast you are assured that what you get is quality.

[Jeb-D.]

Unless you can up your budget, I'd stick with the k12.

[Bigun]

I assume you are asking because you have an urge to get something new, not that the K-12G is bad. Well, that mini system - I followed the link - looks really nice. Why not go and buy one, what's the worse that can happen - you don't like it and offer it as a gift to your Uncle (or it you email me and I'll take it ).

[blue lander]

Yeah... that Miniwatt looks really tempting. The K12g was only about $200 shipped, looks like the Miniwatt comes in at around $250 shipped. I was going to put 70 bucks in auricaps into the K12g plus the cost of building a nice enclosure, I could put that money into a Miniwatt instead. I do have an old Zenith solid state console stereo in the living room I could put the K12g in. The builtin speakers have horns that sound pretty good with it, although you have to be standing (sitting actually) in exactly the right position or it sounds like a PA system.

I guess I should wait until I finish the Frugelhorns and take it from there. Unfortunately Madisound is back ordered on Fostex FE126E's until the end of the month.