Recomendations for a 45 amp

jcmusic · « **on:** 7 Apr 2010, 12:07 pm »

Hi Guys this is my first post here so bear with me, I am currently running a Sophia Electric 300B MKII amp with 105+db speakers. I have been wanting to try a 45 amp for some time, can you guys make some recomandations???

Jay

TomS · « **Reply #1 on:** 7 Apr 2010, 12:20 pm »

Jay,

Welcome to AC. I don't know much about the 45 amps, but you might try this post in the Tube-O-Phile circle as it is likely to get better traffic there.

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?board=144.0

Tom

gsm18439 · « **Reply #2 on:** 7 Apr 2010, 03:52 pm »

I have tried two. DejaVu Audio and Yamamoto A-08s. If you live in the DC area, a visit to DejaVu (in McClean, VA) would be worthwhile.

kgturner · « **Reply #3 on:** 7 Apr 2010, 05:23 pm »

i've only heard the yamamoto a-08s. i didn't really feel the need to explore beyond it.

kevin t

Jon L · « **Reply #4 on:** 7 Apr 2010, 05:55 pm »

I really haven't heard a bad 45 SET yet, and I think it's very important to have the right 45 tube set, e.g. EML 45 solid plates, etc.

jcmusic · « **Reply #5 on:** 7 Apr 2010, 07:52 pm »

Hi Guys thanks for the replys, the Yamamoto keeps coming up there must be something to it!!! Also I am reading about the Korneff 45 what about that one??? Please more info!!!

Jay

Ericus Rex · « **Reply #6 on:** 7 Apr 2010, 10:02 pm »

I think Music Reference (AC sponsor) makes a 45 amp. Check their website. Never heard it but he makes great stuff.

doug s. · « **Reply #7 on:** 8 Apr 2010, 01:37 am »

it's not a 45 amp, but the almarro a205a mkll, w/tube & cap rolling, has acquitted itself quite well against the likes of the yamamoto a-08, and its retail price of ~$800 makes it hard to not at least inwestigate. i must admit i am biased, as i am a happy owner of one... and, nothing like having the enormous headroom that 5wpc gives you!

doug s.

Jon L · « **Reply #8 on:** 8 Apr 2010, 02:01 am »

Quote from: doug s. on 8 Apr 2010, 01:37 am

it's not a 45 amp, but the almarro a205a mkll, w/tube & cap rolling, has acquitted itself quite well against the likes of the yamamoto a-08.. nothing like having the enormous headroom that 5wpc gives you!

doug s.

It probably sounds strange to owners of "usual" medium-low sensitivity speakers requiring higher power amps, but there is a large difference between 2 watts (45 SET) and 5 watts (Almarro) beyond mere numbers.

It's one of the reasons I sold off my Korneff 45 SET, which sounded great given the (very) right speakers, getting better with teflon coupling cap upgrade. 3.5 watts of my 2A3 SET sounds quite a bit more useful than 45, and 5 watts of my Almarro almost feels excessive

JoshK · « **Reply #9 on:** 8 Apr 2010, 02:35 am »

Quote from: Jon L on 8 Apr 2010, 02:01 am

It probably sounds strange to owners of "usual" medium-low sensitivity speakers requiring higher power amps, but there is a large difference between 2 watts (45 SET) and 5 watts (Almarro) beyond mere numbers.

I fully appreciate this. I've heard 45 SETs a few times, and just like 6V6/EL84 amps, its hard to not love them. One can be amazed how loud a 45 SET can make a relatively inefficient speaker play and at the same time, I've never encountered an efficient enough speaker to be able to live with a 45 SET for all moods.

One easily forgets that power follows a power rule, not a linear rule. 2 watts is to 1 watt as 100 watts is to 50 watts. To keep the same increments you have to keep doubling the power, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, etc...

I have a 10watt SE-UL amp and I am sometimes amazed at how loud it can drive my 91db 4 ohm speakers. It can't do the justice to the bass as the 400watt UCD amp can, but it can play darn loud without noticeable distortion.

jcmusic · « **Reply #10 on:** 8 Apr 2010, 03:01 am »

Let me clear the air a bit here, my speakers are 105+db efficent. So power is not the issue, it is the sound that I am after!!!

Jay

doug s. · « **Reply #11 on:** 8 Apr 2010, 12:53 pm »

Quote from: jcmusic on 8 Apr 2010, 03:01 am

Let me clear the air a bit here, my speakers are 105+db efficent. So power is not the issue, it is the sound that I am after!!!

Jay

i fully understand this - which is why i mentioned the enormous headroom 5wpc will prowide you.

for 1/3 the retail price of a yamamoto, w/sonics at the same level, the a205a mkll is hard to ignore, imo... my present speakers are only ~100db-efficient; i, for one actually appreciate a bit of headroom...

doug s.

Quiet Earth · « **Reply #12 on:** 8 Apr 2010, 03:05 pm »

I am also interested in hearing more about the 45 since my speakers are close to 98dB efficient. One thing that I noticed about 45 amps is that they are sometimes offered without the 45 tubes. Does that mean they are hard to get? (I don't consider e-bay a reliable way of getting new tubes when you need them.)

I'm not sure why the conversation switched to the Almarro A205 when we are talking about low power SET. I also own the Almarro amp and it's not in the the same league at all. It sounds much more like my NAD integrated than my 300B amp.

JoshK · « **Reply #13 on:** 8 Apr 2010, 03:14 pm »

Quote from: Quiet Earth on 8 Apr 2010, 03:05 pm

I am also interested in hearing more about the 45 since my speakers are close to 98dB efficient. One thing that I noticed about 45 amps is that they are sometimes offered without the 45 tubes. Does that mean they are hard to get? (I don't consider e-bay a reliable way of getting new tubes when you need them.)

I'm not sure why the conversation switched to the Almarro A205 when we are talking about low power SET. I also own the Almarro amp and it's not in the the same league at all. It sounds much more like my NAD integrated than my 300B amp.

Ebay is still the place to get most 45 tubes. You can still get them from some tube dealers but they are getting quite picked over and therefore command pretty high prices. I collected some 45s a while back and used ebay as my source. The thing is I bid low as it made the risk more tolerable if I was getting a bigger discount for taking the risk. I also then got a tube tester and made sure they tested good when they arrived.

acresm22 · « **Reply #14 on:** 8 Apr 2010, 04:02 pm »

These options are both longshots, but the late George Wright also made a pair of 45 monos that looked almost identical to his much admired WPA3.5 2A3 mono amps. You might snag a pair on the used market if you're patient. I haven't heard the Wright 45 amps, but I owned the WPA3.5 amps and they were great.

Also, Handmade Electronics in Pennsylvania used to make a 45 SET amp that sold for under $1k. TNT did a review...you can find it online. Handmade's website says the 45 is no longer available, but you might be able to talk Tony into making you one. I owned his 2A3 SET amp a few years back and it was very good...rather industrial looking, but it played tunes nicely.

doug s. · « **Reply #15 on:** 8 Apr 2010, 04:17 pm »

Quote from: Quiet Earth on 8 Apr 2010, 03:05 pm

I am also interested in hearing more about the 45 since my speakers are close to 98dB efficient. One thing that I noticed about 45 amps is that they are sometimes offered without the 45 tubes. Does that mean they are hard to get? (I don't consider e-bay a reliable way of getting new tubes when you need them.)

I'm not sure why the conversation switched to the Almarro A205 when we are talking about low power SET. I also own the Almarro amp and it's not in the the same league at all. It sounds much more like my NAD integrated than my 300B amp.

i have never heard a 45 amp. the only reason i mentioned the almarro is because it was compared so favorably to the yamamoto a45 amp in 6moonsaudio, and it's 1/3rd the price. that's why the conversation went off-topic a bit, maybe you understand why, now. the topic wasn't originally about 300b amps either! who knows? maybe the yamamoto sounds like your nad integrated, too.

doug s.

JoshK · « **Reply #16 on:** 8 Apr 2010, 05:10 pm »

This one looks interesting:

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstube&1274622660

Here is a 2A3 amp that looks intriguing..

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstube&1275685785&/Custom-2a3

If you check with Mikey over at Magnequest to verify the parts, then this looks quite good.

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstube&1274124777&/Custom-Monoblocks-45-SET

Like the guy said in his ad, Korneff, Burgess & Hogan are all reputable builders that will build you a good 45 SET for sane money.

Quiet Earth · « **Reply #17 on:** 8 Apr 2010, 08:12 pm »

Quote from: doug s. on 8 Apr 2010, 04:17 pm

the topic wasn't originally about 300b amps either

No problem doug, everyone loves the little Almarro.

I think the original post is about moving from a 300B amp to a 45 in hopes of getting better sound quality for less power. That's what caught my attention anyway. I think the almarro would be a step backwards in this case because the OP already has nine single ended, tube rectified, zero feed back watts on tap. The little Almarro is just not in the same league, as good of a value as it may be.

I would love to hear some of the 45 amps mentioned here, as well as the Audio Note Paladin. In general, the 45 seems to be hard to come by on a commercial basis. There must be a good reason for that. (Unobtainable production stock?)

The Yamamoto looks like the best candidate for current production fare, but it looks like I would need an active pre amp to get the most out of it. There's no gain stage in that amp. (That's one reason why it's so quiet.)

Oh yeah, and I'm sure the Yami sounds much better than my old NAD integrated.

doug s. · « **Reply #18 on:** 8 Apr 2010, 08:44 pm »

wondering why the 6moons folks seem the think the almarro is on par w/the yamamoto. especially after replacing two caps & tubes... oh well, everyone hears differently...

best,

doug s.

Quiet Earth · « **Reply #19 on:** 8 Apr 2010, 09:44 pm »

maybe it is ......