Tony L
Administrator
Anyone here heard the recent UFO transformer update/upgrade to the little 2.3 watt Decware Zen SET? I have a distinct itch to buy one for my Klipsch La Scalas.
I tried a pfm member's Zen a while back and really liked what it did and I think I could justify running such a small tube amp even though this is the TV/background system and is usually on for many hours a day. Rectifier aside it uses cheap and easily available tubes (long-lasting Russian military 6P15P-EV output tubes), and being so tiny and feeble in output I can't imagine it spinning the electric meter too fast, i.e. it shouldn't be too costly/wasteful.
My La Scalas have after-market ALK Universal crossovers which are apparently a constant 8 Ohm impedance, so given the crazy high efficiency (105db) these speakers should technically be as good a match for a flea-powered SET as is possible. I typically listen at around 75-80db, so I doubt I've ever flung a quarter of a watt into them yet! As I have these crazy speakers it just seems wrong to use them with a solid state amp (I'm using a Quad 306) when it is widely acknowledged that they really do not give their best with such things. I certainly liked the Zen I tried with them so it wouldn't be a completely blind punt. I'm just curious as to what the current update brings.
I tried a pfm member's Zen a while back and really liked what it did and I think I could justify running such a small tube amp even though this is the TV/background system and is usually on for many hours a day. Rectifier aside it uses cheap and easily available tubes (long-lasting Russian military 6P15P-EV output tubes), and being so tiny and feeble in output I can't imagine it spinning the electric meter too fast, i.e. it shouldn't be too costly/wasteful.
My La Scalas have after-market ALK Universal crossovers which are apparently a constant 8 Ohm impedance, so given the crazy high efficiency (105db) these speakers should technically be as good a match for a flea-powered SET as is possible. I typically listen at around 75-80db, so I doubt I've ever flung a quarter of a watt into them yet! As I have these crazy speakers it just seems wrong to use them with a solid state amp (I'm using a Quad 306) when it is widely acknowledged that they really do not give their best with such things. I certainly liked the Zen I tried with them so it wouldn't be a completely blind punt. I'm just curious as to what the current update brings.