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AUDIO FORUMS >> General Discussion and Support >> Bridged SE84UDO2.1 pair or SE84UFO3 monos?
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Message started by Sxmthuan on 09/09/25 at 14:57:01

Title: Bridged SE84UDO2.1 pair or SE84UFO3 monos?
Post by Sxmthuan on 09/09/25 at 14:57:01

Hi all,
I currently run a pair UFO2.1 bridged to my La Scala, very nice sounding
They're beautiful to look at with dual round dial display.
I'm thinking about replace them with "real" monos UFO3.
Do you think this is an upgrade?
UFO3 advantage is having tube regulation OA3, but not look as good as UFO2.1
And I don't need 6wpc. 2.7wpc is just more than enough for my LS 105dB sensitivity
Pricewise is almost the same
Thank you for your inputs
Thuan

Title: Re: Bridged SE84UDO2.1 pair or SE84UFO3 monos?
Post by CAJames on 09/09/25 at 15:51:46

My 2 centavos is this: The UFO3s will be an upgrade in sound quality over the UFO2s, so if that is your priority I would make the change. How big an upgrade depends on some other factors, so let me briefly summarize my Decware journey.

I started with a pair of UFOs in 2020 with the full anniversary mods, and they blew away my previous highly regarded, Stereophile approved amps. They were so good I got back on the waiting list for a pair of UFO25s that I received almost 2 years ago, and I couldn't be happier. Now for the buts...

Like you, I don't need the watts. I have two amps so I can run them balanced all the way to the speakers. You didn't mention your source(s), but if you have any interest in configuring your amps as balanced you need a pair of stereo amps to do that. FWIW, if your source is balanced I highly recommend balanced amps.

Do your UFO2s have all the anniversary mods? If so, the upgrade in SQ will be nice, but not huge. I would call the improvement from my "loaded" UFOs to the '25s to be 15-20ish percent. There is definitely a lot of the UFO sound in the UFO25s, just more of what I like about it: more transparency, more dynamics, more soundstage. If they don't already have the mods then the upgrade to '3s will be bigger.

As an aside, I'm curious what the noise level of your amps is with the 105 dB speakers? My speakers are about 95 dB, and my amps are almost silent. I feel like if the noise was 10 dB louder it would still be at a very low level. But other posters have either complained or worried about noise and hum with La Scalas.

Good luck regardless, and keep us posted with your decision.

Title: Re: Bridged SE84UDO2.1 pair or SE84UFO3 monos?
Post by Lon on 09/09/25 at 17:39:13

I had a pair of SE84UFO3 Monoblocks for about five years and LOVED them. They had the Anniversary mods and also voltage regulation under the chassis which I am not sure is true of current or other examples.

I have never run balanced Zen amps nor been tempted to as I need a ZROCK in my system which means that I am glued to single-ended inputs. I do run a ZBIT so that the balanced output of my source can be converted to single-ended (and adjusted, which is very helpful).

The most recent SE84UFO model I had before the Monoblocks was a Rev. 3 that had been modified by Eddie Vaughan--I will say that the Monoblocks were more than a 15% increase in sound quality to those, more like 30% plus. The Monoblocks taught me how to tailor my system for them, and I would have them now if Steve had not developed the SEWE300B that I have had for two years--the SEWE300B is a slightly better fit for my HR-1 speakers and I am very happy.

I can highly recommend the SE84UFO3 Monoblocks.

Title: Re: Bridged SE84UDO2.1 pair or SE84UFO3 monos?
Post by Sxmthuan on 09/09/25 at 17:45:14

Thanks sir for your input.
Sound like I will be on waiting list for a pair of UFO3 soon :)
I don't have any hum noise with UFO2.1 or any other mono blocks I have (3 Alan Eaton 45 2A3, and 300b) as well as Willsenton R300b
Source is from Bluenode HDMI > Denafrip Iris 12th I2S > Denafrip Venus 12th > Joule LA150 mk2 tube pre. All RCA connection thru out
My UFO2.1s have no mods, just stepped attenuator volume
I can wait 3 yrs, since I have plenty of SET monos to play
Happy listening

Title: Re: Bridged SE84UDO2.1 pair or SE84UFO3 monos?
Post by Sxmthuan on 09/09/25 at 17:55:39

The list has 2238 entries.
My last order in 2023 had rate of 60 complete entries per month
2238÷60=37 months or 3 yrs 😱
Used market doesn't have many or any UFO3
Hope I don't loose hearing by then, I'm at 65 right now
Hope there's priority for senior, jk 😆

Title: Re: Bridged SE84UDO2.1 pair or SE84UFO3 monos?
Post by Lon on 09/09/25 at 18:06:22

I know what you mean. . . I turned 70 last month. The good news is you have great sound as you wait.

Title: Re: Bridged SE84UDO2.1 pair or SE84UFO3 monos?
Post by Dominick on 09/10/25 at 00:51:20

I guess it boils down whether or not you feel that the tube regulation is worth the upgrade. Only you can answer that for yourself. I run a pair stereo Zen SE84C+ amps configured as monoblocks. They are fully upgraded with the 25th Anniversay mods, UFO transformers, and Miflex caps. I absolutely love the sound I get out of them, but I have to admit…I who wish they had tube regulation at times. If I didn’t need the 6 wpc due to my Err speakers requiring them as per Ziggy’s recommendation, I would have seriously considered the change.

Hope this helps

Title: Re: Bridged SE84UDO2.1 pair or SE84UFO3 monos?
Post by RPEPPER on 09/10/25 at 01:25:36

Lon wrote on 09/09/25 at 18:06:22:

I know what you mean. . . I turned 70 last month. The good news is you have great sound as you wait.

I, on the other hand, am in my 60's.

Title: Re: Bridged SE84UDO2.1 pair or SE84UFO3 monos?
Post by Lon on 09/10/25 at 03:47:09