Hello everyone,
I’m new to the forum and have been spending time reading older threads about Decware’s approach to sound. What really stands out to me is not just the SE84 circuit itself, but the broader philosophy behind Decware’s SET designs.

From my understanding, Decware has always focused on simplicity, purity of signal, and musical engagement rather than chasing high power numbers. The idea that a well-designed low-watt SET amplifier, when paired with high-efficiency speakers, can deliver a more immediate, emotionally convincing listening experience really resonates with me.

I’m especially interested in how SET amps like the SE84 interact with high-efficiency speakers—micro-dynamics, tone density, and that “alive” feeling at low listening levels. It feels like this philosophy prioritizes the relationship between amplifier and speaker rather than treating them as separate components.

I’m still learning, but I really appreciate how this community values careful listening, minimalism, and long-term musical satisfaction over specs alone. Looking forward to learning more from those with hands-on experience with Decware amps and efficient speaker systems.

Thanks for having me here. agario

Donnie, can't really add much to what's already been said, give it hell man and best of luck life is better with you around here.

Kamran, I feel your pain. I lost both my parents within 24 hrs of each other just over two years ago. It will get easier, give yourself time.

As for gear, the best of the year by far was getting my CSP 2+ upgraded.

We also bought a house, but that's not very high on my list. Long story, while it checked many boxes an audio room wasn't one of them. Yet. Likely need to break down a wall or two, we'll see next year.

I have gone down the rabbit hole of setting up smaller systems around the house. Previous owners had in wall and ceiling speakers that I got running. Haven't looked what speakers are used but I suspect they are Daytons and honestly they just get music going for now. I've been playing around with some low cost dacs, amps, a DDC and a Wiim Pro...far from reference quality but surprising half decent sound. I did set up a digital only system using my old UFO and a new to me Maple Tree pre a Denfrips Ares 15 and Iris 12.

Brahms' instrument was the piano, and while he was quite the virtuoso himself most of what he wrote for the instrument is more introspective than flamboyant. The exception is his Paganini Variations, variations on the same theme that Rachmaninov used for his Rhapsody. Which aren't exactly flamboyant, but are fiendishly difficult.



On CD

Julius Katchen was a Brahms specialist, and his box of solo piano music is all a sane music lover would ever need.

Susannah McCorkle "I'll Take Romance" Concord cd.

I'll take romance as well. Frank Wess is really nice here.

First and foremost , Peace and health to all as it's more important than any piece of audio gear.

Speaking of mental health , I need music and audio gear for that. It is very important.

I'll respond with a slight twist of an answer. I'll state the most important piece of gear that I haven't bought this year but can predict it will have a substantial impact on my system(s).  A linear power supply for my Geshelli dac. I just havent figured out which one to buy but I know I need/want one.

We still have about a week left before the year is over : )

Peace, health and wellness to all.

Two masters I love--Earl Hines and Muggsy Spanier!

"Earl Hines / Muggsy Spanier All Stars – The Chicago Dates" Storyville cd.



Bass – Pops Foster
Clarinet – Darnell Howard
Drums – Earl Watkins
Piano – Earl Hines
Trombone – Jimmy Archey
Trumpet, Cornet – Muggsy Spanier

Giving this a bump and un update. I am hoping to clear these out by the end of the year so feel free to make any offer. Im willing to let any and all go pretty cheaply to avoid the hassle of USAM or Ebay.

NOS RCA 2A3 Black Plates      $225
NOS RCA 2A3 Black Plates      $225
* NOS GE 6L6GC      $125
* NOS GE 6L6GC      $125
* 6V6GT Sylvania NOS 1940's      $75
* 6V6GT Sylvania NOS 1940's      $75
* Mullard/GE EF86 / 6267      $110
* Mullard/GE EF86 / 6267      $110
NOS RCA 1616      $15
NOS RCA 1616      $15
NOS Centron 3B22      $15
NOS Centron 3B22      $15
Electro Harmonix 6922      $20
NOS Mullard KB/DA GZ33      $100
NOS Svetlana 5U3C/5U4G Black Plate      $17
NOS Svetlana 5U3C/5U4G Black Plate      $17

That's awesome Richard! One final warning, break in isn't always a straight line. Over the next few days you may find the SQ gets worse for a while. Don't panic, just ride it out and trust the end result is going to better than where you are now.

Jonathan Blake "Gone but Note Forgotten" Criss Cross cd

An exciting session with both Chris Potter and Mark Turner

Continuing a revisit of Yes material.

Yes "Keys to Ascension Complete" cd 3

Bob Wilber and the Tuxedo Big Band "More Never Recorded Arrangements For Benny Goodman, Volume Two" Arbors cd

I have posted for sale my 2016 CSP3 on US Audio Mart.  Asking price $1361.43. It is a Base model with the Cherry base upgrade and the 1/4" and XLR combo upgrade. Still using the original tubes, just under 500 hours of use. I have conservatively listed the condition as "Very Good". There are no marks, scratches, dents on the unit.  Pics are posted on USAM.  Cheers!

COLD morning again.. I slept well but woke up at 5 and that was IT.

Finally opened this new Lateef release and it sure sounds great!

Yusef Lateef "Golden Flower, Live in Sweden" Elemental Music 2 cd set, disc 1



For some reason it made me think of my first exposure to Lateef. Early on in my discovery of jazz I bought a Charlie Parker record on Charlie Parker Records that when I spun it was NOT Charlie Parker though that was what all the labeling said. It took me a while to discover it was a mis-labeled Yusef Lateef record!

Interesting that the Cryotone tubes were bad. I’ve had the same Cryotones in my UFO for 4-ish years now, literally thousands of hours, and still going strong. I had an issue with some Cryotone rectifiers not playing nicely with my SEWE300b but never the drivers.

Anyway, welcome to the forums and your new addiction. Glad the new amp is blossoming- it will continue to get better and better.

Got my fingers crossed for you, Donnie.

Stay strong,
Randy

I must say…. After merely 10 hours of playback, the amp has already blossomed dramatically. (It was essentially unused so these are fresh currents)


Truly, it has already stepped significantly beyond the SQ of the Prima Luna.

…. It’s going to be an interested unfulfilling of the wings of this amp…!

Thanks all,
R.

After a month of beautiful weather it has turned cold, wet and gloomy. Like Scandinavia. So I put on Sibelius' 2nd Symphony.



16/44 FLAC download

Okko Kamu's Sibelius cycle continues to impress me, and the BIS recording really puts the Lahti Symphony in your listening room.

Quote:


Yeah, right . Everyone has a different "best." I'd encourage you to read the threads here, and in the Reviews and 300B fora to get an idea of what other people like and what they don't. Spoiler, some people will like and others will dislike pretty much any tube out there. But I wouldn't necessarily run out to buy a bunch of driver tubes tomorrow, see below.

Quote:


Short answer, probably yes. There are actually two different burn ins you need to consider. The first is the amp, do you know (approximately) how many hours it has on it? A brand new Decware amp can sound pretty funky for the first hundred or so hours, after that the changes and improvement are pretty slow and gradual. A bigger thing in my experience is the 300B tubes can take hundreds of hours to burn in. I had bargain Chinese 300Bs that took about 200 hours to sound their best, and Japanese 300Bs that took fully 500. So, I would definitely give it a while before you start seriously comparing the SQ. Another thing you will find by reading other posters experience, with the 300B and other amps, is a number of them are underwhelmed on first (and often second and third) listen, but after a few days/weeks/whatever they realize how great Decware amps sound. Good luck with your journey and keep us posted with your progress.

Bob Wilber and Bechet Legacy "Live At The Vineyard" Challenge cd

Bob and Randy are a great pairing and I'm enjoying this drummer-less quartet.

Bass – John Goldsby
Guitar – Mike Peters
Soprano Saxophone, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Bob Wilber
Trumpet – Randy Sandke

Hello,

So the position of my Sarah 300B necessitates a new interconnect…

Currently I am using Silversmith Fidium, which are fantastic. And the top of the line Anticable Heliix, which is interesting but not as vivacious as the Silversmith….


I like the idea of getting another exotica interconnect, to experiment with the sound with my primary source (nagra streamer and holoaudio DAC)….

…. SO.. what is the word on the Decware DSREX Silver Reference Extreme?

Thanks!
R.

This is really exciting. Any chance of getting an A/B sound test with and without the dynagrid attached?

Below is a link to a short video of the DynaGrid Jr. being installed on a TORII Jr.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/f1f204_7c278aef64454bcaa2d6b7231374721a/1080p/...

Steve

Hello,

So I have hooked up my Sarah 300B, and I immediately needed to swap out two tubes that weren’t working.

The Input Tube by Crytone was not working, so I swapped out for a Mullard NOS, a Radiotechnic, and then I think the BugleBoy Amperex sounded best.

But then only one channel worked, and after swapping back and forth I realized it was the Driver Tube by Crytone. Luckily I had the original Chinese set, which I’m now running.


And so… First Question: What is the best Driver Tube I can get to replace the stock tubes?

Second question… my very first impression on mostly fresh tubes and a nearly mint amp, is that it isn’t as dramatic a step up from my Prima Luna Dialogue HP with Ray Tubes and Radiotechnic gain tubes…. Will burn in of the amp yield dramatic changes?

Also, the overall volume is a bit quieter that the Prima Luna, which is to be expected.

It’s a gorgeous machine, and there are hints so far that surpass my previous amp…. Will need to be patient as it “seasons”….

So, Any Suggestions on the best driver tubes for the 300B Sarah?

Thanks,
Richard

First, Donnie, I’m so glad they found it early.  Second, I greatly appreciate your positive attitude about the situation and gratitude for your life thus far, that’s a very healthy perspective to have and keep as you battle your cancer.

For me, I’d say the purchase I made this year that had the most impact was my Rega P3 RS TT.  Granted, it was much more than a couple hundred bucks. But like PTT, that purchase started me on the path to the world of Decware as I was encouraged to replace my forty year old Cerwin Vega speakers with a pair of Klipsch Forte IVs.

After hearing the significance of the SQ coming out of the Fortes, I got curious about replacing my forty year old Onkyo SS amp and once I stumbled upon the infamous Steve Guttenberg video of the UFO25, I began my journey with the wonderful world of Decware tube gear!

Long story just a bit longer, I was fortunate to find a previously enjoyed UFO25 and I haven’t looked back!  It brought me here to this fine community of Decware enthusiasts who are so gracious with their advice, suggestions and great deals on gently used gear.

I’ve been on a bit of a tear since April, adding room treatments, speaker cables, interconnects, power cords, a ZP3, ZSB, and have several items on both amplifier lists.  So, maybe my post doesn’t quite fit with your theme Tony, but it’s been such a fantastic journey so far.

Duke Ellington "Volume 4, 1928" Masters of Jazz Media 7 cd



Fantastic music from before the Big Crash.

Donnie, my heart skipped a beat when I read your post. Thank God it was found early.  Stay strong and know that you have the prayers and goodwill of this audio community behind you. You will beat this.

John and JHC—Thx for your kind words.

Thx Gentlemen—-really appreciate your kind words.

Brother Jack McDuff, George Benson "The Legendary 1963–64 Concerts" Finger Poppin' 2 cd set, disc 1



https://propermusic.com/cdn/shop/files/8436563185373_7B02_7D.jpg?v=1719326832&wi...
dth=1200

Sorry to hear the news from Donnie and Kamran. I haven't had any direct communication with you two but have enjoyed and learned from your posts for years.

My system underwent some major changes this year including new speakers and a phono preamp. But the one small purchase that gives me a lot of joy is an Ursa Major record brush. Due to the tariffs they are hard to get now (made in Germany) but I found one on eBay. There are probably better brushes or even better ways of cleaning, but this one is robust, compact, and matches the finish of my turntable. The ritual of dusting off an album before playing is one of my favorites.

Ruby Braff "I Hear Music" Arbors cd

A great swinging date with a tight band.

Bass – John Beal
Tenor sax - Tommy Newsom
Cornet – Ruby Braff
Drums – Tony Denicola
Guitar – Bucky Pizzarelli
Piano – Bill Charlap
Vocals – Daryl Sherman (one track)

Recorded July 28, 2000.

COLD. It's going to be one of those winters (as I keep finding myself thinking and repeating to myself).

Starting a day listeninig as Lucinda takes her first nap. . . a disc I haven't heard long enough for it to be a joy to me after decades of listening to it. And in my favorite edition: a JVC XRCD in lp facsimile. There's just a deeper soundstage to this mastering, and little details that reveal texture. . . I love the sound of this disc.

Steamin' with the Miles Davis Quintet LP facsimile XRCD

Donnie, so sorry to read of this. Good news that it is caught at stage 1. I know you'll BATTLE and WIN.

Excellent post Tony! Purchasing pieces for the gutted DJ rig has to be a highlight for me this year with audio gear. It is now complete and ready for use at the coming party.

Kam sorry to hear of your loss buddy. Time will heal the void created. I do at times look at family photos the parents took. It does bring back good memories and feelings of those times. The sorrow will be short lived. My dad passed in 1998 and mom 2013.

Sorry to hear of your situation Donnie. Wishing you the very best outcome with your fight. Keep your head up and stay strong. Really enjoyed your sense of humor and projects here.

Buying lunch for my son and daughter-in-law earlier this month. We learned grandchild #3 is expected in April, 2026!

Donnie, I wish you strength and revolve in your cancer treatment fight. Stay positive and keep enjoying your creative audio builds, as well as the music!

HK

Geometry Dash Lite I agree with your own conclusion in EDIT3 — using a common hardware trigger is usually the cleanest solution. If you can clock both the ADC and the I2S/SAI interface from the same master timer (or let the external codec be the master and slave everything else to it), you avoid the phase drift problem entirely instead of trying to compensate for it in software.

Donnie,

My heart sank when I read your last paragraph. I wish you nothing but the best in treatment and recovery. Finding it early gives you and us great hope.

Your wit, humor, and determination will carry you through this.

Your insights and contributions on this forum are much appreciated. I look forward to many more in the future.

Thanks for sharing it!

Congrats

ok, I have a same problem!

Yes, reply it!

For me it’s 100% the second hand SE84 that I purchased while waiting for a ZMA (5 waiting list pages to go)
Before the 84 I was a pseudo Decware owner with just cables in my rig
The little amp is a total revelation and has cemented my long term goal in the ZMA

Well dang, Donnie. Maybe that finger was just getting you ready for the next step. I don’t think you’ve built enough speakers yet to leave this world.

But in all seriousness, I’m rooting for you. The medical profession is pretty amazing these days and I think a lot of folks here will have your back.

Well it has been a good/bad your for me also.

Starting with the good:

Cheap wise, my Fiio K11 R2R DAC is crazy good for $175. It rivels my beloved Denafrips Ares 2, well within 5% less good.
My new Ampapa D1 amplifier, great fun and it has meters!

Expensive wise, well my outrageously good Angela-Gilbert Yeung i807 amplifier, probably the best sounding amp that I've ever heard. It hasn't let me down soundwise at any time!

Bad:
Well this one is hard to say, but I was just diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. I visited the cancer doctor today and he says since it was caught early (stage 1) that there is a great chance that it can be cured. Hopefully so, but if not I've had a hell of a good life!

Bob Dylan “New Morning” Mobile Fidelity Lab SACD

Daaaaamn this sounds great.

My condolences to you and your family, Kamran.

Mike

Sorry for your loss, Kamran.

All the best,
Randy

It's been an awful year for me in many ways, probably the worst of the decade except three years ago when my Dad died. But there have been some great audio moments I must confess.

I think the most important audio purchases have been my Verafi Audio Line Noise Black Holes and Snub Station Zeros. (I think I ordered them at just the right time, as I didn't have the waiting issues that others have). They have really given me a step towards total silence in my system and have allowed me to move the PS Audio P15 in my main system to my audio visual system, and to sell the P10 that was in that system. I think these may be system dependent as they have not been as successful apparently in some system as they have been in mine--especially after I realized how they respond to isolation treatment and dialed that in--but boy I am happy to have them.

Yes, great idea for a thread, Tony.

What a year it has been. Decware delivered my SEWE300B this year (I struggle to call it “Sarah” too, Lon). Most of the year I’ve had purchases focused on killing the hum, a topic I have exhausted on this forum and will leave behind. The take-away should be this is the best music has ever sounded to me.

2025 was a move for me- to the place I will probably die. This new home was my purchase of the year. It checks all the boxes for my wife and I. Physical and mental health benefits aside, I will say it’s the quietest and best sounding listening space I have ever had. As I sit typing this my tubes are warming up and my db meter is reading 26 db. I have modest treatment and the space is almost dead flat except for a mode at 150db that I am fighting. I am in the process of addressing through a targeted diaphragmatic absorption project built into the walls that I hope to have completed before the new year.

I consider myself tremendously lucky and I am gracious for the life I have every day, and wish the same serenity and peace to all; if you haven’t found it yet may 2026 be your year.

"Michel Camilo Trio Live at the Blue Note" Chesky 2 cd set, disc 1

There's a second cd volume from Japan, and a two cd set from the US. . . . Great music!