[avahifi]

This one is a video review by Steve Guttenberg Audiophiliac

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDWNY1SapMI

Enjoy!

[Scroof Neachy]

I had to turn it off after 10 seconds; I couldn’t handle the shirt he was wearing.
He should get outside a little - get some sun.

[Nick B]

Hadn’t paid attention to the shirt previously, but… 😳😳    Nice review, though  I recently added a Supratek preamp and added a Wywires cable..and maybe more soon. … and the SET 120 very nicely presents the improvement. I’d consider a SET 400, but the 120 easily drives my 87 dB Fritz speakers.

[BadDNA]

Dang it! I got a little excited that this might be a review of the 120 amp, not the control amp. I did see this when it came out and it is a nice review, however, I'd like to see some reviews of the basic 120 stereo AMP that someone would have connected to a separate preamp. Not that I require confirmation that it is a nice amp, I already know that!

[Mary]

BadDNA here is a link to the Absolute Sound review of the SET 120 basic amplifier.

https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/audio-by-van-alstine-transcendence-10-rb-preamplifier-and-vision-set-120-stereo-power-amplifier

Mary

[BadDNA]

Thanks Mary, I did see that one. I was just looking for more reviews on it. Seems like the control amp gets all the attention. I like to absorb all the info on stuff that I can find. Probably the engineer in me.

[avahifi]

Our basic SET 120 power amp is identical to the Control Amp, just without the passive preamp section.

Same sound, just lower price, and with same over the top user feedback.

Frank

[genjamon]

But I thought the control amplifier was run with a higher gain setting than the standard SET 120.  Same innards, but the higher or lower gain may be a better fit, depending on the system synergy. 

[avahifi]

Yes, one resistor value change per channel to bump up gain 6 dB to make up for the no gain passive preamp section.  No sonic change other that control amp version is not dependent upon quality of whatever preamp it might be paired with.

Frank

[BadDNA]

Thanks for the explanation, Frank.

If I did not have to have a remote, need to high pass my mains, and did not wish to connect my DAC via XLRs, the control amp would be a good option for me. One could argue that you would probably not notice a difference between RCA and balanced connections, but I like having the option. Having a Parasound P6 handle all that is like having a Swiss Army knife in the system. I do wonder what one of your preamps would sound like in its place, however, I'd have to account for a way to high pass my mains while sending the full signal to my MiniDSP 2x4HD which controls dual servo subs.

[BadDNA]

So, I just have to say......

Was listening to some music last night with the SET 120 amp doing its thing, and it really DOES do its thing...... Melody Gardot was singing to me in the room!

[Phil_S]

I get that...have the SET 120 Control Amp & Vision Phono powering Ohm 100 M3.  Couldn't be happier!

[Nick B]

So, I just have to say......

Was listening to some music last night with the SET 120 amp doing its thing, and it really DOES do its thing...... Melody Gardot was singing to me in the room!

🎶 😀 🎶