[glynnw]

My new 45 tube amps are the best I have heard in my system.  Having  owned a couple of amps built by Sean Casper, a little over a year ago I asked him to make me a pair of mono 45 tube amps, asking that they look like one of his prior amps which I thought looked cool & groovy, kind of Garberesque if you will.  I had input on color and went for a matte black.  I had to be patient because Sean was finishing up work on his Master's (no doubt in some arcane way of getting filthy rich).  My expectations were for a pretty (IMHO) pair of amps that would sound good, but I wasn't prepared for the high sound quality these amps would put out.  I am in love with the sound of these amps.  I have heard detail for the first time in songs I have played tons of times.  In the past few years I have gone though a bunch of amps – Music Reference, Carver, Shindo, a couple of Bottlehead amps I have built, First Watt, vintage Conrad Johnson (which I still own), several class D amps and more.  None have made my speakers , currently Spatial Audio M3TMs (my X-5s are in transit, here hopefully by Christmas), sing like these new amps.  Serious voodoo going on with these amps.  But I have never had a 45 amp before, so the question is do all 45 tube amps have this magic or is Sean's new amp special?  My 2 audio buddies here in Shreveport have Maggies, so they don't have a 1.5 watt amp laying around for me to compare with.  I will probably buy another 45 just to answer this question.  In the meantime I am in audio heaven.  In the last 2 weeks I have listened to parts of at least 200 different albums – all sounded good, but more often than not the album is rendered more cleanly and smoothly and detailed than I realized was possible.  And they will drive the M3TMs to excessive loudness. I put a pair of TJ Music meshplates in them and the bass was comparable to the bass I was getting from my pair of GR Research dual 12 In OB subs, but I prefer the sound of the RCA tubes that came with the amps. If I do indeed buy another 45 amp and compare, I'll post my thoughts here.

[Tyson]

I too have rolled a bunch of amps over the years in my system.  A well designed Type 45 amp is special.  That tube is indeed quite special, but you need a great design to bring it out fully. 

Compared to my other SET and SEP amps, the Type 45 I have is more direct, emotive, and (surprisingly) dynamic.  It won't do monster bass if you're driving a full range speaker, but in the mids/highs the 'jump factor' is incredible. 

I love the look of your amps. 

[Tomy2Tone]

Yeah, that looks great! I've contemplated a Dennis Had 45 amp for a little while and your posting here is making me think about it again. My current amp that I'm enjoying is a Pass Aleph J so your comments mentioning the First Watt has me intrigued.

What preamp are you using and can you say the price Sean is asking for these?

[glynnw]

Preamp is a 45 tube based 2 chassis unit made by Radu Tarta.  I believe Sean can build a pair of 45 mono amps like mine for abt $3500 - just be aware they may take a while, since he has to order the parts as needed and some parts are custom.  I don't want to violate any rules of AudioCircle since Sean is not a sponsor of the site, but if it's allowed I can put you in touch with him.

[rollo]

Preamp is a 45 tube based 2 chassis unit made by Radu Tarta.  I believe Sean can build a pair of 45 mono amps like mine for abt $3500 - just be aware they may take a while, since he has to order the parts as needed and some parts are custom.  I don't want to violate any rules of AudioCircle since Sean is not a sponsor of the site, but if it's allowed I can put you in touch with him.

  Sean can certainly introduce himself in Industry Introductions.

charles

[FullRangeMan]

It really a nice looking chassis congratulations

[happyrabbit]

Sweetness. Have you thought 💭 @ a pair EML 45’s yet ?

[galyons]

Sweetness. Have you thought 💭 @ a pair EML 45’s yet ?

IME, EML 45's lack most of the sound qualities that make the 45 special. I tried them in series feed and parallel feed monoblocks.  Well built, nice sounding tube, just doesn't sound like a real 45. To me the EML 45's were brighter and drier.  I run DHT amps and preamp with vintage EV horns.  Your system may prove more synergistic!?

Cheers,
Geary

[DavidS]

wow they do look like Fi amps.  Plus a Radu Tarta preamp - always lusted after his amps as well, just out of my price range.  Surprised the 45s work with your speakers - sold my Spatial M3s to play with low powered amps - enjoying it through your eyes and ears!

[glynnw]

When I put a pair of TJ Fullmusic 45 meshplates in these amps, the bass was much louder, but the magic I have been experiencing with a pair of NOS RCA 45 tubes was missing.  I am not prepared to gamble over $600 on the Emission Labs at this time.

[leonardmicheal17]

hello,

My name is Leonard and I'm new to the forum and to the hobby. What is the type of circuit  that Sean is using? You mentioned that it is similar to to the fi amps of Mr. Garber. I researched and he has passed away. Mr. Garber used a direct coupled design which eliminate a capacitor in the path from what I have read. I hope that it is the same as I'm looking for a fi amp and none is available.

I am interested on getting a single ended DHT and would like to spend once on a good amplifier and hope to not get caught with the upgradeitis, Im also thinking of getting a klipsch cornwall speaker to pair it with.

thanks

[FullRangeMan]

If you want flea power a 45/2A3 are suffice, otherwise a multi-tube amp as Inspire Fire Bottle are a better option, if you need 15W stick with 6C33 SE, whatever option you made zero NFB and DC heaters are recommended.

For DHTs forget 300B/845, GM70 or GK71(Triode/Pentode switch) are unsurpassed.

[leonardmicheal17]

Hello fullrange,

Thank you for responding. I will research more and see where it takes me. I hope I won’t get  too confused with all the options out there.

[electronicsfanatic]

Cost on one of these?

[electronicsfanatic]

I saw

[FullRangeMan]

There is the Decware Rachel EL34-SE for 1495usd.
Inspire Fire Bottle around 1600usd.
6C33 SE around 2 to 2,5K usd (or very less if you order direct at the friendly Radu Tarta)
https://simplepleasuretubeamps.wordpress.com/

If you live in a cold area contact Anatoly(Wavebourn) at DIY Audio for an DHT GK71-SE:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skCCd4O-fVQ
Other great audiophile amp are his Edelweiss SE for 6W of ♫♫bliss from $1200 to 1450usd.
https://pt-br.facebook.com/Wavebourn/posts/2156378231087133?__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARAg5v2ZdQ5NWWzHf5IWuzkdIowdsy08qARVHYCFJkBpxFAl7YjXQY6cFSo8wocZf6V2WGuL2k9_bqNANtkonPRoChWiF9gywQnaQUaE0Z2rcbsA5iOm7Rwf82jFfdq9dWhcIlHc-cUPfiqI3OaG0E4C-v5m4iCUNlXtxfqs3hPWhtZTwDS77LSxsWC4rBL1HYgyeM3EGPtSZ5tWAGwrOyUXG43XboWstsQakohcJfLgK2H-ocAgDtlzolEgq7bFOXJ3bl2Cu4-Rra6GDpvszWb6X12cdtSyZF5Sy7r9rZXR5CjgdYYsQRPt8Nc3WBfmUnapzRBNFriy1RnDzKHZBVEl4w&__tn__=K-R

[Brad]

I have the EML 45s (solid, not mesh) in my Korneff amp and love their sound.  More dynamic, but to me still have the 45 magic.

It doesn't look as cool as your amp though.  I like that design and it does remind me of a Fi amp.

[Les Lammers]

I have the EML 45s (solid, not mesh) in my Korneff amp and love their sound.  More dynamic, but to me still have the 45 magic.

It doesn't look as cool as your amp though.  I like that design and it does remind me of a Fi amp.

I ran ELM solid plates in a Korneff amp and they were excellent.