[TomBo]

DecibleDude , these are the leap of faith rewarded Watkins Generation Fours... Room is 18 x 10... with a vaulted ceiling... very good sound. No need to add a bunch of sound absorption materials... fantastic sound

[TomBo]

Close up of the room with emphasis on the vaulted ceiling...

[dlparker]

I just got a used black SET 120 control amp and I'm using Philharmonic Audio's Affordable Accuracy Monitors. With the SET I'm hearing more clarity overall and improved bass response. I'm looking to pick up a used pair of Philharmonic's BMR monitors. Can't afford 'em right away, though. The AAMs are the last version - he doesn't make them any longer. Before this pair I had his previous version - the modified Pioneers.

I moved up from an Insight control amp - never made for production but designed by and AVA for his own use.

[danielgk]

The voltage gain of the set 120 is 22 or 23.  This should be:  20 log 22 = 27 db
The  voltage gain of the M225 is pretty close to the voltage gain of the set 120 control amp (with volume on full) which is about 45.  This should be 20 log 45 = 33 db
Note:   The set 120 control amp (with volume around half) will be quite close to a stock set 120.


Dan

[Rusty Jefferson]

....The  voltage gain of the M225 is pretty close to the voltage gain of the set 120 control amp (with volume on full) which is about 45.  This should be 20 log 45 = 33 db....

Dan

Apologies for my confusion. Are you saying both the SET 120 Control amp and the M225 have 33db of gain, and the standard SET 120 has 27db of gain? Just verifying, as Frank just posted the SET 120/120 Control amp have 20db and 26db gain respectively.

[danielgk]

My numbers are accurate, both the SET 120 Control amp and the M225 have 33db of gain (voltage gain of 45), and the standard SET 120 has 27db of gain (voltage gain of 22).

We did a very limited production run of special low gain SET120's a few years back, that may be where the 20 db number came from (voltage gain of 10) and then the control amp is 6 db more.


Dan

[Rusty Jefferson]

My numbers are accurate, both the SET 120 Control amp and the M225 have 33db of gain (voltage gain of 45), and the standard SET 120 has 27db of gain (voltage gain of 22).

We did a very limited production run of special low gain SET120's a few years back, that may be where the 20 db number came from (voltage gain of 10) and then the control amp is 6 db more.


Dan

Dan, Thank you for the clarification, that's exactly what I needed to know. 

[DecibleDude]

The voltage gain of the set 120 is 22 or 23.  This should be:  20 log 22 = 27 db
The  voltage gain of the M225 is pretty close to the voltage gain of the set 120 control amp (with volume on full) which is about 45.  This should be 20 log 45 = 33 db
Note:   The set 120 control amp (with volume around half) will be quite close to a stock set 120.


Dan

Hi Dan, the 33db gain on the control amp sounds kind of high to a non tech like me. Are there any downsides to this? Thanks.

[avahifi]

Gain of M225 and M750 balanced mono differential amplifiers are both 33 db. Gain of SET 500 stereo amp is 27 db.

Frank

[DecibleDude]

Gain of M225 and M750 balanced mono differential amplifiers are both 26 db. Gain of SET 500 stereo amp is 20 db.

Frank

Hi Frank, you had previously said that the gain of the set 120 "control amp" was 26db, but Dan said it was 33 db, has it changed or was one of you just mistaken? Thanks.

[avahifi]

Well, one of us is probably wrong. Dan however has worked with that circuit much more recently than I have.
 I will check with him.

Frank

[DecibleDude]

 Thanks Frank, much appreciated.

[floresjc]

Salk Songtowers
Salk SS6M

[Rusty Jefferson]

Well, one of us is probably wrong. Dan however has worked with that circuit much more recently than I have.
 I will check with him.

Frank

Just hoping to confirm what the gain of these 3 amplifiers is. SET 120, SET 120 Control, M225. Thanks!

[Mary]

Just hoping to confirm what the gain of these 3 amplifiers is. SET 120, SET 120 Control, M225. Thanks!

Rusty,

The SET 120 amplifier has a gain of 27dB.

The SET 120 Control amplifier has a gain of 33 dB with the volume control full on.

The M225 amplifier has a gain of 33dB.

I promise these are the correct numbers straight from the designer

[Rusty Jefferson]

Thanks so much (again  ) for the clarification!

[DecibleDude]

 Thanks everybody, It's interesting to see what speakers are being matched with the 120 control amp. Some I have never thought of.

[peter4jc]

Thanks everybody, It's interesting to see what speakers are being matched with the 120 control amp. Some I have never thought of.

When I called and talked to Frank about amps and preamps last fall, he steered me toward the DM225's and the Vision SLR w/phono, so this thread is not asking for my feedback, but...  When Frank asked me what I was thinking about in terms of speakers and I told him, he (somewhat firmly) suggested I look at Philharmonic Audio, which I did.  Frank and Dennis (the designer and brains behind Philharmonic) go back a ways.  Anyway, I love love love my HT Towers, and believe they are a match made in heaven w/ my AVA gear.

[ExileSt]

Right now I'm using my SET 120 (standard, not Control) with the new Mission 770 and the results are outstanding.  Previously the amp was on Spatial Audio M3 Triode Masters as well as Falcon Gold Badge LS3/5a -- both excellent pairings.  The only speakers that were not a good match for me -- and I don't mean to cause controversy -- were the Magnepan LRS+.  Maybe it was the room, maybe I just don't care for Magnepans, I don't know.  But the pairing didn't work for me at all.  But before I get roasted here, let me be clear, I kept the SET120 because it's brilliant but sold the Maggies!

[DecibleDude]

Why would anyone roast you, you're intitled to your opinion. By the way what preamp are you using?