Alan Eaton Mono-block 45 amps anyone?

[Dr Morbius]

Anyone have a pair of Alan Eaton Mono-block amps with the 45 vacuum tube? If so how are they….happy with them? I’m new into SET amps and since my speakers are 105db sensitive I’m sure they can handle low wattage amps.
Steve

 

[Michaels HiFi]

I have the dual-mono version here now:

 

[Dr Morbius]

I have the dual-mono version here now:

View attachment 34698

Actually from the pictures they don’t look all gussied up and fancy like but I care more about how they sound than looks. I recently saw Skunkie do a test of a Decware SET amps, similar to the Eaton amp and the Decware tested with lots of distortion anywhere above 3/4 of a watt, which I agree is not good at all. So I’m wondering what you take is, since you have the Eaton 45’s do they sound better than the Decware, or it’s in the same boat. I’m a real beginner in SET amps as I’m looking to sell my HH Scott 299C amp to get an SET.
Thank you for any input you can give…………….
Steve

 

[Dr Morbius]

By the way, the Dual- Mono you have, is that the model with the single chassis?
Steve

 

[Michaels HiFi]

By the way, the Dual- Mono you have, is that the model with the single chassis?
Steve

Yes - single chassis. I've been swamped with new gear coming in and having to create content for all the channels. It's almost done the burn in phase I put all new gear through and hoping to so have a first sound impression in about a week.

Also received some 1934 Cunnighham Globe 45's I need to still open and test.

 

[Dr Morbius]

Wow, 1934 Cunningham’s………Amazing!

 

[atmasphere]

I recently saw Skunkie do a test of a Decware SET amps, similar to the Eaton amp and the Decware tested with lots of distortion anywhere above 3/4 of a watt, which I agree is not good at all. So I’m wondering what you take is, since you have the Eaton 45’s do they sound better than the Decware, or it’s in the same boat. I’m a real beginner in SET amps as I’m looking to sell my HH Scott 299C amp to get an SET.

3/4 Watt is about right for a traditional type 45.

 

[Michaels HiFi]

Actually from the pictures they don’t look all gussied up and fancy like but I care more about how they sound than looks. I recently saw Skunkie do a test of a Decware SET amps, similar to the Eaton amp and the Decware tested with lots of distortion anywhere above 3/4 of a watt, which I agree is not good at all. So I’m wondering what you take is, since you have the Eaton 45’s do they sound better than the Decware, or it’s in the same boat. I’m a real beginner in SET amps as I’m looking to sell my HH Scott 299C amp to get an SET.
Thank you for any input you can give…………….
Steve

I've had multiple type 45 amps here with no issue on my Tobian's. I even posted a video on my channel of listening to vocal trance music at pretty loud levels with no issues.

People can hear for themselves if that sounds like 3/4 of a watt.

I'd rather have 3/4 of a watt of type 45 than any amount of class D power.

 

[Dr Morbius]

I totally agree with you, I’d rather have 3/4 of a watt from a 45 tube than any class “D” power amplification.

 

[atmasphere]

I totally agree with you, I’d rather have 3/4 of a watt from a 45 tube than any class “D” power amplification.

One of my earlier SET amps was a type 45.

I got curious about how a PP amp based on 45s might sound, using the same quality components. Usually when SETs get compared to PP amps vastly different power tubes are used so this was an attempt to level the playing field.

The PP amp I built was more transparent, played with more impact and was generally more relaxed and easier to listen to overall.

FWIW the thing about class D amps is they have a wider range of sound quality than you hear from the worst to best tube amps. Its no surprise that many simply won't take them seriously (I didn't) if they were exposed to some of the lessor examples.

 

[Michaels HiFi]

FWIW the thing about class D amps is they have a wider range of sound quality than you hear from the worst to best tube amps. Its no surprise that many simply won't take them seriously (I didn't) if they were exposed to some of the lessor examples.

Hi Ralph,

I've heard your Class D amp and will still take the 3/4 of a watt SET.

I've heard Jeff Roland Class D amp and will still take SET.

I've heard multiple AGD's and will still take SET.

I've heard more Class D than I can count at literally every price point, and in my opinion it's inferior.

Please don't derail this thread like you did on WBF where the thread there was meant to celebrate SET's, and you have posted dozens of times putting SET's down and the people who like their sound while promoting your Class D. We get it - you are pushing your Class D.

You have a lot of interesting things to share and I enjoy reading them, please don't do it at the expense of us who haven't sold our souls to jump on the Class D "latest and greatest" sales pitch.

This was meant respectfully. Thank you.

 

[atmasphere]

Hi Ralph,

I've heard your Class D amp and will still take the 3/4 of a watt SET.

I've heard Jeff Roland Class D amp and will still take SET.

I've heard multiple AGD's and will still take SET.

I've heard more Class D than I can count at literally every price point, and in my opinion it's inferior.

Please don't derail this thread like you did on WBF where the thread there was meant to celebrate SET's, and you have posted dozens of times putting SET's down and the people who like their sound while promoting your Class D. We get it - you are pushing your Class D.

You have a lot of interesting things to share and I enjoy reading them, please don't do it at the expense of us who haven't sold our souls to jump on the Class D "latest and greatest" sales pitch.

This was meant respectfully. Thank you.

No worries!

FWIW to be clear, I was not the one to bring up class D on this thread. Also FWIW, I've also pointed out on other threads how to get the most out of any SET.

I participate in audio threads because I like audio stuff. I'm involved in music in any way I can- I play instruments, I record myself and others, I've done on-location recordings, mastered LPs, designed audio equipment for 50 years and bought way too many records. I just like music; that's why I'm here. I put myself through engineering school as a service technician repairing audio equipment and I still do lots of repair and refurbishment.

I like the lush character of most SETs (who wouldn't?) and the 45s are the best SETs IMO, if you have speakers to play them. But I have LPs which I recorded and also mastered. Since I was there at the recording sessions I know how they are supposed to sound. So they are a very good reference. Its something that anyone could do, since excellent recording equipment does not cost as much as most excellent playback equipment, at least as far as 'high end audio' is concerned. Having a recording at which you were present is a valuable tool.

Keeping that in mind, my experience with class D is very different from yours. Its not a good or bad thing, that's just how it is.

Of all the single-ended triode amps I've made, I've messed with 45s more than any other (my first type 45 amps were made by James Burgess). I don't think I'm done doing that either. Just because I make a class D amp does not mean I don't think tubes are fun.

 

[Michaels HiFi]

Keeping that in mind, my experience with class D is very different from yours. Its not a good or bad thing, that's just how it is.

I totally respect that.

It's great that we can all like something different and there is no 'right' or 'wrong'.

Class D is great for some people and all that matters is they like it. For me I'd run screaming away from it.

 

[atmasphere]

Class D is great for some people and all that matters is they like it. For me I'd run screaming away from it.

I've done something similar. Class D in my experience varies wildly in sound moreso than tube amps do. Some are really terrible and makes you wonder how anyone would think they would be taken seriously; exactly what I was thinking when I had my first experience with one 25 years ago.

Class D really isn't the problem with the sound, its all about the design and execution just like any other class of operation.

A lot of SET owners might cringe at the thought of class B as well. EV claimed to have made some class tube B amps. I recently restored one (the C20A; it needed a lot of work) which uses a single pair of 6V6s to get 20 Watts. It actually sounds quite good but when you study it, its not really class B (its AB). Class B doesn't exist if you think about it. If the amp isn't class AB, its probably class C (which can be done in push-pull). Class B only really exists in theory due to the exact 180 degree aspect touted in any article about classes of operation. Its impossible to hit that exactly.

When you look at the distortion residual of such lightly biased amps and compare that to the same for an SET, its instantly obvious why SETs have an ardent following. The EV amp isn't too bad but if you compare to a solid state amp at the same operating points, the residual tends to look a lot jaggier (more higher ordered harmonic content to which the ear is keenly sensitive). FWIW the EV amp used a Circlotron circuit which they claimed was immune to switching transients and the associated distortion. I can verify that's true.