I bought a used se84cs on Audiogon & hooked it up today...my first experience with set amps.  I matched it with Omega ts2 speakers and then tried B&W DM 302s.  I connected my cdp, pioneer pd65, directly, no preamp, and was amazed at the sound!!  really powerful and sweet!!..It's in my living room even though I thought I would use it in a small bedroom because of its lack of power.  Makes my Norh se 9 sound unrefined...  My cd's sound so clear and smooth..almost vinyl-like, seems to take harshness out of digital sound.  I was expecting to be somewhat disappointed..I've been lurking on this site for months and thought setsound couldn't be so good...thought it may be more audio hype & smoke & mirrors but I'm really impressed.  What also really amazes me is that the b&w speakers which I bought used for $150 sounds so good...I thought I was going to have to pay big bucks for a decent speaker match...the Omegas were a resonable $300 used...I'm now a Decware convert.  Nothing fancy here.. cheap DH labs  ic's and nondescript speaker cables.  I have another zen triode coming any day..an unmodified C, (used) I thought I would have to hook them up mono to get more power...WRONG.  I've got enough bang here to keep me happy.  My bass is so smooth and natural...love what I'm hearing..and dead silent..no humm,  As you can tell I'm impressed!!

Congratulations!  You've started on a new journey!  And you have lots of listening ahead.

Welcome to posting and keep at it!

[quote author=dla405j  link=1133563790/0#0 date=1133560190]  I have another zen triode coming any day..an unmodified C, (used) [/quote]

What do you plan to do with the 2nd amp? Will you use it?

Welcome dla405j,

The Select was my first - and currenty - only audio tube amp. After break-in, yes - it is one sweet machine  :)

Wishing you many hours of listening enjoyment.

- Ray

I was so impressed with my Select, I completely knocked apart my old system and relegated it to shelves in the garage. My previous system was quite good. Very good sounding recapped vintage pp tube amps driving Dynaudio speakers which had made me happy for a long time.

It's just that the Select and high efficiency speakers absolutely mopped up the floor with my previous stuff, and made me into a Decware bird dog, you might say. No one pushed me into any of it.

As you had planned, the CS was going to be for a *small* secondary system in my studio, but became the big dog in the house after I heard it, and am still amazed by it.

Congrads, and happy listening!

Karl

I replaced a $4000.00 Cary Audio amp with the Select....it is that good.

Hi Echo15
What speakers do you use with your Select to dump your $4000 system? I purchased a pair of VTL 180 sig monoblocs and my Select has since been collecting dust because the Select just does not give me the bunch the VTL's do - listening to 'Regular Pleasures' by Patricia Barber in triode mode with the volume at 9 O'clock and the brick walls in my listening room literally shake.  Please let me know of your speakers, I want to experience the Select at its best before making a decision for its future.

Many thanks
YL

thanks to all who welcomed me and replied to my enthusiasm for Decware triodes, now I have a new dilema.  I just received my second zen, an unmodded C, & I would say it's about 90% of my select modded.  Both are going into my second and third systems in two bedrooms..both systems have only tuner and CD (dac) for sources.  I don't have the $ for decware preamps..I just want to switch between sources without switching ICs...what's my options...How about the decware switch box??.what happened to zsla connects???..I really don't want to buy anything else...I have a decware switch box that I used with another simple pre and could not find loss of sound quality.  I have other tube pre's but want something simpler.  My other problem is that I have a newly acquired push-pull AES supepreamp and phonoamp and pre.. that I used until this decware craze...it cost 3 times as much and my memory says it doesn't have the sound of both of these zen amps...I'm afraid to hook them up again and learn the awful truth ..I need to get off of this merry-go-round and finalize my system(s).  The only advantage of the AES is the beauty and waf factor in the livingroom..( I actually like the simplicity of the Decware) advice??

Well I'm in the same boat as you and lovin it.The last couple days I have been listening to SE84CS monos in my system(a bit crazy...good crazy though!!!)and WOW yes these monos are very impressive.Like you I am converted and cant go back even though what I had goin on was awsome...now its better in so many ways.
Greg