[bryan0101]

I recently aquired a pair of Tekton Design OB4.5 92db @ 4ohm (a pair of fostex 4" in parallel + tweeter).
Now I just need to decide which amp I should get Decware SE84C+ (2 wpc, EL84) or SE34I.2+(6wpc EL34), as I believe their design is top notch.

My chain is:
Linux FLAC (mainly female vocal, jazz, soundtrack, instruments)=>
Mhdt Havana (NOS DAC with direct tube coupling, 2.6v output)=>
Trafomatic Head one (SET headphone/preamp, 9v max @ 1kohm)

Another concern would be, should I upgrade to another pair of high eff speakers for more complex type of music (which ob4.5 might not be up to the job), I can use this SET amp as well (cornerhorn Smiley)

With SE84 , I could order another one down the road as monoblocks, while enjoy the sweet 2w w/ the OB4.5 for now (which at 4ohm + set good SET preamp, should be good). BUT then, the EL34 with a single tube might be more appealing. Plus I find myself always prefer a warmer sound, which based on Steve's comment, would be the SE34

Or if anyone have exp with any of the amp, any comments welcome.

I'm very anxious to try one of them out!
Linux->MHdt_Havana+->Jolida JD1000A->Ascend Sierra-1/BG Z-7

[Canada Rob]

Hello Bryan 0101,

First off, you will not likely go wrong with anything out of Steve Deckert's stable.  I have the SE84C+ powering the new 93db Omega Super 5 Monitors with the new Deep Hemp sub.  I am feeding it with an Audio Zone DAC 1 NOS DAC from a headless Mac Mini on 16/44 files.  This the best system I have heard in my 30 years in audio, regardless of price.  Output of the DAC is 2 volts, and the volume on the amp is set at 11-12 o'clock.  It fills a 13' x 20' listening room no problem.  The low level dynamics are so good, one does not feel like cranking the volume like with a lot of solid state/multi driver systems.
I also have some little 85db Angstrom Pochetto II 2 way monitors and in an 11' x 13' listening room the SE84C+ did amazing things with these speakers though not quite as loud as the Omegas, but with no sub.  Also, the bass was just gorgeous.  Pair it with the right equipment and it will be the last amp you will ever need. The only down side is, it is so revealing, that it will show up any weak place in your system.  Concerning the OB4.5s, I did not know they had a tweeter, which could mean some kind of crossover network is involved.  When you have only two watts per channel, you can't afford to be wasting those watts in heating up a crossover.  The OB4.5 without a tweeter would likely be a better match for the SE84C+, but if Tekton is only using a cap to the tweeter with no crossover, then things may work better.  The reason the SE84C+ works well with the 85db Angstroms is because the crossover coil in them is large diameter wire which lessens the resistance, and the output transformers in the amp obviously like what they see, but this is not always the case with 2 way monitors.  In order to get the best out of a thoroughbred like the SE84C+, one needs to do more research than with your average garden variety amplifier, but the results will be well worth it, and you are starting in the right place and asking the right questions.  Hope this helps.

Rob

[smk]

If you purchase SE84C+ amp, consider an active pre down the road. Decware makes these, too. The additional gain may be just what you need instead of mono-blocks.

IMO, you will never hear a better sounding amp with the right speaker for the money.

[rwdrey]

Hi Brian.
The SE84C is a great little amp(I own 2), for me this amp looses much of it's magic when used as monoblocks. If you have the scratch for 2 SE84Cs or 1 SE34I.2, I would consider Eddie Vaughn's Carina. If you can get by with 2/3 watts, this is an incredible amp. I also have the Havana, a pr. of Hornshoppe Horns, & a pr. Tekton Design(single 6" Fostex driver). I'm not familiar with the Tektons you have? My Tektons are a very easy load(like the Hornshoppe's). I really love the sound of a single EL84 driving a widebander. If you have any questions, feel free & ask.
Rich

[hdspeakerman]

Bryan,
I have a Decware amplifier that has been used very little if you are interested.  I bought a McIntosh amp about a year after I bought it and I can't keep both.  I like the SE84C very much but just not enough power for some of the speakers I have.
Howard

[Wind Chaser]

If you have the scratch for 2 SE84Cs or 1 SE34I.2, I would consider Eddie Vaughn's Carina.

A friend of mine had one of those with the stock tubes.  IMO the Decware SE84C with the right tubes sounds better to my ear.  If you need more power and can forego tubes, check out the gainclones or one of the better Tripath amps.  We did a little shootout between the DIY Paradise Charlize and the Carina.  And although the Carina was the better sounding amp, the margin between the two wasn't worth the extra $1400.

Also, if you prefer triode mode, the Decware is 68% more powerful than the Carina.

[rwdrey]

The output tubes of the SE84C are run as pentodes. No triode mode!

[opnly bafld]

The output tubes of the SE84C are run as pentodes. No triode mode!

 
From the Decware site: SE84C Single Ended Triode Class A1
http://www.decware.com/newsite/SE84C.htm

The Decware Taboo is a Pentode amp.

I think Wind Chaser is referring to the Carina- Triode 1.5w/ch vs. Ultralinear 3.2w/ch both 6 ohms (although I don't understand his math).

Lin

[Wind Chaser]

I think Wind Chaser is referring to the Carina- Triode 1.5w/ch vs. Ultralinear 3.2w/ch both 6 ohms (although I don't understand his math).

Lin is correct.  The Carina is only 1.5 watts vs. the Decware 2.2 watts.  0.7 more watts might not seem like a lot of power but we both drove the same speakers and the Decware played Lin is correct.  The Carina is only 1.5 watts vs. the Decware 2.2 watts.  0.7 more watts might not seem like a lot of power but we both drove the same speakers and the Decware played substaintioally louder.  I had the further advantage of steeping down the impedance to 2 ohms with the Speltz autoformers, which further increased the Zen's output.

And while the EL84 isn't a triode, Steve has it wired as such in the SE84.  When the Carina is set to ultralinear mode, it loses that SET magic.  Hence my buddy sold it as it was too underpowered for his needs.

[Vulcan00]

Hey guys:

I was looking at Decware web site. Has anyone tried the Zbox?