Forums - SE84UFO vs 45 Amp

jcmusic Verified Member Posts: 39	SE84UFO vs 45 Amp 12/20/20 at 20:32:07 Has anyone here ever compared these two amps meaning any 45 SET amp vs the SE84UFO? I am curious and would like to hear opinions from any that have done this...
Back to top	IP Logged

CAJames

Seasoned Member

"I've run every
red light on memory
lane."

Posts: 2944

Re: SE84UFO vs 45 Amp
Reply #1 - 12/20/20 at 22:37:48

It's been awhile but I used to listen to SETs every chance I got. And my recollection is all of them, be they 45 or 2A3 or 300B, all sounded more lush and romantic than the UFO. The UFO is more fast and transparent. Also tighter bass, although that might be room and speaker dependent. The other thing is the UFO's sound is highly customizable with different tubes. I don't really know to what extent you have the same flexibility with the directly heated triodes, but experimenting with different tubes of those types would be a very expensive hobby.

Back to top

[Volumio | Jay's CDT2 MRK3] -> Denafrips Terminator 2 + Gaia
Sumiko Pearwood -> Mapleknoll Athena -> Luxman SUT -> Mapletree Phono 3E
STR-1002 -> Woo WA22 -> 2x UFO25s, balanced monos
Omega SAM , Hifiman Arya, Audeze LCD-XC

IP Logged

jcmusic

Verified Member

Posts: 39

Re: SE84UFO vs 45 Amp
Reply #2 - 12/21/20 at 01:34:20

CAJames,
Thanks for the reply and your input on this, I had a 2A3 for a short time years ago and then a 300B for years (Sophia Electric's) flagship model at the time. The 300B was for sure lush and laid back but at the same time it sounded great with the right Mesh tubes. I went to the 45 amp with the EML tubes and it is anything but lush, much more detail and highs with tighter bass. I love my 45 amp but have always wanted to try the Zen amp from Decware, my setup is tri amped so no issues with the 2 wpc. In fact the amp would only be driving the two mid horns that are 118db @1 watt @1 meter. Any way I am getting older these days and don't want to pay $600 for a pair of EML 45 tubes when these need to be replaced, so I am looking for an amp that will sound as good or better that uses cheaper tubes.

Back to top

IP Logged

CAJames

Seasoned Member

"I've run every
red light on memory
lane."

Posts: 2944

Re: SE84UFO vs 45 Amp
Reply #3 - 12/21/20 at 01:53:56

Quote:

Any way I am getting older these days and don't want to pay $600 for a pair of EML 45 tubes when these need to be replaced, so I am looking for an amp that will sound as good or better that uses cheaper tubes

That is pretty much the same boat I was in for decades. I loved the sound of SETs, but my Scottish Heritage couldn't stomach the idea of shelling out hundreds of dollars for "consumable" power tubes. I finally discovered Decware earlier this year, and long story short, I couldn't be happier with my UFOs.

Back to top

[Volumio | Jay's CDT2 MRK3] -> Denafrips Terminator 2 + Gaia
Sumiko Pearwood -> Mapleknoll Athena -> Luxman SUT -> Mapletree Phono 3E
STR-1002 -> Woo WA22 -> 2x UFO25s, balanced monos
Omega SAM , Hifiman Arya, Audeze LCD-XC

IP Logged

jcmusic Verified Member Posts: 39	Re: SE84UFO vs 45 Amp Reply #4 - 12/21/20 at 02:13:38 CAJames, So what speakers are you using with these amps? Are you using the stock tubes are did you roll into something else?
Back to top	IP Logged

CAJames

Seasoned Member

"I've run every
red light on memory
lane."

Posts: 2944

Re: SE84UFO vs 45 Amp
Reply #5 - 12/21/20 at 02:44:04

I'm using Omega Super Alnico Monitors aka SAMs:

https://omegaloudspeakers.com/collections/monitor-speakers/products/super-alnico...

And while the stock tubes sounded good out of the box after rolling through a bunch of tubes I've collected over the years I've settled on old National Union 5Z3 rectifiers (adapted), Telsa EL83 power tubes (also adapted) and Tesla gold grid E88CCs for input. Now I'm getting just the right combination of sweetness and transparency for which I've been looking.

Also, FWIW, I'm using 2 UFOs configured as balanced monoblocks.

Back to top

[Volumio | Jay's CDT2 MRK3] -> Denafrips Terminator 2 + Gaia
Sumiko Pearwood -> Mapleknoll Athena -> Luxman SUT -> Mapletree Phono 3E
STR-1002 -> Woo WA22 -> 2x UFO25s, balanced monos
Omega SAM , Hifiman Arya, Audeze LCD-XC

IP Logged

spyder1 Ex Member	Re: SE84UFO vs 45 Amp Reply #6 - 12/21/20 at 05:11:49 CAJames, EL83 to 6P15P adapters? Where did you purchase these adapters from?
Back to top	IP Logged

CAJames Seasoned Member "I've run every red light on memory lane." Posts: 2944	Re: SE84UFO vs 45 Amp Reply #7 - 12/21/20 at 15:20:31 My EL83 journey is here: https://www.decware.com/cgi-bin/yabb22/YaBB.pl?num=1607194889
Back to top	[Volumio \| Jay's CDT2 MRK3] -> Denafrips Terminator 2 + Gaia Sumiko Pearwood -> Mapleknoll Athena -> Luxman SUT -> Mapletree Phono 3E STR-1002 -> Woo WA22 -> 2x UFO25s, balanced monos Omega SAM , Hifiman Arya, Audeze LCD-XC IP Logged

Rivieraranch Seasoned Member Posts: 2147	Re: SE84UFO vs 45 Amp Reply #8 - 12/21/20 at 15:41:44 I, too was a user of the 5Z3 tube with the adapter. More economical than the 5U4G.
Back to top	MINI TORII & ZROCK2 both anniversaried; 'Lil Audio F-15; TECHNICS SL1200MK2 KAB MODDED TT; ONKYO 6 DISC CD; MARANTZ 2226B; SCHIIT MULTIBIT DAC; SENNHEISER HD-580s IP Logged

jcmusic

Verified Member

Posts: 39

Re: SE84UFO vs 45 Amp
Reply #9 - 03/13/21 at 12:06:09

Now that I have had my UFO amp for a short time and installed an 80 type globe rectifier tube in it, I can say for sure it does sound better than my 45 type amp. This was unexpected to say the least, I never thought my 45 amp would be bested but, it is what it is!!! The UFO amp has opened up new sounds that I wasn't hearing with my 45 amp!!! I am very happy that I got it and it will be here for a long time....

Back to top

IP Logged

slop Verified Member Posts: 31	Re: SE84UFO vs 45 Amp Reply #10 - 03/13/21 at 13:37:21 I love the Zen UFO and SET 45. I think it really depends on the circuit and parts. I am more partial to the DHT SET 45. It has a tone and richness the Zen can't match - to my ears.
Back to top	IP Logged

jcmusic Verified Member Posts: 39	Re: SE84UFO vs 45 Amp Reply #11 - 03/13/21 at 13:54:45 While I agree with you on the tone and richness of the 45 amp specially with the EML solid plate tubes, the UFO amp just provides more information to my ears. As I said before I am hearing things that I didn't hear with the 45 amp.
Back to top	IP Logged

Lon Seasoned Member "Love without guts is worthless!" Philip K. Dick Posts: 27007	Re: SE84UFO vs 45 Amp Reply #12 - 03/13/21 at 14:00:46 I imagine if Steve were to build a DHT 45 amp it would be SOMETHING.
Back to top	HR-1,ZBIT,ZROCK3,SEWE300B; Rega RP3 all GrooveTracer mods;PSAudio:PST+DSD, DAC Mk II,NPC,PowerBases,AC-12 pwr cbls, Reference spkrcbls; Mapleshade SamsonV3;VeraFi Audio cpts VooDoo:Cremona+Amati interconnects;Stack EQ; headphones:Sennheiser HD800S,ZMF Ori,Oppo PM1 IP Logged

CAJames

Seasoned Member

"I've run every
red light on memory
lane."

Posts: 2944

Re: SE84UFO vs 45 Amp
Reply #13 - 03/13/21 at 15:23:00

Quote:

Posted by: jcmusic Posted on: Today at 12:06:09
Now that I have had my UFO amp for a short time and installed an 80 type globe rectifier tube in it, I can say for sure it does sound better than my 45 type amp. This was unexpected to say the least, I never thought my 45 amp would be bested but, it is what it is!!!

Excellent. I had exactly the same experience. I was shocked, SHOCKED! how much better my UFOs were than my Pass Labs SEMs (Single Ended MOSFETs). I don't know how far down the tube rolling rabbit hole anyone is interested in going, but as good as my UFOs sounded out of the box they sound even better with my own, just right tube recipe. There are a ton of threads on this site about tube rolling and posters (like Lon) have given me a bunch of ideas and inspiration for taking the sound of the UFO amps to an even higher level.

Back to top

[Volumio | Jay's CDT2 MRK3] -> Denafrips Terminator 2 + Gaia
Sumiko Pearwood -> Mapleknoll Athena -> Luxman SUT -> Mapletree Phono 3E
STR-1002 -> Woo WA22 -> 2x UFO25s, balanced monos
Omega SAM , Hifiman Arya, Audeze LCD-XC

IP Logged

slop

Verified Member

Posts: 31

Re: SE84UFO vs 45 Amp
Reply #14 - 03/13/21 at 15:24:16

one could certainly argue the zen delivers more info, or is more resolving. the zen sounds a bit more forward to me. 45 a little more laid back or linear. in the background both amps reveal a soft clap. with the 45 set, i can tell a little easier, just how big or small their hands are. in that aspect the 45 set is a little more resolving. what floats your boat?

Back to top

IP Logged